Tag: adventure sisters

@emyminzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

*Disclaimer ~ the photograph used in this blog I found many years ago on the internet and do not know who to give photo credit to. If by chance it is you I would gladly add your name to the photo that moved my soul.

Asking for help is hard!

January 26, 2018January 26, 2018 emyminzel

Does anyone else hate to ask for help? I do. It is so hard for me often I struggle for a long while trying to ‘do it myself’ before I either just give up completely, or finally with a great deal of hesitation I will ask for the help I need. I am not sure why I have this dislike of asking for help. Most people are happy to help when I ask yet there are times when they are not.

I was raised by a single mother who had to do most everything by herself. For a long while I was a single mother too, is this a side effect of single motherhood? Or is it a side effect of stubbornness? I conclude it is most likely a combination of both. Of course; there are the instances when I do ask for help and do not get the support I need. Is there a reason behind that? Does that mean what I want or need help with isn’t meant for me? Does it mean ask someone else? Or does it mean keep trying to do it yourself because I will eventually figure it out?

The Adventure Sisters are working on three book proposals due in April. We are also working very hard to build the public platform of supportive readers. The platforms are meant to help us reach as many people as possible. The Publishers decide whose books to publish by looking for writers who are willing to do extra work to sell themselves, their books, and their ideas. That is why Stacy and I have started the Adventure Sister social media promotional pages also we’ve started blogs to introduce you to who we are. In our blogs we work on expressing our beliefs to expose readers to the why behind what we are writing about.

It is our hopes and dreams that others will support us in the pursuit of becoming published authors. To do this we need to ask for help from our friends, family, and others who resonate with the message of the Adventure Sisters. My job is to trust in our path, continue to believe that God/Universe will bring us the helpers we need to bring our dream of being published to fruition. I believe that the women I met today at Toast Masters were helping angels that came into my life at the perfect time to help me grow by helping me use my voice. All I had to do was show up and ask.

I believe that every path or event happens to help you grow and learn. I believe life will open the doors that are for you, or not, for reasons I don’t get to know right now. I have found that as I embark on this literary writing adventure, I’ve been forced to ask for help. It’s very uncomfortable feeling for me. Some people are more helpful then others, yet I realize that most people are willing to help when you ask. The only fix to this conundrum is to find the courage to keep asking for the help I need, so that we can keep making progress in pursuit of accomplishing our dreams.

I will take this lesson of asking for help with me to the future, I see it takes courage for everyone to ask for help not just me. I will do my best to help others when they ask because I have compassion for the uncomfortable feelings that can come with asking for help. It is my sincerest gratitude for the people who are reading my blog right now, who help the Adventure Sisters move forward in pursuit of our Joy.

Thank you for reading, sharing, liking, and commenting on our posts, it truly does help us to increase our platform. Thank you for helping me confirm the kindness I believe exists in all people just like you. You are the twinkling street lights of support on the road to our literary escapades that lay ahead. Thank you for your help.

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

The Adventure Sisters on Instagram
@adventuresistersbwca

What being an Adventure Sister means

January 24, 2018 emyminzel

Being an Adventure Sister means that I am someone who goes on adventures and also inspires adventure, it means I enjoy encouraging others to inspire themselves. My dream is to motivate others to feel the same sense of delight and satisfaction I feel when doing something I find exciting and invigorating by getting off the couch and jumping into my life. This reminds me of a saying that I love. “The only difference between, fear and excitement is, your attitude about it.” I find this to be true. There are many times I’ve felt frightened, and excited at the same time. The difference in my experience was decided by my attitude while going through the journey.

I became an Adventure Sister when I realized that I was deeply moved by my experiences in nature. I was hooked on the feeling of personal accomplishments, doing things I’ve never done before, addicted to the feeling of pride that adventure provided! Was it the adrenalin of boldly sauntering into the forest of unknown activities and occupants? Was it the excitement of mysterious endeavors and events that kept us on our toes? Not knowing everything that’s going to happen seemed to lend itself to the magic of synchronicities that appear to motivate our fun outcomes.

Adventure Sister Stacy and I have survived waves that were so large when we dipped our paddles into the water it only hit air, then wildly splashed inside the canoe. We’ve battled waves that muted each of our strokes, so powerful they pulled our canoe to the middle of the large lake no matter how hard we tried to keep closer to shore. We’ve survived athletic feats we were in no way prepared for. We’ve even accidentally popped a gas tank on a rental car in Florida, that leaked so profusely the firemen said, it likely could have been very dangerous. Yet we continue to make it home safely and in one piece each time we dared to be brave. I feel like I should give a shout out and giant expression of gratitude to my guardian angels and guides right now, they’ve helped through some wild rides.

Who you choose to accompany you does matter when on an adventure, and Stacy is great because she doesn’t fuss while working as hard as we needed to. We were able to turn hard-core camping excursions into spiritual adventures that helped us gain confidence in ourselves while building trusting supportive relationship with each other. We grew our spiritual practices simultaneously which became a special type of bond like the one lots of people cherish at church. Only our church nature. It is a blessing to have someone to help you grow in meaningful directions, and inspires you to be a better you. The bond of sisterhood that Stacy and I have founded in each other through our expeditions together has added depth that seem to make our adventures more enjoyable and meaningful.

You just never know where you’ll end up on an adventure, that’s what so exciting about it. Leaving your schedule open to be being able to take that invitation, or the scenic route on vacation can be one of the best ways to find excitement. Going off the beaten path leads us to have new experiences lets us see things I would not have if everything was scheduled on a strict itinerary. Support is essential to a joyful adventure, its important bring someone who you like and trust. It helped that I felt supported by my family who had my back when going out of my comfort zone.

I want to inspire others to bring excitement and play back into their lives, by telling them them how I found Joy in my life, that just so happened to be inspired by adventure. What I find exciting may not be to you, or vice versa, I am not recommending you bungee jump off a bridge if you are frightened of heights. Or go ahead if you want to be courageous! I found the feeling of honor in doing something I never thought I could is one of the best feelings to be in my body for. Not all adventures have to be dangerous, thrill seeking events. Finding courage to write that book, to have a baby (or not) to change careers, or make any change that makes you feel good about yourself are adventures. It’s all in the way you look at them.

I believe with all my heart, you’re never too old, too young or too anything to do something that makes your heart sing. It makes your heart sing for a reason, because that’s your song to sing! I want to inspire the bravery in others to find courage you need to sing your song by being fearless in pursing my own unique melody. To be an Adventure Sister means to inspire greatness in all of life’s adventures, from babies to grandbabies, from college to retirement and everything in between or after, it is never too late to feel great!

What makes you feel brave? What makes you feel proud? Are you an Adventure Sister too?

I would love to hear what inspires you to inspire others!

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org/tell-department-interior-and-bureau-land-management-protect-boundary-waters

The Adventure Sisters on Instagram
@adventuresistersbwca

Lessons From the BWCA

January 16, 2018January 16, 2018 emyminzel

I would have never guess the types of changes that came to me and my Adventure Sister Stacy when we first launched our rented canoe full of gear into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of Minnesota the summer of 2013. We were naive in what the forest would teach us, how it would refine me by polishing my character, deepen my morals, give me courage to pursue ambitions, value and believe in myself gaining self-worth, our experiences in the BWCA even mended my faith in God/The Universe.

We were immediately awe-struck with the beauty of the Boundary Waters as we paddled towards our very first portage experience. Words were insufficient to represent the peaceful grace we felt in the remote and visually stunning wildlife landscape. It was the day I fell in love again, with nature. I thought to myself while feeling that grace and hearing the sound of only our paddles hitting the water “This must be where God lives.”

The Boundary Waters does don’t suffer fools, the wild wilderness can be just as dangerous as it is beautiful. Stacy and I thought nothing of this as we boldly longed for some fun and adventure in our lives. That summer was healing and transformative for the both of us. Stacy had just left her marriage of twelve years, and was selling her home. I was starting a new career, struggling to grow my client list, while making very little money. Times where much harder then we’d been used too, life at home was sometimes stressed.

On the water in a canoe with my new friend, I felt the burdens of life lifted from the minute we were dropped off in the wild to fend for ourselves. Isn’t funny how some things you deem as important are not too important, when you are using all your focus, kicking in heighten survival instincts that work like magic, giving you the abilities to navigate new watery paths before you. In the Boundary Waters it is imperative to be extra careful not to make careless mistakes that might be hilarious, also maybe dangerous… or even worse.

I know from experience see, because the very next day, we tipped the gosh darn canoe! We were lucky that it happened while fishing, we did not have all our portage packs filled with equipment in the canoe with us, only our fishing gear. Whew!!!! Thank the good Lord above for that blessing. Because (Insert dingy white girl voice here) “O.M.G! Like that would have been the biggest bummer ever!” It took us forever to get the swamped canoe emptied enough to ride back to camp. Luckily we were okay and still had a boat to get back to civilization the consequences could have been far worse.

I’ll admit it, we did not know much about anything on our first trip to the Boundary Waters. Even though neither of us had even filleted a fish, we went up into the Northwoods with sparing food, depending on the fish to catch to eat while there. I find it funny that when we were naïvely trusting the Universe to provide us fish, we caught more then enough and released what we did not eat. During the several more years of remote wilderness hardcore adventures we boasted, not one more fish would be caught after that first year. Now we don’t even bring our poles.

My philosophies on my experiences fishing have changed my beliefs about the ethical treatment of animals we eat, it has changed the way I live my life. This change in my ethical beliefs started on the very first time I visited the Boundary Waters. although with my Irish German heritage I am just a teeny tiny bit stubborn, it tends to take me some time to adapt… Change is scary and hard if you are not ready for it. I wasn’t ready at first, but the winds of change blew a seed into my soul, it takes time for gestation.

Stacy and I went deep into the forest to connect with Spirit, to manifest the changes we desperately wanted and needed. The concept of The Adventure Sisters was born on this first excursion into the BWCA wilderness. Little did we know that five years later we would be embarking together on a literary adventure, with a shared dream of empowering others as we have felt empowered. The Boundary Waters voyages changed our lives in so many positive ways that we want to give back to others in hopes they may find the same magic in their lives.

Stacy and I repeatedly faced obstacles, challenges, and follies in the BWCA we worked together to over-come them all. We learned we could depend on each other, we fostered trust in each other and man-o-man we had discovered we could have grand adventures and lots of fun together!

We came out of the forest as The Adventure Sisters, with a renewed self-esteem, exuding genuine Joy. We were very proud of ourselves for going well beyond our comfort zones challenging ourselves to make changes in our lives. We learned we work well individually but are much stronger when we work together. Things that sound so simple in words, but has a much bigger impact with experience.

From just this one, very first Boundary Waters Canoe Area experience I have gathered:

Courage: To do the things that scare me, and try new things, even if they make me uncomfortable.

Spiritual connection: Connection I felt to God, the earth and all living beings in it, changed dramatically, my thoughts on how we treat and respect the environment changing the direction of my life path.

Self-Worth: That grew into the ability to make the changed in my life that were needed by valuing my self and morals.

Self-esteem: I needed to believe that little old me, can make a difference of good, for the future before I would even try. Here I am, trying new things again, the BWCA helped me believe I could do that.

Teamwork: Better, stronger, wiser when we stick together babe.

Trust: I learned not only to trust in the abilities in myself but trust God/The Universe to bring me only good. My path does have a purpose, I am able to see that and trust in it now.

Thats just the first year! We were instantly hooked on the physical challenges, and the spiritual and emotional growth that keeps us coming back year after year. There are people just like you that bring their children, loved ones, or go solo up to the forests of BWCA where they can unplug from the daily grind just enough to be able to plug back into our connection with the Universe.

We sincerely do feel God up in God’s Country in The Boundary Waters, you would too I bet. This place should not be gambled away for any amount of money. The BWCA gives magical life lessons that no money can buy.

Look I’m just a girl who loves, her family, friends and pets… and clean air and water. I have learned that if I feel like I should be doing something then I better do it! Or inevitably I suffer anxiety, depression, and even create bad habits to cover up the feeling of guilt for not doing something I should be doing.

I believe life makes us move and act by making us uncomfortable, making us upset, and waving red flags in front of your face that move powerful emotions. If we were happy and content about the way things are we would not want to change right? Powerful emotions make you move.

I am passionate about keeping the environment clean for future generations. So avid that I choose to bravely push aside my introverted tendencies, gather courage to voice my opinion publicly in hopes of affecting change to protect the Boundary Waters from the impending environmental mining pollution.

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area is a magical place in the forest that teaches people to be better people, this place where God lives, must be cherished, treasured and protected.

Please help me in doing so by signing this petition to Save The Boundary Waters.

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

The Adventure Sisters on Instagram
@adventuresistersbwca

How do we honor our inner child?

January 12, 2018January 12, 2018 emyminzel

I am continuing the conversation of honoring different aspect of our personalities that we may not like to acknowledge. The inner child is one part of my personally that intrigues me, maybe because mine seems to be asking a lot of me lately. It demands I spend time doing things that I love, not just the things that the adult part of me thinks need to be done. Like work, laundry, dishes, and other insanely boring chores of life that seem to steal my precious time, keeping me preoccupied with monotony. In short, lately I have found being an ‘adult” alllll the time is horrifically boring!!! This is when I feel the tug of my inner child the most. She seems to say day after day, “Girl, there’s gotta be more to life then this! Let’s go find it!”

“Heck yes. Let’s do this!” I, answer back to that little girl who just wants to have fun.

Then my adult voices says; “Mmmmhmmm sure, right after you vacuum.”

Gah!!!! Round and round we go, match for match, day after day. Until somethings gotta give. It’s odd to talk about playing as an adult, is it not? The adventures I have experienced with my soul sister Stacy in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area have let me feel free enough to remember how to play again. Is it only me? Or do you have days when wearing this adult version of my meat suit/body feels just plain weird?

My body gets older, my hair is graying, and there are life lines around my eyes. Yet there are times I feel so honestly inquisitive, full of love and trusting of life that I can feel the innocence of my childlike soul still shining inside. It makes me feel like playing outside, letting my hair down, and getting creative. At times I yearn to belly laugh until it’s hard to breathe and my face hurts. Surely this is not too much to ask for?! As Stacy likes to tell me “I make the rules for MY life!”

I like the way you think sister friend. So, this is the new rule. I choose to listen to the little voice calling, I will call her my ‘inner child’ because it seems fitting. I will honor her needs because she is part of me, the best part if you really think about it. The innocence you once had as a child is still in you, it is where your hope lives. You cannot deny the importance of hope! This is the part of us that if nurtured, will ensure we make the world a kinder place. There is no fear or violence in hope or innocent children, this part still lives in you and we can choose to nurture it.

I do this by adding play and whimsy to my life, in simple ways. I love to write, it feels like creating art and allows me to express myself. When I am with friends and family we like to play board games or interactive games at gatherings, bowling or hiking. It brings us all together to ‘play’ and build relationships with occasional team building skills mixed in. If I am by myself I might embrace the feminine part of my inner child and get girly. I will give myself a pedicure, or a facial, put on a hydrating mask and fully embrace the beauty rituals I use that make me feel good.

When in the Boundary Waters Stacy and I take blow up inner tubes put them around our waist or sit in them and float in the sun giggling and chattering away like best girlfriends do at any age. We would go ‘exploring’ in the forest on trails, hop in the canoe to find what we haven’t seen before just for the sake of pleasing our curious inner child. We often find the beauty in the simple things the Universe offers noticing the wonder of how moss can look like a teeny tiny forest all its own.

I might choose to go outside and play in the garden, well not today, its January in Minnesota. I can plan; scratch that… ‘plan’ sounds too much like work… In the winter I love to take the opportunity to dream and create a beautiful new garden lay out. I love to use color pencils and draw where the plants might go so I can visualize it. I love how each year is different and gives me the ability to get whimsical by using my artistic creativity in a fun playful way.

If I change the way I think about things, the things I think about change. I find how I feel about things is all in the attitude I bring to them. I don’t just have a garden that I must weed. I choose to see and enjoy my garden as a continuous work of art, the effort I put into it or not shows. Isn’t that true of all relationships? Even the relationships we have with ourselves?

If we choose to not nurture any part of ourselves, or relationships we cannot fully enjoy life’s offerings or its many infinite destinies. Why would fun show up for us if we are not able to embrace the richness it brings to our lives? Why deny any parts of yourself by not recognize the vulnerable part of you that needs to be heard, seen or validated in any aspect of your personality?

Aren’t the neediest parts of you the loudest and hardest to ignore anyways? Just possibly could these be the parts of ourselves that cause us to act out as not our best-self, causing unnecessary drama when you ignore it for too long? What if we tried to sooth that inner child, fulfill its needs, so we can move on from these triggers?

What’s the worst that could happen if you looked these tendencies right in the eye and asked. “What do you REALLY mean by that feeling? What do you really need?”

What if you had the courage to wait and listen to the answer? Oh boy! How exciting it could be to find out what it is you truly want and need! After all, you’re an adult now and you get to make the rules for your life. As an adult give yourself permission to admit when we just need a hug, admit when you need to feel validated and heard. It is okay to speak up when we aren’t feeling loved in a way that you can comprehend, or even if you need some attention. Your inner child is part of you, to deny it is to deny yourself.

What does your inner child ask from you? Is it to come out and play or is it demanding more? The inner child in you has plenty of hope and courage for today and the future. I can hear them calling, I know you can too. I’d love to hear your thoughts on inner child work. Feel free to comment below!

Wishing you and abundance of Love, Laughter, and Blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!