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!

#lifelessons, Innerwork

What is your best advice?

I am curious. What is the most helpful advice you’ve found that has made a difference in how you live?

There are lots of different people with their own opinions and differences in what they know. Some of it isn’t even advice, but more like sharing essential lessons they have learned over the years. I think it is a gift to learn from our elders or folks we look up to when they share their experiences. It would be a shame to let the wisdom go to waste!

It was not all ‘advice’ per se, but there were valuable lessons shared with me that I am learning to appreciate. I can think of a few things I’ve heard that ring true I’d like to share with you.

When my Auntie Max told me, “You will be lucky if you have five true friends in your life. When you find them, cherish them and don’t let them go.” I have learned this is true. I do my best to follow this advice. I’ve learned that not all friends are the same and to treasure the ones that love me as I love them. I’ve found the keepers adore you in all stages of life, not just the easy ones.

My grandmother Ema Dee whom everyone said had “the patience of a Saint” once told me. “I am not as patient as you think. I have just learned to keep my mouth shut.” What?! At first, it made me laugh, and I really did not understand what she meant. As I age, I see what she means. Sometimes keeping my thoughts and feelings to myself, takes greater wisdom than speaking up and may have a much different effect than we expect.

“You get to make the rules for your life!” Stacy Crep, Adventure Sister. It sounds impossible some days, yet the words are valid. When I realized I have much more say in my life than once acknowledged or allowed, my life changed for the better. And it was all my doing! From taking the initiative and following through on my goals and dreams, to nurturing relationships that needed love and attention, to career goals and ambitions. It was all up to me and how I followed and adjusted the rules I had for myself.

My Auntie Di gave me some excellent parenting advice when I was a young mother. She said, “I only say no if there is a good reason. Kids need the freedom to live their lives and make their own mistakes.’” I thought this was a fantastic way to think. I used this philosophy with my daughter and even now in my own life. I like to say Yes to invitations, events, and experiences whenever possible. This attitude opens doors of opportunity and helps me get more out of life! If we fail or get hurt, those were valuable lessons too.

Yet with all the splendid advice, I have gotten over the years, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is to listen to my own intuition. Even my closest friends and well-intentioned family’s best advice is not good if it does not feel right to me.

So, my best advice to you. Trust yourself. Follow the inklings that pull your heart and do what feels right for you even if it’s going against what others think is best. Only you know the real soul inside and what you truly need to be happy. Be brave enough to listen to your own inner divinely guided wisdom.

My next favorite advice is. The answer is always ‘NO’ if you don’t ask. What do you have to lose by asking? Nothing. I said what I said. It’s great advice and I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me.

Please feel free to share YOUR best advice in the comments below.

I hope that we can share the wisdom we’ve learned with others in hopes of helping someone else on their life path!

Sending love and blessings to you,

Emy Minzel

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel

#lifelessons, #signs, Innerwork

Trusting the changes ~

There are times in life when you are required to take the advice you give to others. When my friends come to me about life changes and significant concerns, my advice is almost always. “Trust it.” But what if you don’t want change? What if you were perfectly fine living your life the way you were? That’s when change is not welcome and when we may protest or fight the inevitability of change. Recently, I’ve discovered I am so very tired of fighting, and so I choose to trust and just let go.

The life I live is magical and blessed yet as we know, situations change, and so does life. Though I had a great time in the years I’ve spent chasing writing dreams and nurturing big aspirations; circumstances have made it clear I have to make changes that will seemingly impede my pursuits. Unfortunately, this turn of events seems a lot like a failure and feels like I’ve been stabbed straight in my ego, Ouch! But I am resilient and I know I got this.

Maybe I don’t have to change as much as I think I do? I know I do not have to give up on my dreams! What I do know is that it is crystal clear my goals will not come to fruition in the way that I thought they would. It just took me a bit to grasp this new reality. I know, I will figure out a way to stay authentic to myself and to make time to dedicate making my dreams a reality. This inevitable change is weird and a little scary when it comes out of the blue.

This is where I know I must trust this change of circumstances not only in my writing goals but my professional life as well. I am second guessing my political aspirations and even my day job… So basically, my whole life is up in the air, and I find this jarring and yet also a little exciting! Thankfully my relationships and home life, are still holding strong, giving me confidence that I will be just fine. This turn of events is just part of my own adventure in life!

It is no coincidence that I keep pulling the Tower card out in my tarot readings. This card holds an image of a castle on fire and crumbling to the ground. Although it may scare others, I know it does not necessarily have to be a bad sign. It just means I must adjust and take the opportunity to revise what was not working for me. It’s an opportunity to rebuild a way of life that better suits who I am now. It means I’ve outgrown my situation and it’s time to change.

I know I must follow my own advice and believe this change is necessary because there are other things I want and need in life too. To make progress on getting what I need, I now see that I must make changes to get them! Don’t they say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again then expecting different results? Maybe I was too ‘in the soup’ to see that I have fallen into a rut.

I am hoping this is just the Universe/God helping to lift me to more solid ground and to get my life back onto the path I am meant to be on. All this change can be a great thing if I let it. I still have a great life! Sure, I could choose to kick and scream, whine, and cry while pieces of my old ways and dreams burn in front of me. Okay, who am I kidding? I have done some of that too… But I can also choose to look at this as an opportunity to rebuild my life in a way that fits who I am now and where I want to be in the future!

Attitude plays a big part in how we perceive our days, and the days make up our life! I do have a choice in how I decide to deal with this hand I’ve been dealt. I choose to be grateful that this change is not brought on by tragedy only changing circumstances, and that those around me are safe and sound, and so am I.

I can decide to look up at the heavens and command. “I trust myself to call in a life even better than I could ever imagine!” So that is precisely what I am going to do.

I choose to take my own advice and trust this change.

I sincerely hope my outlook helps you sort through changes too.

Sending love and blessings to you and yours,

Emy Minzel 

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel

Photo of the Tower Tarot card in my Sun and Moon Tarot deck by Vanessa Decort

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

#lifelessons, #signs

Journey to finding my missing joy –

Do you have experienced those days when everything seems to be a little off? The events that happen are bothersome but not necessarily bad, just annoying persistent incidents peppering you though out the day. I’ve been dropping things a lot, having minor accidents and there was a great deal of miscommunication happening as well. Emails, texts, even verbal expressions seem to be just a bit off, enough to confuse.

Classic Mercury in Retrograde symptoms and still highly annoying. Every little thing seems able to get under my skin. Recently I’ve had several pieces of bad news hit very close to home. These happenings have put my ‘off days’ into perspective and make me thankful the worst thing that happened to me personally, was falling off the couch while watering a hanging plant. Just call me Grace!

Thankfully none of these occurrences have been too rough to handle, and that’s a blessing. Yet this news has made me very contemplative. After weeks of it, I find myself looking up to the heavens and ask. “What the heck?!” It feels as if getting through life has been like pushing a boulder uphill.

Now, I don’t mind hard work or getting my hands dirty when my heart is behind the task. So metaphorically pushing my boulder of life uphill is something I understand that must happen occasionally. Especially when duties I work so hard at benefit the goals I am trying to manifest to fruition. Worky, work! Busy bee! That’s me.

As I hear pieces of bad news floating around me and affecting others I love, I have started to look within and purposely count and appreciate my blessings. I believe life is doing its best to reveal what that needs to change in my life. My days have been full of working, cleaning, working, sleeping, working, eating, worry and more working. Though I have been working a great deal and I enjoy my work, it’s still work!

I feel as if I am missing fun, laughter, happiness, and joy in my life. I have not made connection, play or love a priority these days, and it has always been something that can be put off for later. If I don’t catch myself allowing this behavior, it seems to me like my life starts to reflect this and I do not like that one bit!

I honestly cannot remember the last time I belly laughed or felt truly happy. As they say, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” This sentiment is precisely how I’ve been feeling and acting. Do you ever feel this way at times? Even though I believe life is to be enjoyed and lived fully, I have not been doing so great at it. What needs to change is the amount of effort I put towards organizing and allowing joy, play, and fun!

Although I know that happiness is something you create for yourself, I think it’s a good idea to ask my loved ones to join me on my journey to finding more joy. After all, what supports happiness more than sharing time with your favorite people? Making time for myself and my family has a way of filling my soul and lifting my energy and attitude about life. How about you?

All the news I hear and as I witness loved ones struggling, it has me remembering to count my blessings and saying. “Thank you for this day.” The minute I open my eyes in the morning. I’ve started wearing my mala prayer beads again, each time I notice them, I say the same simple prayer of “Thank you.” It’s a reminder for myself to be grateful for this life I’ve been blessed with.

Sometimes I find it’s just the energy I bring to any activity that makes it seem fun. Turning exercise into a nature hike with my daughter and our dog, Hank is a great way to add bonding time. These simple heart-centered connections help bring joy into my days. I am going to work on re-directing my focus and energy on my blessings. These events and news have shaken me up and have helped to reorganize my priorities to their proper order.

When life gets heavy, I’ve found that is when it’s time to count your blessings, add family, friends, and fun. I know it is up to me to put myself into situations that will help lift my spirit. These things that help us find our smile again are as personal and specific to everyone as our taste buds, and I know my favorite flavors of fun! I hear the messages loud and clear. It’s time to cook up a life that feeds my heart and my spirit!

I have decided to embark on a new journey to add joy to my life and remove what does not. I have set my intention for this summer. I will call this 2019 journey, The Summer of Love, Sun and Fun! I want to reconnect and strengthen bonds. I choose to laugh, play and truly enjoy the people in my life that make it so great.

What do you say? Would you like to join me?!

What are the ways you put play, fun, and laughter into your everyday life? I’d love to hear your suggestions!

Sending love, blessings, and joy,

Emy Minzel

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel