Author: Emy Minzel

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Well played Universe ~

Emy Minzel

The recent full moon had me feeling overwhelmed but in a good way… I have been pursuing a ‘calling’ getting caught up in the excitement and newness of this possibility that could have a large effect on my daily life. I was ready to stand up and say, “Bring it on Universe, I was born to do this!” The Universe let me get closer, toes hanging off the edge of the pool gathering my courage to jumping into the deep end. I was so close that I had called my family and my closest friends to let them know about this giant leap of faith I was about to take.

As people who love you do, they get concerned about big leaps of tenacity, they all asked me are you sure? Are you ready or prepared for the opportunity? My answer was “No. Honestly I am not prepared but I am passionate and smart, I can learn what I don’t know.” I felt that it was my passion and gumption that would guide me through the learning curve that will happen in all new careers. They were just showing love with concern about this plot twist in my life seemingly out of left field.

This I was under no illusion that this opportunity would not be hard work requiring a great deal of time and energy. While the ‘reward’ would be uncertain and maybe fleeting ‘if’ it even happened. Yet that didn’t seem to discourage me. Somewhere deep down inside I knew that this was the Universe saying, “Come here, I have something I need you to do for me.” It felt so exciting and intriguing that I had no other choice but to follow where the Universe led me. After all, I am an Adventure Sister and I find opportunities that are just a tad bit scary but totally exciting adventurous!!! And I love that $hit!

Last week I was officially endorsed by the DFL to run for my local State District Representative position. I’ve always been politically involved keeping informed in the happenings of Washington D.C and my local government. I am very vocal about environmental protections and most recently about the toxic mining proposals here in Minnesota of two different mining companies currently vying to get their mitts on the Adventure Sisters beloved BWCA.

They would  love the opportunity to raid the Boundary Waters Canoe Area’s pristine lands and water; in doing so would likely permanently poison them for us too. These mines historically have a 90% failure rate ending in environmental tragedy that will last for hundreds of years. History shows it’s inevitable if we allow it. You know because we need more disposable televisions and smart phones instead of clean water… I digress. Anyhow, I pay attention to politics and I get involved when it comes to the environment as much as I know how. Which brought me to where I am today.

The Universe/God seemed to have just asked me to step up my game, or level-up as the Adventure Sisters say. I feel this is a path I am being redirected by a higher power to be hiking at this point in my life. I accepted the opportunity to represent my beliefs as I pulled up my sassy pants intending to fake it until I made it as most adults do when the Universe calls them out. Just when I was sure I was going to jump into the political pool I had a meeting with a woman who told me that the person who ran last term would like a chance to run again.

I could choose to stand up and say, “Nope, it’s my turn. I am going to run.” Or I could concede. My first response was to allow him another chance to finish what he started. I knew the tremendous effort and hard work they had put in prior to this election would help their chances of getting even more votes this time around. Since we are on the same team I gracefully decided to step down from the chance to run for public office.

I am bummed to have missed the opportunity to make a difference I would like to see in the world. Yet I was also a little relieved I would not be called upon to put forth the effort required to run a successful campaign at this movement in my life. I already have a full existence with plenty of things to do that also keep me busy and fulfilled. Yet the calling to be more involved in my local politics will be a path I must pursue. That unexpected and exciting plot twist opened my eyes to where I see my future path.

I am sure I would have done well had I persisted, yet this twist of fate allows me more time to get organized and involved in a way that will fit me perfectly. I trust that the higher power knew just what to do to make me want to move. Just like my mother and husband say “The best way to get you to do something is to tell you, you can’t.”

Well played Universe, well played.

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@emyminzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

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Five things to do when stressed

Emy Minzel

There’s been a lot of wonderful things happening in my life lately. Several opportunities have popped into my world as if by magic asking me to level up the effort and intensity I put into certain affairs. I find the new challenges exciting, even invigorating at times, but the sheer volume of the information I have been trying to learn and the effort I need to exert chasing dreams has me losing sleep and feeling anxious.

My anxiety is revved up so high I have heart palpitations and it feels like if I had an electric outlet in my chest like Iron Man I could power a small city. For some reason this also makes me feel even more excited about these opportunities because as an Adventure Sister I love to face my fears by doing things that frighten me just enough.

I won’t let the fear of the unknown stop me from pursuing my dreams and goals or any opportunity that God hands me. I believe if its meant to be it will be. If not, maybe that direction is just the way I need travel to get where I need to be. Just because I don’t let fear stop me doesn’t mean I don’t suffer the side affects of it like anxiety or stress. What do I do with all this extra anxiety energy banging in my chest? How do I calm the cyclone of thoughts in my head? How do I simmer down enough to sleep or even relax?

Exercise: I go to the gym or take the dogs for walks as often as I possibly can when I am feeling anxious. If it were summer I would take the kayak out. Exercise really helps to calm my mind and then my body seems to catch on and the anxiety passes. When I move my body it’s like all the energy goes where it’s supposed to go, and I no longer feel super charged like Iron Man.

Music: Blast it, sing along with it, jam out to it, cry to it, get mad to it or do as I do. Dance and jump around the house like a dingo while I sing to the dogs and birds is just another way that lets me release tension that makes my eyelid twitch. Music is therapy for you mind, body and soul.

Creating art: I’m talking any kind of art, craft or activity at all, working with your hands takes your mind off things. Scrapbook, make a vison board, I feel that making homemade soup or baking can be considered art. I love taking time out of life to get to enjoy making a yummy healthy soup that helps heal me from the inside out. I also like to write, but not always something like a blog or chapter, sometimes just escaping into making a manifestation list at the full moon is exactly what I need. Use your creativity.

Read: I find reading is a great distraction from the real world when you need a time out. I gobble up books as fast as I can when I have free time, I even buy books I don’t have time to read. I read at the gym, in the car or any time I just need to unwind and slow down the over active mental cartwheels keeping me wound up and anxious. Getting lost in a good story helps every time.

Friends, Family and pets: The very most important thing that I do when I am feeling stressed out and anxious is call on my closest friends for support. Having a friend or family member to talk about your thoughts and concerns helps you process emotions, releasing stress by talking about it can help you feel better. It eases my mind when I know that no matter how challenging life might be right now they have my back and are there for me. Somedays nothing tops cuddles from my dogs.

Wine: I will not lie, it is not the healthiest coping mechanism that a girl can use but I do have glass or two of wine in the evening because it helps me relax and fall to sleep. Maybe even a glass in the bathtub sound fabulous.  I don’t recommend it every night yet I do not judge, some doctors say a glass or two a night is A-Okay, so I won’t argue with that! Enjoying it with friends is even better. Tea is good too.

When I feel supported it helps me view these challenges as opportunities to level up and be the person I want to be. It helps me feel that even if things don’t turn out as I might like, I know that I will still be okay because I have my family and friends who love me for me. I think to myself “What’s the worst that could happen? If I try and fail I still have this wonderful life… If I do not try I will always wonder; “what if?” As an Adventure Sister think I would rather tell you what happened after I tried.

As I choose to pursue my goals I see stress is just component of the journey. I choose to be kind to myself and remember to relax a little. I must remember to enjoy the in between of here and there as much as I possibly can. By taking short time outs to rest my soul, ground myself, and be in the present moment it helps keep things in perspective. I remind myself each day bring my goals closer as I continue to put one foot in front of the other, with a glass of wine in my hand of course. Cheers!

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@emyminzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

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Dear Millennial’s, I believe in you

Emy Minzel

Dear Millennial’s,

I am sorry you did not have the chance to live in the simplistic childhood us ‘older’ people had the privilege to enjoy. I am only twenty years older than you though it sounds like a lot of years, it’s not. When I was young we got to run our neighborhoods from sun up until sundown without having to ‘check in’ too often because we felt safe and so did our parents.

Never once did I fear someone snatching me while playing outside with my friends on the other side of town. Never once was I scared or even slightly concerned about being shot at school. Never once were we scared to leave home without a phone. We are only a few decades apart give or take, yet our childhoods were completely different.

If I was scared, I could knock on any of my neighbor’s doors and know for certain I could find refuge or help I needed as a child. I was raised a free-range kid and I loved every bit of it. I was given responsibility and trust to behave myself to hold my friend’s hands while crossing the street on the way to the corner candy store to spend .50 cents and get a half a brown bag full of penny candies or a giant freeze pop the size of my seven-year-old body.

Can you imagine letting your seven-year-old out of your sight now days? Its unheard of. You would never see a child in the store by themselves today. But for me and the neighborhood kids back in the eighties it was common daily occurrence if we were lucky enough to get some spare change from our parents. The world we lived in wasn’t nearly as scary as the world we raised you in. I am so sincerely sorry for that.

We got our driver’s license at sixteen without all the fuss you go through today. Drivers Ed was provided at school it was the coolest, we learned to drive with our friends or classmates in the car. We were given more responsibility which made us feel like we had freedom to roam the world at sixteen. It’s incredibly hard to get a job at sixteen now, I’ve discovered most places wont even hire you until your eighteen.

In the 90’s there were plenty of jobs to go around I was working for Burger King at the age of 14 which wasn’t the worst thing in the world because it gave me money to spend at the roller skating rink or for gas to cruise the main street. Our childhoods and school year experiences were drastically different then yours. If we had a problem with someone it never occurred to us that they may shoot us. There were fist fights behind the school, no weapons allowed. Not anything to be proud of, there were bullies, but no body died.

Your generation is one of the first to be bombarded by over stimulation constant information overwhelming you with real news, fake news, bullshit unrealistic programs like the Kardashians and scare tactic news. There is no scientific study that I know of that shows the effect of over stimulation to children but your it, you’re the experiment and I feel like you must learn how to shut it off.

I promise it’s okay and necessary to unplug. You must learn to go outside and cut the noise, so you can listen to the voice inside of you that knows the beautiful soul you are. When you take time preferably out in nature to quiet your mind, magical things happen, you heal yourself from the inside out. This constant noise is not normal, it is not the way of the world, you can and must relax and step away from technology and into nature as often as possible. Its imperative to your soul. Please take to heart that nobody can make you happy but you. Happiness is an inside job.

I am a late bloomer, I went back to school in my thirties and got to borrow money with high interest rates just like you. Had I chosen to go to college at 18 I would have qualified for help and gone to college for a discounted rate that doesn’t seem to be an option for many students now days. I understand the unfairness of the financial burdens thrust upon you just to try and get a head with your education in the real world. This was not always the way of our country, and I do not understand why older people can’t or choose not to see that. Please know we are not all like that. I see you and I feel compassion for your uphill fight.

I am sorry older generations belittle your contribution to the world when what you truly bring to society is compassion and sensitivity to a hardened world that sorely needs you. Please do not give up, I believe in you. I support your drive and passion for a healthier planet, and a more inclusive community, country and world. I love how your generation is unconditionally accepting and supportive of others who are labeled different then you. I see how you care for other less fortunate, I see how beautiful you really are.

I understand that the few of you are caught up in drugs or called trouble or labeled as lazy, but this is the way of the world in all generations. Do not let the debauchery of a few mask the goodness of a whole generation of heart centered innovative creators of our future.

I am sorry society has been hell bent on heavily punishing you for mistakes instead of teaching you the right way and giving you the opportunity to grow and learn from them. I am sorry you had to be overwhelmed with more information you could handle before you were ten. You’ve had access to more information then the previous generations ever had before we were adults.

But listen to me, you are smarter than previous generations no matter what they tell you. Right now, in history you have more access to wisdom and power at your fingertips to learn all you ever wanted to know. You have this incredible opportunity to seize all the information you need to organize and change the world for the better. You are our future and I believe in you. I believe your generation will lead us into a sustainable healthier way of life.

Our older generations and the one before them were taught not to talk about politics or how much we got paid, women were not equal. If you were a minority well, I can’t speak to that, but this is why I love and believe in your generation. You are accepting of everyone no matter how different they are, you need to know how this is so important. Please use your dream of a better world to do what we did not know we could do.

We didn’t know we had any power or influence because we were purposely distracted from participating in how government was ran by being told it wasn’t ‘polite’ to talk about politics. I call BS. Being told to not talk about uncomfortable important stuff, led to dis-involvement in our community and we paid no attention to important deformation of our government that allowed giant gender pay gaps, corporate rule, and a patriarch society that we thought of as normal. Which it is not.

There is no greater transparency as there is today in how our systems are ran, we are at a point in history where we know what we are doing wrong and have science to prove how we can fix it. The dying old school way of ruling the free world with an iron fist in false fear and keep us from thinking you can make a difference. When reality is that you can, and I believe you will make the difference we need to see in the world. Millennial’s I believe in you.

Do not be scared to stand up for what you believe, it is imperative to the world that you do not shrink yourselves. Do not be scared to get involved in what makes you mad, moves your soul, or moves your passions. It is what you were born to do. Even if you can’t do exactly what it is you want, do something close that will lead you there eventually. Patience, dedication and putting one foot in front of the other no matter how long it takes is the only way to success no matter what the television tells you.

P.s. Turn off that stupid t.v. spend as little time as possible on the phone or computer, its keeping you distracted and scared of the beautiful world around you.

I believe when you participate in the world, you will change it for the better. This I know for sure. The world needs you, Millennials you are here for a reason, I believe in you. I believe in a kinder world, healthy environment, and fair government, I believe your generation is going to be the one to usher us in to the peace we are seeking. I believe when you start to pay attention to the workings of the world you will wake up and chose to change it for the better.

I believe you can use the information at your fingertips to research what is that calls to your soul. I believe your time is coming to make your voices heard. I believe that sometimes our children are much wiser then their parents who can be stuck in the illusion of ‘this is how we’ve always done it, so this is how it goes’ this way of thinking is just not healthy or right.

Do not let someone’s opinion of you mean more to you then your own opinion of you. You get to make the rules for your life and if you start now, the happier your future will be. I believe in you Millennials and all younger generations. I am so proud of you when you stand up for what is right, when you stand up for the underdog and when you stand up justice. This is your time to rise, your time to shed light on the world, its your time to be heard.

No matter what you think or been told, the world is listening to you. I am of an older generation and I believe in you.

“The vote is the most powerful form of protest you can do.” Congressman John Lewis

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@emyminzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

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The Golden Rule –

Emy Minzel

I had a conversation with my Adventure Sister Stacy that was a little uncomfortable for me because I felt like I had to tell her something that may hurt her feelings. She asked me for my honest feedback on a sensitive topic and I felt that what I had to say may be taken the wrong way. I did my best to deliver ‘my truth’ with kindness while still standing in the uncomfortable position of telling her what she asked me to. I let her know ‘how it is’.

I told her my thoughts then I told her that I love and support her as well. I went on to give her a different point of view, and a tangible suggestion ‘fix’ the  outcome of the message she way trying to deliver. Stacy and I have built our relationship bond by being very honest with each other, even if what we have to say my not be what the other wants to hear. We carefully deliver our opinion’s in a kind way that we both know is not intended to hurt but to help one another.

We believe it is a blessing to have someone in our lives that love us enough to tell us ‘how it is’. When we ask for help we end up connecting with others because asking for help make you vulnerable. When you trust someone not to push their agenda on you but to rather look at the greater whole of what the situation entails and see from a different perspective it’s a magical thing. When you trust the person who is giving you feed back has your greatest good in mind makes it easier to hear the hard truth.

It is hard to acknowledge that someone’s opinion is just a perspective from another view. Their view may not resonate with you. What they say may not be your truth but it is someone else’s truth and you should be aware of how your actions or opinions affect others. Most people do not go about life asking for constructive criticism because they don’t want to hear what others have to say. Just because you willfully walk through life without acknowledging your affect on others does not exempt you from how they feel about it.

Ignorance is bliss, some say. This would be true when we talk about who we are, what we say, and how we act, and what we do, we never truly know how others perceives us. We will not grow if we choose not to take responsibility in our part of the greater whole totality. We are just one piece of a worldly puzzle made up of our families, friendships, community, Country and even globally. Everyday actions really do have a butterfly affect outcome in the world even if you refuse to acknowledge it. Who you are and what you do matters.

The Golden Rule is “Do unto others as you would have done to you.” This should be incorporated into the wholeness in life, not just to people you like, but to people you don’t like, animals and the planet. If we practiced kindness in all situations even the crap ones, the whole world would be a kinder place and not so scary. What if we tried to remember we are all brothers and sisters all sentient beings having our own experiences on this planet trying to do our best just to have a good day, drink clean water, and breathe.

If we remember that our words, actions, and demeanor have consequences we are not aware of, we may not be so quick to judge or hate our neighbors or people who are ‘different’ from us. If we all treated each other with the reverence you would treat your best friend, imagine what a wonderful world we would be able to create. Call me naive but I believe a kinder gentler world is possible if we all just try to practice the Golden Rule even in times we are called to ‘tell it like it is.’

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@emyminzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

*Disclaimer – I saved this photo from the internet many moons ago, I do not know who to give photo credit to, I would gladly do so if it is you!

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Why I love adventure!

Emy Minzel

As you know, I love adventure! Recently I thought to myself, “why do I love adventure so much?” not everyone likes adventures. Lots of people love the peace and contentment they find in their homes and prefer to relax as much as possible. I am just not one of these people, don’t get me wrong, I like to relax at home too, I just prefer more excitement then rest some days. I am not one to sit too long, although I can and will hold the couch down all day on a Sunday if the weekend as been a bit hectic.

I believe I need adventures in my life because it’s a physical and mentally creative outlet. I need a place to put all my extra energy or it just spins round and round in my melon working up a typhoon of anxiety. I find when I  give myself an outlet for all this energy by adventuring into the unknown, it provides stimulation that feeds my desire for thrill seeking in a healthy way that brings my mind/body/spirit back to balance.

Adventure;an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity.

Danger is part of the game, its not an adventure unless you get a little thrill or think “oh crap” a few times. It’s the unknown of what is a head is part of the appeal, I like the saying;

“The only difference between fear and excitement is your attitude about it.”

I love the excitement and adrenalin that keeps me coming back for more. The unknown of what is a head is part of the exhilaration that comes with doing things I’ve never done before. Doing new things and going new places is a good way to sneak adventure in your life. Even going to a new city, attending events or meeting a group of new people can feel exciting because you aren’t sure of the outcome.

I have learned to not be attached to the outcome of what I think my experiences should look like. Yes I would love everything to go smoothly and without problems. Yet I have seen that it is the times when I face adversity and rise up to overcome it that brings me satisfaction. I love the feeling of exhilaration provided by those accomplishments.

It FEELS so good to overcome my fears! This feeling is addictive for me. Adrenalin junkies unite! I get it. I  see why people seek adventure, it makes me feel brave, it builds my self-esteem, and it has taught me how to overcome my fears.

Then do you know what happens after that?! Giant fat feelings of thankfulness and grace I feel to be alive! To have made it through my fear to the other side and rewarded with pride, greater belief in myself and abilities, and the feeling of being blessed to still be alive brings perspective to the rest of my life. It’s not like I play chicken with trains or skydive off of sky scrapers, I don’t purposely put myself in the path of danger, but I do challenge myself to do things that scare me.

Even if it doesn’t happen in the great outdoors, I like to ask myself to level-up. Step up my game, and put my rebellious spirit to work in a good way by challenging myself and not others. When I work on myself, I don’t focus on what everyone else is doing. I don’t get wrapped up in the drama of others because I know I have no control of what is happening around me anyway but I can choose to control myself and my actions and how I choose to proceed in life situations.

Adventure has asked me to take responsibility for my role in what happens in life. How I act or re-act has an impact on what happens next. Adventuring has taught me so much about myself and repeatedly asked me to level up and each time I have, it seems to have long term life lessons I take with me in the future. Most of them exhilarating and good in many ways, the others make for great stories.

There are more reasons why I love adventure but overcoming my fears and challenging myself to level up are the ones that really keep me going back for more. Being thankful to be alive and able to experience the beauty the world holds is a blessing I don’t want to take for granted. The more I do, the braver I feel seek more adventure that makes me feel so alive!

What do you love about adventure?! I would like to hear from you!

“Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.”

-T.S Eliot

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@emyminzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com