Uncategorized

What do you create?!

 

Many people are creative in their unique way, and I think our emotions play a massive part in how we express our creativeness. I’ve come to realize some of the best books, paintings, sculptures, and other works of art come from how the artist is responding to a pivotal time in their life. Since life kicks everyone’s butt in some way or another, the world is full of artists who need to let it out through creative means. The beauty of their work is all around us if we pay attention.

Of course, as you know, I like to write. I also enjoy getting my hands in the soil and garden to nurture the beauty in my surroundings. Then when the Minnesota winters keep me inside, I like to refinish and repurpose old furniture and décor as well as paint and update the rooms in my home. Keeping busy in a creative way, using my hands and talents to create beauty in my environment and life helps me to process the many emotions that afflict us all.

I find the synchronicities between how nature works and how humans grow interesting. We need both water and sun to grow, and the richness or aridness of the environment we are planted in, very much contributes to how well we flourish. If we have pollution or toxins in our environment, our growth is stunted or deformed. When I feel depleated, I cannot create!There are commonalities within the circle of life that we share with all living beings that connect us all.

Mother Earth paints the most amazing landscapes, brews up ferocious storms, she also gives us fireflies and puppies. I believe humans have the same ability to affect our environments in the same way at a smaller scale in our lives. It’s all in how we use our creativity! We all know others use their talents to share sunshine and good vibes and some people like to stir up a crap storm and use their creativity to manipulate too. My point is that we should all look at ourselves and see how it is we are using our creativeness.

I have a very active imagination, and I find myself having to rein in some of the emotional storms I create for myself that steal my peace. If I can’t get a hold of my daughter immediately, my mind goes to images of horror instead of “she’s probably at work.” Isn’t worry or complaining one of the worst ways to use my imagination?! I think it is. Instead, I have come to a place in which I let go of those thoughts and trust life because that’s all I can do anyways. Then I reroute my active imagination to one of the many projects I have going all at one time.

Channeling our emotions into an original and inspired project can be transformative to our spirits and maybe even the world around us. You never know who you will help by sharing your ingenuity with the world. I have met many people who love to write but can’t bring themselves to share their work with others. That is okay! We don’t create art for others; we do it for ourselves. Creating art of any sort is an emotional outlet that can be inspiring. It’s what we do with that energy that counts the most.

How do you use your creativity to enrich your life?

Do you encourage others in your life to create in their unique way?

Do you allow yourself to play with different ideas and avenues of self-expression?

Give yourself permission to let your creative streak out today!

I am sending you all lots of love and encouragement! I’d love to hear your suggestions and comments. Feel free to share your creations with us in the comments!

Emy Minzel 

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel

 

Photos 3_17_2017 435
I saw a face in this board we purchase to make a shelf with. Instead of cutting it up, I used a torch to bring the face to life!
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after woodfiring

 

 

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My husband helped me build this beautiful bench out of an antique head board and foot board.

 

lamp 1
Brass beauty ‘after’
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I like to refinish lamps I call ‘brass beauties’ this is a before picture.

 

lamp 2
Another brass beauty revived!
lamp 3
Added new fabric to the shade of this renewed brass beauty!
lamp 5
Another revamped lamp and I made the map and woodfired board behind it as well.
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An old picture of my garden in top form! I am excited to get back to playing in the soil and sunshine again!

Innerwork, Uncategorized

Lilacs and bonfires

Over Memorial Weekend, I got to spend time with my family and friends enjoying our time together. Sunday came, and it was one of the most beautiful day’s we’ve had all year. My husband and I Barbecued and sat out on the deck, enjoying the glorious day and each other. There was a lovely scent of lilacs and honeysuckle in the air as we felt summer peeking around the corner.

After dinner, we had decided to have a bonfire and set up our lawn chairs to relax. As the heavenly scent of flower and cleansing smoke swept through breeze at dusk, I thought to myself. “If love had a scent, it would smell like lilacs and bonfires.” Both these aromas bring peace and calming to my soul, just like love does.

This made me think of other things that make me feel contentment. Then I asked myself how often do I truly experience this serenity? Peace is tricky, it feels good and believe it or not feeling happy is scary at times. Lately, I’ve noticed my tendency to stop myself from fulling enjoying the good days when I should be savoring every minute I possibly can. So I have started to make small changes to help me do so.

After all, the smell of lilacs and bonfires only comes by naturally for a short amount of time. Lilacs only bloom for a few weeks before the blooms and scent fade. We must enjoy it when we have it, or it passes unappreciated. This is true with many things in life like newborn cries that turn to sweet little voices, and before you know it, graduation comes.

Some of these precious moments like falling in love, newlywed bliss, or summer in Minnesota seem to only last for a short while. The times when we fall in love with life and our emotions are blissful are what we live for! I’ve been doing my best to stop myself and contemplate my blessing when I feel a complaint coming on.

I’ve started a gratitude an experiment just out of curiosity. Every morning I open my eyes. I remind myself to say a prayer of “Thank you for this day.” Then before my grumpy morning thoughts start and I get out of bed, I repeat the simple mantra of “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

Doing so has helped me enjoy even the plainest of days when life is not full of fun bonfires, and lilacs. When I say. “Thank for the blessing of this home to clean.” Or “Thank you for this day, and these clients that allow me to do what I love and recieve what I need!” My attitude changes to gratitude, and I feel much more content about starting the week again on Monday.

Summer weekends seem to be short bursts full of life, love, and excitement. They help bring the contentment of these experiences into the rest of the week effectively changing my tune. Choosing to carry the memories of the good times into today brings me peace. Catching myself before I complain and then redirecting my thoughts to my blessings has changed not only my attitude but also my energy. I get to be happy today!

Today I get to create my present, I get to choose to have another incredible work week. When I sneak outside and catch the scent of lilacs, my brain will remember, and my body will react with contentment from the memories of thoroughly enjoying and appreciating the momentary blessings of my life. Believe it or not, I can choose to train my brain to see the goodness in all of my days. Even on a Monday!

How do you foster contentment in your life?! I’d love to hear your tips and tricks that help you look forward to a new week!

Wishing you an abundance of peace, love, and flowers,

Emy Minzel 

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel

Uncategorized

Seven signs spirit is speaking to you

Do you ever have something magical happen and you look up to the heavens and say: “I know that was you.” There are times I genuinely know I am receiving messages from the Universe/God. I believe I have come to be proficient at seeing these signs and flowing with the synchronistic paths set before me by merely listening to guidance from Spirit.

Although I am sure at times my angels and guides may think I am being quite obtuse. Almost as if I am walking around with my fingers plugging my ears, my eyes squeezed closed and saying “Lalalalalalalalalaaaa” so that I can pretend I don’t hear what I don’t want to know.

I am beginning to notice I don’t like to heed warnings because I think: “But who would want to hurt me? Why would they do that?” This is where I get sidelined every time, and how seeing only the good in someone, does not always work out the best for me. Trusting my intuition and messages from Spirit, is a skill I am working to improve all the time. I have good days and days that I learn the hard way.

Spirit/Higher Power/God/Angels/Guides do not have words, so I believe we must listen and pay attention to their signs, as communication. Often, I will ask my soul and angels, before bed, to help me get clear on a situation or hand my worries up to the heavens before I sleep. I have a very active dream world that seems to be a proficient way my higher-self likes to communicate with me.

Here are some of the ways I tend to receive messages from above. I hope they help you communicate with Spirit too!

Dreams – Dream analysis is a hobby of mine and I find them very informative, even when they are disturbing. When I am lucky, they deliver a premonition. If I can get the message that is being sent, it is advantageous in my waking life. Yet, when I do not understand or dismiss these messages, well let’s just say there are several times my intuition has said: “I told you so!” Dreams often show how you truly feel even when you don’t want to see or admit it. I like to use this webpage when I feel stuck in finding meanings. I hope it is also useful to you. http://www.dreammoods.com/dreamdictionary

Earth Angels – messages can come from friends, loved ones or even strangers, because they are giving you answers you have been asking for. Just last week I was at an event that my daughter wanted to go to. The stranger I sat beside said the exact same words that came out of my daughters’ mouth when I told her I was going. Coincidence? No. That was an earth angle delivering an important message for me to heed. I was asked to listen and pay attention to what matters the most.

Animals – Do you ever come across an animal that is seemingly out of place? Adventure Sister Stacy was once seeing deer everywhere, but when she saw one at a hotel in the middle of a bustling and populated city. She knew this sign was trying to deliver a message to her at that time in her life. Stacy felt the deer was telling her to stop running away from love because she was scared. Turns out she was right and was married the next year! We both like to reference www.whats-your-sign.com when we see animals that get our attention.

Songs/Music – Lots of people have memories that correlate to music and specific songs. This is a super easy way for loved ones who have passed or the higher power to send messages to us when we need to hear them.  When I was on the Campaign trail, at every speaking event that made my heart race and break out into a cold sweat, I would get into the car afterward and hear the same song. Starting on the day I got endorsed until the last speech, I would turn on the radio and hear “Take it easy” by Travis Tritt. Once or twice I can write off as a fluke, but this happened at least a half a dozen time’s, if not more! It was the Universe telling me just to relax.

Numbers – Do you tend to see 11:11 or 222 or 333 a great deal? Some people call these Angel numbers and believe they have important messages when they get your attention enough. This past year I have been seeing the number 456. It happened so often I had to research and see what it meant. So, I asked Google. What is the spiritual meaning of 456? This is the link to the explanation that felt right. https://www.luvze.com/angel-number-456-meaning/

Intuitive visions – I like to meditate, although after lots of years I would not consider myself ‘good’ at it! I am a busy girl with an active mind, so slowing down and letting go, does not come easy for me. Yet when I try hard, I can get lucky sometimes and allow Spirit into my consciousness and am rewarded with visions. The most recent image was something that has not come to fruition yet, but I am practicing patience and trusting that it will.

Repeated Messages – Like the song “Take it easy” that came to me several times, and the deer that kept showing up for Stacy, to repeating numbers or dreams and gut feelings; If something like this is happening to you, pay attention! What is it trying to tell you? Ask yourself the question. Before you go to bed, ask your higher-self to decipher it and reply to you in your dreams. Research these recurring incidents, they are messages for you.

Remember the Universe does not have words, so it is up to us to decipher what meaning sounds right. Use your intuition to choose which message is the one you need to hear. Trust yourself and Spirit to see what beautiful things can happen when you do!

Love and blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel

www.AdventurewithEmyandStacy.com

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

 

*Photo taken near Superior Nationa Forest, Cook Minnesota

Uncategorized

The Blame Game

 

Sometimes we say the wrong thing, lash out, or follow a path meant for someone else. Only to have life create enough chaos to turn us around and closer to where we are truly meant to be. It’s up to us to take the lessons learned from these challenges and grow from them. Being embarrassed, ashamed, hurt or (any emotion that comes from the feeling of failure) is unpleasant, and nobody likes it. But this is life and we all go through it.

There are times I have blamed others for some misunderstanding, misalignment or miscommunications. Because that’s the human thing to do.  Except blaming others made me a victim and successfully removed my own power to change my situation.

This was and optical illusion I inflicted upon myself. It didn’t do me any favors. It just allowed me to wallow in self-pity and stay stuck in my inability to change. When in reality it was really my responsibility to make the changes that lead to the life I want.

Blaming others did not help me grow, it kept me stuck and paralyzed with fear. I did not want to admit that just maybe… I could possibly be responsible for my situation. The only way to know for sure was to communicate with compassion, tenderness and curiosity.

Because of these experiences I would get so frustrated at the stickiness it created in my life. I had no other option but to admit my behaviors and my tendencies, then do the work to really changing this habit. I matured into self-acceptance, self-respect and awareness by seeing this in my own patterns. It helped seeing my peers go through their tribulations as well.

It took courage to be honest with myself and start noticing these tendencies when came up. I had to truly decipher if it was a projection, mine or theirs. To do my best to come from compassion and kindness instead of assumption or anger.

My reactions and start being proactive! There is a silver lining to admitting I wasn’t ‘perfect” after all. Allowing some self-awareness, helped me grow into a better person, or at least in the direction of ‘better’ as I defined it.

It’s not my habit to always blamed others… but those times in which I was too stubborn to admit I was wrong. Willing to dig my heals in and harm a valued relationship instead of doing my part to help working it out… Those loses were big lessons for me.

Realizing playing the “Blame Game,” as an opportunity to learn. It’s an essential experience for us as we mature, forcing us to mature. (Hopefully.) Sometimes it’s hard to admit when I am at fault.

Nobody likes to eat crow, as they say. Yet, learning to value my dearest relationships instead of giving priority to my pride has proven to be worth it many times.

Has this been true for you too?

Wishing you lots of love, light, and acceptance today!

Love and blessings,

 

Wishing you lots of love, light, and acceptance today!

Love and blessings,

Emy Minzel

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel

 

 

Uncategorized

Failing forward ~

To me, life isn’t only about getting things, achieving goals, or gathering gold. It is about enjoying the experiences you just get once. Nobody escapes a life without scars, growing pains, or obstacles. Whether they are internal or visible for the world to see, we all have trauma we have endured. The way we live our lives reflects how we go about healing ourselves also showing where we choose not to.

I’ve been contemplating some of my recent ‘failures’ and how they have changed how I think. There are times I think to myself “Why am I trying so hard? What drives me to pursue writing and politics beyond the wonderfully peaceful life I live? What makes me still so consistently persistent about these goals?”

I even wonder “How many times do I continue to ‘fail’ before I admit that maybe I won’t succeed in the way I envision?” Of course, I know I must not quit. I keep going with intentional tenacity and I think I know why. I keep moving towards these things because I am simply following my heart.

The decision to living simply, love lots, and bloom, where I am planted, is something I aim to do. Writing feels like art and I enjoy sharing my thoughts and experiences with the world in hopes of helping others. Being involved in local politics is a natural pull, stemming organically from my love and concern for the environment.

Running as a political candidate was a lot of fun, and I refer to it as a life experience. However, there are real statistics that say if I run again, most likely, I will not win. So, what would make me want to try again? It just does not feel right to sit it out and not try one more time. I care deeply about my community and Minnesota. I think to show up and try my best, anyway, is how I can direct my dedication and passion for protecting the environment.

Writing feels like magic to me. I worked hard to build a community who enjoy reading bits of wisdom we love to share. Participating in a heart centered and inspired project keeps me looking forward to the next adventure. These experiences fuel my creative outlet in ways that feel good for my soul. Some challenge me, some sooth me, all have changed me for the better.

These things that I “fail” at are what make me feel alive! They haven’t made me rich, and as a matter of fact, they challenge me to level up even when I don’t want too. It seems that following my calling and heart, has given me confidence and courage. I feel blessed to be able to do these things that pull my soul, even though from the outside looking in, they may look unsuccessful.

After contemplation of my failures, I see life isn’t always about chasing gold even though somedays it feels like it. Sometimes it feels more purposeful and rewarding to pursue the callings of your soul. I know I will be A-Okay if I never get to Congress or get on the New York Bestseller list. I will still make a difference in a way that feels good to me while pursuing these goals.

I believe the journey of existence is about gaining perspective of the purpose of life. You cannot appreciate the good if you do not experience strife occasionally. If we always get what we want, when we want it, we probably won’t value what we already have. Then when we do finally get it… Glory fills my soul and I let myself rejoice in the bounty of my efforts. Giving grace for all that guided me to my achievements.

It is important to enjoy the everyday experience of life in a way that feels authentic to me. By listening to my heart and letting it guide me I have learned not to be frightened of failure, it’s just another F word… and friends I love me an eff word sometimes. Getting older means I understand that growing pains and setbacks are just part of this fabulous obstacle course of life I get to live.

When I chose to detach from desired outcomes, I allow myself to fully experience the pleasure in everyday life and what really matters, enjoying the journey of failing forward.

How do you overcome failures? What keeps you passionate about your calling? I’d love to hear from you!

 

Love and blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventurer, writer, advocate, lover of love and so much more.

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel