Lessons Through Joy ~ Chapter 2
by Emy Minzel
Ready or not here we come!!! Neither of us had never been to the Boundary Waters before. We had no idea what we were getting into. Folks from all over the world come to experience the
grand vastness and purity of our dwindling truly wild wilderness. No cell
signals, no electricity, you carry everything you need on your back and the
canoe too. It offers time and silence I need to get back to the simplicity our
lives are supposed to contain. Over the years it has been a vital necessity for
me to take this time to connect with myself and the earth I appreciate so
greatly.
Before leaving we had scoured the Outfitters website for a list of items to bring and added our own necessities like blow up tubes for floating. At the time we were both excited
to do some fishing in the BWCA. The fish “Up North” are legendarily big and
plentiful. This would be a first for both of us to have to “clean” or filet
own catch. We are both no fuss kind of women who do what needs to be done, even
the hard stuff. I love that about us. We make a great team. We both love
nature, water, and canoeing. We knew we were going to love this!
Our first fishing trip was a success. We reeled them in and released a few. We
didn’t want to take more than we needed for dinner. Both looking to each other
for guidance when we pulled the basket out of the water. After a few failed
attempts to put the fish out of its misery, our hearts deflated a bit. We
decided to let them suffocate on the boulder before cleaning them. Both of us
felt remorseful about what we put the fish through. Yet we were depending on
fish for our food and hunger was prompting us to get through it.
I will not lie. The fish was delicious. However, this experience of taking a life had gotten to us both. The spirit inside of me felt sad for the fish and maybe even disappointed in myself. Neither of us said anything to each other while we continued to catch and eat fish that year.
Next year we vowed to find a better way to ‘release its spirit’ before we ate it.
At the time it felt empowering to be able to feed myself from the wild in this
way. The men in my life always took care of “gross” things like that.
Yet, when I took the time to contemplate it deeper. I realized there should be nothing ‘gross’ about it at all. It was a transformational experience realizing what it felt like to take an animal’s life and respect its sacrifice. I know it would serve humanity to acknowledge and appreciate the folks who do the work of getting us food from the farm and water to our tables.
I began to honor the hardworking folks and sentient animals who give me the energy needed to live. It was clear to me that I was too far removed from the food I ate. I was part of an ignorant bliss trend in humanity, blind to where my food comes from, how it’s treated, and how it’s processed… I saw I was a piece of capitalism contributing to tragic and detrimental factor in the environment and unethical treatment of animals. I was beginning to see that looking the other way is part of the human behavior damaging the planet and all who reside on it. I had never taken the time to contemplate or acknowledge it until this BWCA experience.
Continuing to the 2nd trip the next year into the BWCA. We brought our fishing
poles, worms and leaches. Try as we may, there were no fish! What the heck?! No bites at all. No matter where we decide to try our luck, not even a nibble. It wasn’t a big deal; we had packed enough food to keep us satisfied without the fish this trip. We were fishing just to pass
time.
One morning we both were on separate ends of our very large camping site with
hundreds of feet between our fishing spots. The spot was a peninsula of boreal
forest beauty. We were doing our best to enjoy the blue sky and warm day when
Stacy walked over to me and asked. “Are you having any luck?”
As I reeled my line in. Seeing the lifeless worm hanging from my hook. I looked at her and said “Nope. Nothing.”
I turned to Stacy and confessed. “I am having a really hard time with what I am
doing to this worm… I am torturing it. Stabbing it with a hook then repeatedly drowning
it until if finally gives up and dies.”
My sensitive heart was empathizing with the experience of this living being. A
creature of nature. Even though it is a creepy creature, I know it has purpose.
She looked at me compassionately and agreed. Then she asked. “Do you want to free the worms?”
I thought about it for a second and answered. “Yes! Yes. I do! I don’t think I
can fish with live bait anymore.” I also felt relieved to be met with empathy
and understanding from my friend. Joy and relief replaced guilt.
She told me while over on her side of the campsite, she was feeling the same thing.
This happens often with us. Seemingly energetically in sync even when far apart.
It’s the magical workings of the same soul connection that brought us together.
We pulled the white Styrofoam container with the remaining worms out of the cooler
then headed into the woods. We found a nice spot that looked like it had
healthy soil, dug a hole for them and released the worms. It felt so right! It
was my soul acknowledging even the weirdest of creatures has feelings, and
awareness.
I believe all animals are sentient. They absolutely know when it’s
in pain and when death is their destiny. Honoring that knowledge has helped me
become a gentler person. We thanked the worms for the life lesson and said a
prayer for them to live long, happy worm lives.
On this BWCA excursion we decided to only use lures, or faux bait. I still liked the idea of fishing, being on the water in the sun. It gave me pleasant childhood memories of my Uncle Bob who is no longer with me. So, we were loaded up with a bunch of cool little lures and our fish basket. Carrying knowledge learned from last year we had collapsible poles which were far easier to pack and carry. Who knew that was even a thing? Many folks of course! We were catching on one trip at a time. You know what happened after all that planning? We didn’t put a line in the water even once.
I realized that I was honoring my feelings and didn’t feel right to take a
life. I packed most of the food for our 5-day forest adventure. By this year, Stacy had chosen a pescetarian diet which is mostly vegetarian with sprinkling of fish and eggs. I support her decisions, and she supports mine. We had an abundance of fresh organic veggies, rice, quinoa, beans, and nuts for protein. We both love to cook, and I made sure we had all the ingredients we needed. I realized. Why take something if it’s not needed? We already had plenty.
At the time I was a midwestern woman, raised on meat and potatoes. A Minnesota Tator
tot hotdish making Queen. I appreciate that Stacy is nonjudgemental of other people’s food
choices. However, by just being her, she has raised awareness in me. It made me ask myself. “Do I want to keep eating meat?”
I was completely satisfied with the vegetarian diet we ate while camping with Stacy.
Never feeling deprived or hungry. I told Stacy. “I think I will stop eating so much meat.”
Stacy just smiled and said “You get to make the rules for your life! Do what you feel
is best for you.”
I suppose she has already been through these feelings and this journey. This transition
usually doesn’t happen overnight. I recognize that people stop eating meat for
their own personal beliefs and they are not the same as another’s decision. In the end what others eat is none of my business. I must do what feels right for me, my body, and my spirit.
This experience led to research on where and how mass meat production happens. There are so many great informative documentaries about our food. This knowledge has altered my
appetite and made me a more conscious consumer. I must honor that for the sake
of my animal loving heart. I have tried to be vegetarian, but my body did not agree with my choices. Now I add more veggies and grains and skip the meat several times a week.
I do my best to ensure it is animal products are free range and humanely treated. I choose to support small family farmers, shop the Farmers Market and co-ops when possible. By doing this, I also get to vote with my dollars. I realized change is all about choices. I get to make choices all day every day. I allowed myself to change my minds and habits as I learned more and allowed myself room for growth. I do not judge others and I am not trying to convert anyone either. This is just one of the seeds planted in the BWCA long ago that have sprouted since.
My opinions and perceptions of life, living sentient beings, spiritual signs, emotional
maturity, and personal growth. We have both changed dramatically since those early years
when we first naively embarked into the BWCA. We had no idea how profoundly these
adventures would contribute to the soulful alignment of our daily lives in
years to come. The story that follows is one of my favorite examples.
The very last time I went fishing was when I was running for the State House of Representative. I was on a mission to learn about tensions relating to my local and famous
Mille Lacs Lake in central Minnesota. I was invited by the Band of Ojibwe on a boat and
fishing tour. Where we discussed environmental, and racial political issues dividing our community.
During this trip, I was accompanied by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Natural Resources
Director and the independent Scientist they hired to do research. The Band was
helping and collaborating with the State of Minnesota DNR in hopes of finding
solutions. There were four of us on the boat including my campaign manager Jake,
who is an ecologist.
I brought my own fake lures to use while fishing. Out of curiosity they questioned why.
Using my story about the BWCA trip and the worms to explain my decisions. That I
no longer ‘release the spirits’ of worms, spiders, or bugs as I see them as a
necessary component of nature. Not one of them gave me guff about this decision. Even after I didn’t catch a darn thing on the lake known for its abundance.
It was if Spirit knew, I didn’t need to. Just being on the water, learning from experts
on how I could support my community and environment if elected was enough. The whole day was an amazing experience I will never forget. All the while realizing that without a doubt; I would have never been on that boat, with those experts, or a congressional candidate. If I had I not stepped foot into the BWCA five years before. This was a life lesson learned through joy!
The lessons the fish and worms have taught me were to honor my feelings. If it feels bad, don’t do it. The worms were a sudden and final decision to not use live bait. I still have a great time being on the water with my friends or by myself, and there is no longer a need to fish. I learned to trust my inner guidance and be brave enough to do what feels right for me. Even if it means allowing my voice to shake and tears to flow while doing so. This happened often while campaigning.
If it had not been for the empowering adventures in the Boundary Waters. I would not have had all of these world expanding experiences. I’ve learned that I am capable
and brave enough to roll with the waves of transformation on my life path. I have the free will to change my mind and my actions. I know deep down; we all do the best we can in the time and space we are given. It’s okay to be human. That’s how we learn and hopefully grow.
As the wise Maya Angelou said. “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when
you know better. Do better.”
With much love,
Emy Minzel
Heart Centered, Nature Lover, Writer, Advocate,
Adventurer, Yogi, and so much more…
EmyMinzel.com
BWCAdventureSisters/Facebook.com
***Public Service Announcement***
We have since learned that worms are an invasive species and should never be released other than where they are found. I feel terrible that I did not know this at the time! I feel it is important to share the wisdom of our blunder. As we certainly would have made a different choice in where we released these worms. Like they say.
“You don’t know, what you don’t know. Until you know.”
Much like learning about washing your boat or canoe off before launching into a different body of water to prevent the spread of invasive weeds or mussels.
Now we know.
Emy Minzel 