Tag: adventure

Boundary Waters Solo Mission Day 1

emyminzel

I will not lie. I was a little nervous as my favorite Guide Lawrence, drove me and the rented solo canoe to Slim Lake. Pulling into the tiny parking lot and setting all the gear down, he said. “The most important thing to remember is to always wear your life vest and take your time. Don’t hurry, that’s when you make mistakes.” I thought this was sound advice, and since I was planning to stay for four days, I was not in any hurry.

When I got all my gear and the canoe to the lake, I had noticed it was windy, and the waves were strong. Luckily the water was flowing north to the direction I had planned on paddling, which is a plus. I loaded my canoe with two portage packs, a soft-sided backpack cooler, and my trusty brown backpack that has accompanied me on all my BWCA adventures. I pushed off and went feeling adventure calling me home.

My heart was racing, but the majestic beauty of the landscape seemed to calm me, reminding me to relax. I knew deep down that I got this. The waves were strong, and it took some effort as I paddled to my intended campsite, I saw that it was already occupied by two women. I asked if they knew if the next site to the north was open and they said they had not seen anyone else all day. Perfect!

I kept going north hoping that the campsite was free; otherwise, I would have to turn around and fight the waves all the way back down to the southern end of the lake where there was another site. Thankfully when I arrived, I saw the site was free, and it looked perfect for me. It was on a point, and I noticed it even had a lovely small sandy beach where I could pull up the canoe. There was a lone butterfly that fluttered around me the whole time I was setting up as if to say. “I am so happy to see you!” I took this as a good omen and continued on.

Welcoming committee!
Private Beach
Picture of Contentment
Solo swim smile!

 

 

Deciding that when I had set up the tent and got situated, I knew this beach is where I would be sitting that evening. By the time I was done, I was warm and needed to cool off. I decided to put my swimming suit on and test out the water to enjoy my own little piece of heaven. The water was warm, and the wind had died down considerably. It was if Slim Lake was giving me a warm, gentle welcoming because the first day was the best weather of my stay.

The campsite was so peaceful I did not once feel scared! I felt secure knowing that experience had taught me enough to stay warm, watch my footing, and like Lawrence said, take my time doing everything! As I sat in my camp chair on the mini beach, eating a peanut butter sandwich, I couldn’t help but feel anything but gratitude for this moment. Appreciation for being in the middle of a postcard picture moment and being brave enough to journey to that spot alone.

As dragonflies zoomed by taking care of the flies that may have bugged me, I felt contentment seep into my body. The peace and calm I felt was the exact reason why I love the BWCA as much as I do. I am telling you, nowhere in the world do I feel as connected and centered to my self and Spirit as I do when I am there. I kept repeating my mantra for my stay, which was simply. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

As the sun sank behind the giant pines and the dusk grew into darkness, I noticed that I was tired, so got ready for bed without having a campfire. I put everything away and tucked my portage packs under the rainfly. I used bungee cords to secure my cooler to a pine tree that was farthest away from my tent. It wasn’t hanging or fancy, but it would help to detour forest critters from food theft. Besides, I figure if a bear wants my food, I’m going to just let them go ahead and have it!

As I lay in the tent alone, the sound of the nocturnal critters coming alive kept me up for a bit. Beavers came to the campsite and chatted so loudly that I thought it was a gang of raccoons! I clapped my hands a few times and said. “Hey, you! That’s mine!” to detour them from my cooler tied to a tree. It seemed to work just fine, and after a bit, they skedaddled. I fell asleep and woke up around midnight to see the moon shining brightly through the screen window of my tent. It was so pretty I tried to take a picture, but of course, you cannot capture the beauty of the moon on a camera.

Moon in the tent

This first day was so enjoyable and fantastic!  Again, I just have to say. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” I felt that I had indeed made the right choice to go out on my solo adventure. That was until the next morning when the tides will change. But I will save that story for tomorrow! Hope you enjoyed the story and pictures of my first alone in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area as much as I enjoy sharing my love with you!

Wishing you a beautiful blessed day,

Love, Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

Visit me at EmyMinzel.com

EmyMinzel.AdventureSister@gmail.com

@EmyMinzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

www.AdventurewithEmyandStacy.com

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What being an Adventure Sister means

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

https://emyminzel.com

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

The Adventure Sisters on Instagram
@adventuresistersbwca

 

 

 

Ripple of hope

emyminzel

Adventure Sister Stacy has always been like a big sister to me. She isn’t much older, yet she seems to have more kindness and wisdom then the average soul and that makes her someone I look up to. She is a nurse like my grandmother, I admire nurses, I also admire her leadership skills because leads in a positive way. She always encourages others to see things from a different perspective so that they can help themselves. She does not help you, she helps you help yourself. I view this as a gift. They say that you are attracted to the people you need in your life and I am thankful to be blessed to know my soul sister Stacy.

How does she do it? Great leadership skills, kindness, compassion and positive attitude are not always things that go together, in fact I believe it is rare to have all these qualities. I understand why she has excelled in her career, she deserves every opportunity she receives because she’s worked very hard to get there. She’s no slouch, she does her part and expects you to do yours, while also encouraging greatness for both of you. She sees the uniqueness in others, asking questions of you until she finds the rawness underneath of what manifested the perceived problems. Stacy seems to magically pull the truth of the real feelings that are masked by the ego, insecurities or fears, and she does it in a gentle way that makes you feel nurtured not interrogated.

Stacy and I realized that we make a great team not because we play well together but because we complement each other’s strengths and encourage each other in areas that aren’t our strong suites. Astrologically we are exactly 6 months apart to the date, which makes us balance each other like the Yin Yang symbol, our relationship seems to be very easy and complimentary. We tend to see and bring out only the best parts of each other. Isn’t that what friendship should be about?

I can be outspoken, wear my heart on my sleeve, swear more then I should and I am not afraid of conflict. I don’t like conflict, I am just not afraid of it. If I feel there is an injustice happening around me, I will stand up and say so. She has had more practice at expressing herself with diplomacy than I, yet she encourages me to speak up reminding me to keep my vibes positive. Somedays I like to think that it must be easier for her to stay positive, but I know that it is not, it is a habit she is learning to cultivate, just like I am.  I do not compare myself to her, because it would be like comparing apple to bananas, we are different for a good reason.

I try to emulate her positivity that makes feel people feel safe and nurtured so I am able to inspire change not try and demand it. I work very hard at making changes I desire in my own life, so I respect the hard work it takes to change characteristic or habits like trying to stay positive when life and its situations are not always joyous or happy. I believe we do not have to add to the negative, we can choose to bring others up, not let others bring us down.

We can choose to see the pain underneath the bravado of anger, bullying or complaining, by acknowledging it, when we are able to talk about it we are then able change it. Instead of blaming and pointing fingers when we feel wronged seeing the good in others allows us to recognize the motivation under the actions. I truly believe most everyone is good at heart, I believe that there are more humans that are good then ‘bad’.

I see a sad trend in society seemingly assumes that everyone but themselves are dumb, irritating or jerks… am I wrong here? Who thinks not one soul on the road knows how to drive as well as they do? Or who thinks the woman who butted in line a head of you is just rude and selfish, without giving her the benefit of the doubt that just maybe she didn’t even realize she butted?

Stacy isn’t Saint Stacy she is just a woman doing her best to practice joy, kindness and acceptance. She has been practicing longer then I so the practice seems comes a little more naturally to her because she’s been practicing! Look how I have portrayed my friend, as a kind and good person, because that’s what I choose to see and believe to be true in her. When, we choose to look for only the bad, so we have something to complain about, that is all we will see, even in the people we love.

Stacy has taught me in the kindest way, that I cannot change others I can only change myself. In doing so, I can only hope that the positive changes I’ve made in myself ripple out as hope and love into the rest of my life. I believe that I can start a ripple of hope right now. I believe that God knows just where it needs to go, I trust that my hope will get where it’s needed at the right time. I believe that for you too. Raise your vibes, ripple out rays of hope and love friends! It feels good.

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

The Adventure Sisters on Instagram
@adventuresistersbwca

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 with the link below.

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

Show your passion with compassion

emyminzel

What will you say to your children who say, “Wait a minute, you knew this was happening and you didn’t do anything about it?” Have you thought about that? I have. You are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts. According to NASA 97% of the world’s top climate scientist confirm that there is in FACT Global warming and human actions that can be changed would heal this problem.

I also believe that humans are truly good people trying to do the best they can in the time and space we are given. My Adventure Sister wrote a blog that got me thinking. She put the thought out, implying that God sends only angels into our lives… even the people who act in ways that aren’t so angelic. She asks us to accept that all people in the world have soul contracts with other souls, to act in ways that will lead us to learn, grow, and be better.

This thought hit me hard, as I am working on expressing my passion for the environment in a compassionate and loving way. Even though, somedays I feel like an angry environmentalist who thinks human species has lost their ever-loving minds. I care genuinely about being received in a kind, loving and compassionate way, so I can touch as many lives as I possible, to do my part in saving the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, in Minnesota.

Do I need to embrace that this threatening situation might possibly be happening for the greater good? Maybe the threat of losing our beloved Boundary Waters will bring the fine people of Minnesota together to form a bond of unity? Unity that will be powerful enough to stand up to the government officials and corporate interests that threaten the health of our land, and most certainly affect the tourism that supports the livelihood and lifestyle which is the soul of northern Minnesota. Just maybe this situation is an opportunity for us to do the “right thing” and stand up for ourselves and our land? I certainly see this happening all over the world and the United States, uniting against, racism, misogyny and hate.

‘Forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ Luke 23:24. Science says times up because we do know what we do, and we can change. I believe if we act soon, treat the earth with compassion Mother Earth will be benevolent and forgiving of our trespasses. If we nurture and care for the planet she returns the favor. If we treated the earth as a gift from God that it is, we would not be poisoning our soil and waterways with chemicals or pesticides. We would know we are eating the poison. We would not stand by obediently letting corporations systematically poison our water, land and air with more rights and protections, then the people who live in the community. When do we get to say enough is enough?

Politically we are seeing a free for all, public land grabbing for resources all over North America. Coastal communities fearing the consequences of drilling for oil in their beautiful and beloved homelands. Here in Minnesota, public officials are under a great deal of pressure to grant permission to a mineral mining that threatens the beloved Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

This over-seas company with headquarters in the state of Minnesota wants to mine for sulfide-ore copper at the headwaters of the National Park known as The Boundary Waters Canoe area. Environmental studies show, this type of mining means eminent pollution.

  • Researchers warn that ALL sulfide-ore copper mining produces extremely toxic sulfites that would flow directly into the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area to contaminate the entire 1.1 million acres of pristine water and unspoiled forest.

 

  • The Boundary Waters contains twenty percent of all the fresh water in the entire National Forest System! That is a lot of pristine water we are risking for no real gain except a couple jobs.

 

  • Sulfide-ore copper mining produces giant waste piles that leach sulfuric acid, heavy metals and sulfates into the environment, proven to pollute groundwater, rivers and lakes. In the history of sulfide mining, pollution has NEVER been avoided.

 

  • The scientific environmental studies show that it is not only, IF but WHEN the mine leaches its toxic sulfites into the pristine waters of the Boundary Waters that the ecosystem will be toxic for at least 500 years… so forever.

 

It is common practice for corporations like these to pollute and loot “our land” getting away with it, with no real consequences. They, simply shrug off any responsibility of environmental cleanup by paying a fine and declaring bankruptcy. Leaving the residence of the now toxic land and tax payers to foot the bill and live with the responsibility of cleanup.

Do you remember Freedom Industries corporation in West Virginia that poisoned the drinking water for over 300,000 people and nine counties in 2014?! I do. The residence of this area still suffer four years later, without drinkable water and multiple heath complaints. All because government officials valued industry over the health of the land which they live.

If Al Roker where to inform us each morning at 7:12am that the condition of air quality has suffered in North America overnight because of environmental fracking waste, and fossil fuel drilling/refineries, chemical spills, pesticides and mining accidents. I believe  ‘we the people’ of the US would be far less willing to sacrifice their land, air, water and the health of our loved ones.

Some of the dirtiest fuels and chemicals manufactured are exempt from the outdated Clean Air and Water Act. Our current Congress works to de-regulate environmental protections and grant corporate permissions to violate and pillage, sacred native lands, federal forest, parks, reserves and waters. Areas deemed so precious that they should be in the protective hands of the government in the first place?!… this makes me scratch my head some.

The thought of losing over a million acres of pristine land and water, in an area which has changed my life for the better, makes my blood boil. I am angry, I also understand that anger will not help the situation. What will help are the actions we take to stop this from happening. Using our voices, our will to do good, uniting together to protect what we love will be the only way to make a difference.

So here I am an introverted, angry environmentalist, who just wants to cuddle my dogs, leaping fearlessly out of my comfort zone to do what I can to make a difference. I will voice my opposition loudly and proudly with protective compassion, because I believe that people are good at heart and want to do the right thing.

Let’s unite in love of this truly special place on earth, let’s vow to do anything and everything we can to Save The Boundary Waters of Minnesota. Who’s with me?

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

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

 

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

The Adventure Sisters on Instagram
@adventuresistersbwca

 

 

Is your inner child calling?

emyminzel

I recently wrote about creating  my own drama, asking what part of me is the part that creates the drama and for what reason? I am fascinated by some personality traits especially when I surprise myself with my own actions. I am sure a psychologist has medical terminology for any personality trait I could muster, but I am not a doctor, so I will not play one on the internet. I am looking for the deeper space that the personality trait comes from, I know it is part of me. But what part? Who are you in there and how can I help us so that we don’t act out by creating drama or conflict when there does not have to be.

I know that I am an odd duck, I recognize some may see my beliefs and ideals as somewhat utopian. I am okay with that, because I believe in the good of humanity. I also believe I hold the spark of life/God inside of me just like you do. With that, I believe I create my own magic by manifesting a beautiful life or creating drama for that matter. I tend to think, for the most part, the quality of life I live is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I have by choosing my attitude, actions, and reactions. I believe that our friends and family hold mirror’s up, so we may see ourselves in the circumstances life puts us in for a reason. To learn and to grow.

Last week Adventure sister Stacy Crep, and I were planning the Boundary Waters adventure for this coming summer. We talked about our intention for the trip, and what we both needed to ‘get out of’ our deep wilderness experience. Usually she and I go together just the two of us, we saunter around the forest like we are Queens under the canopy of trees in a wall-less castle. I find the forest is as comforting and healing to us as home. This year, we talked about how nice it might be to share our spiritual experience with others we love, and decided we would ask a couple others to come with us this summer.

I agreed hesitantly, deep down I was feeling a little selfish and wanted to keep this experience as we had always had it, just the two of us. I am the kind of person who prefers close intimate relationship rather than a party crowd with fluffy discussions of work and the weather. I am a deep thinker, I ponder mysterious meanings in life and so does my soul sister Stacy. We seem to ‘get’ each other and have a formed a soulful connection I have come to cherish greatly. I was just not ready to share this part of our relationship yet. I called myself ‘selfish’ yet I don’t think the intention behind this feeling was to be selfish at all, I believe it was my inner child or the vulnerable part of me saying “I am not ready to share this time with you yet.”

About a week after we had agreed to bring others to the Boundary Waters I was having a hard time sleeping. I laid awake pondering the way I was feeling about the trip I was usually excited about, now I seemed to be feeling the opposite way. I knew I had to tell Stacy how I felt to honor this feeling, or I would have acted out in a way that would probably create drama where there did not have to be any. We are both mature enough to treat each other with unfailing respect that we deserve. I appreciate having a friend who I can be fully honest with, someone who knows that how I ‘feel’ is just as important as how she ‘feels’. In telling her my thoughts about others coming on our adventure, I also spurred a reaction in Stacy that wanted to create conflict and drama had she not chosen to step back from the situation and see it for what it was. Just two girls communicating their feelings.

She admitted to me that the little girl in her wanted to stomp her foot and say “Fine. I am not going then.” I respected her for being so honest with me, I understood completely because that’s exactly what the vulnerable little girl in me was saying too! There we were two grown women being honest about the vulnerability they were feeling, in doing so opened a deeper conversation into honoring our true feelings. We worked together to find a mutual situation we could agree upon. I felt the honesty was liberating, and it made us feel closer then we already felt.

I found this conversation with Stacy helped me to realize that I do sometimes react in a way that is not so mature. In this realization it helps me to dig deeper into my own soul, be honest with myself about who I am on the inside. To validate what I need, not just who I want others to see. If I am honest with my true self, I find it much easier to be honest in all my relationships because I am not only respecting their needs, I am respecting mine as well. If I cover up my true feelings I tend to act out in ways that are not my best self. Is this true for you? What inside of you screams to be heard? How does it ask for help? Or do you yearn to be heard or validated?

I would love to open a conversation about this sensitive subject. Do you honor the vulnerable inner child within you? Or does seeing your own weakness offend your ego and make you send it to the back rooms of your brain where you let its hurt feelings fester until it explodes? Is this your inner child or is it your ego? Maybe it is even your inner child’s ego? What does it have to say that is so important?

I think it is imperative to look inside of yourself for answers you seek. I believe we are wise beings even when we don’t act like it. I believe there is a part of God inside of all of us. I call it our Spirit or Soul that holds valuable intuition and grace if you are quiet enough to listen, if we are aware enough to ask, and are willing to grow. We can nurture it or neglect it, it’s up to you.

Namaste

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters