Tag: friends

Who do you think you are?!

emyminzel

Do you ever dream big and aim for the stars doing something you really want too? Then when you start to take the steps. It seems that once in a while, your self-doubt whispers in the back of your mind. “Who do you think you are?! What makes you think you can do this?”

It’s like there’s a grumpy angel sitting on my shoulder, asking me. “Do you remember where you come from? Let me remind you of all these limiting the beliefs you picked up along the way. Girl, it’s me. Your debilitating doubt, reminding you to watch yourself! Who gave you permission to succeed anyway?! Certainly not me.”

This sounds so silly to write it out and then read. Yet, I genuinely believe I am not the only person to fight these limiting thoughts. It has become a habit for me to write about life lessons and roadblocks to process them. As far as coping mechanisms go, writing is my healthiest. Even then, sometimes, I feel like who cares? Why do I feel this pull and desire to share such personal information?

I believe it’s not that I need someone to care per se. What I need is to feel like I am helping someone else. Isn’t that peculiar? I am a certified massage therapist, I volunteer in my community, and I have a passion for protecting the environment. Yet, with all the action I take to “help” others, I still feel that there is more to do. Then I get frustrated when I don’t see it happening fast enough.

I have this pull to write what I live; in case someone needs to hear they are not alone. Selfishly it feels like I need to write to help myself too. I just listened to a song that said. “Take your time. Life’s lessons are not learned in a day.” How powerful this short phrase is at the exact moment when I seem to be in a hurry to know it all and do it all; like, RIGHT NOW!

Even though I know in my heart that life is a beautiful journey meant to be savored and enjoyed one day at a time. Apparently, I have the patience of Hulu on pause, because when I feel my effort isn’t progressing somewhere fast enough, I get down on myself and just quit moving. That jerk voice in the back of mind kicks in its two cents and asks. “So, this is it then?! Nice try. Remember who you are, sit down and shut up.” Unfortunately, lately, I have been complying.

What an a$$Hole I am to myself sometimes hey?! I mean really, I don’t talk to my friends like this. Why do I speak to myself this way? Where does this icky habit of doubt come from? I honestly think it comes from my lack of patience and just maybe… a buried fear of success. This also seems silly when I write it. Who fears success?!

Most people I know, try every day to succeed on their personal paths. I guarantee they have doubts as well, but do they handle them better than I do? There are days I feel like throwing in the towel on all of it. That dark angel on my shoulder tells me maybe I should just go get a regular job, so I don’t have to worry about doing the books, finding clients, and building my business.

Why do I volunteer my time instead of crawling into bed with a good book and my dog? Why do I pursue politics that get me all riled up, instead of working more on balancing my Zen?! Why do I stifle my creativity because I fear judgment from those who do not create themselves? Why, do I want to have it ALL?! Is what I am working towards even attainable?

Also, why do I have so many questions about life? I hope this is coming across in a friendly and relatable way. There must be others out there who struggle with doubt when pursuing dreams and goals. Are there other people who can relate to my frustration with the pace of life when you feel like you’ve been working so hard but just to feel as if your spinning wheels?

Listen, I believe if every one of us put our problems in a pile, most of us would choose to keep our own instead of trade. This frustration I feel is not a problem, it is an obstacle I know I can navigate. Yet, it feels like I need to a little help to push through right about now. I think we are all in this world together, so I’d like to ask for your help.

What do you do or tell yourself to keep your head up and hopes high? What would you tell your best friend asking this same advice on this topic? I am a fan of sharing sisterhood support, and I’d love to hear from you today!

P.s. I’d love to hear who you think you are! And what obstacle are you working to overcome right now!

Sending the intention of encouragement and self-love to you!

Wishing you the luck you need today,

Love, Emy Minzel 

 Visit me at :

EmyMinzel.com

@EmyMinzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

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Contact me at: EmyMinzel.AdventureSister@gmail.com

 

Stacy Crep ~

https://stacycrep.com

Photo Credit – Emy Minzel – Slim Lake, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness – Ely, Minnesota

 

 

I have learned what is important to me.

emyminzel

I have learned what is important in life to me, after learning some lessons the hard way. Losing friendships and failed relationships have taught me a lot about what is important as I travel through life. I have taken for granted, very important people in my life, only to regret it after it was too late to do anything. Losing my grandparents within a month of each other was a giant slap to my ego. I learned some major life lesson’s the hard way, for a few years after that.

The saying “You don’t know what you got until it’s gone.” Had significant meaning to me after these tragic events. I did not get to tell my grandmother, to her face, how much I truly looked up to her and that I believed she was a real-life hero. I did not get to thank her for her the love and kindness that helped shape who I had become. As a writer, I am much more comfortable writing out my feelings then expressing them with my voice. Yet, these experiences have taught me I must use ‘my voice’ when it is important for me to do so.

It is important, that I let the people I love, know just how much I love them and why. Many people in the world are sensitive, self-conscious and really do wonder if they are truly loved. I spent time, running circles in my own head, when I was younger wondering what made me worthy of love? Did just being born mean that I was entitled to love? I had a long and difficult journey, in my youth, learning just how to love myself. Learning how to give myself the respect and significance, I often gave freely to others, yet didn’t feel worthy of myself. In time, I found what I was looking for. Me. I was there all along.

I am grateful I have learned to love my perfectly imperfect self. That was because I also learned how to love others unconditionally first. I learned that nobody is perfect, and I should not expect myself to be either. I learned that I love other people’s imperfects just as much as I love the things they are really great at. My daughter is sometimes too shy to come out of her shell. When I see her acting this way I think; “I wish she knew just how wonderful she truly is. She is so smart, kind, witty, generous and has a heart of gold. I wish she could see herself as I see her.” I often wonder what others see when they see me. Do you?

I have learned what matters and is important to me; is that I let others know the wonderful qualities I see they possess. I have learned to appreciate my own mother, so much more, after the death of my grandparents. I am an only child, like my daughter. I learned what it felt like to have your one and only child move out and grow up. Never once, when I was younger and moving out on my own, did I even think of my mom’s feelings about the situation. I was so excited to be moving on with my life that I didn’t even realize she was also beginning a new journey herself.

Learning to appreciate the experiences of my elders, like my mother, is also important to me. I would much rather learn some lessons through the experiences of others, especially if they are difficult ones. Learning that with age comes wisdom, was a turning point for me. I started to reach out to others more experienced then I. Life experiences are meant to be shared; sometimes they help you and other times you can use your experiences to help others.

Another value that is important to me is connection. To feel heard, to be appreciated for who I truly am. I have learned to always try my hardest to be ‘authentically me.’ I have learned that when I’m not me, when I try to fit in and follow the heard, life gets more difficult. It became of utmost importance to me, to listen to my heart and the callings of my soul. It was difficult at times, but I never felt more purposeful in my life then when I started to truly be me. Quirky humor, type ‘A’ personality, Nature loving hippie chick, who really wanted to let my light shine.

I wanted that light to shine in a way that helped others the same way I had learned from the strong women in my life. I wanted to pay it forward and decided that if I wanted to change the world, I had better work on myself first. So, I did. I started looking within for the answers instead of searching for external direction. I figured out that nobody knew what I needed, to feel fulfilled, but me. I just had to ask myself the hard questions and hold myself accountable for the changes I wished to see.

It became important to me to practice kindness. To share my love for life, the planet and for others in a way that felt good and healthy. I started by gardening organic produce. Working to learn about and implementing Permaculture practices around my home. I wanted to nurture the Earth as she nurtured me. I learned to respect my mother’s opinion instead of rolling my eyes like a teenager. I learned that my young daughter had more wisdom then she led on. I learned I was also full of wisdom I could chose to use as well.

I learned that my husband’s commitment to me was the foundation I depend on to be brave enough to shine my light in the political arena. Without him offering a safe place to fall, I would have not felt comfortable enough to put myself ‘out there.’ I have learned to not take this very special relationship for granted. I have learned to be better at keeping up relationships by taking responsibility for contacting my friends and family instead of waiting for the phone to ring. I do this because my relationships are important to me.

People are important to me; my family, friends, community and the strangers (friends) I do not know yet revolving on this planet around me. We are all connected on this big old Globe. I see that we have so much more in common then we could ever have in differences. I work to shine my light to promote peace, community and working together.

This is me. I have learned that it is okay to be as me, as I can be, while loving others for who they truly are as well. Warts and all. I truly believe most people are good in their souls, they just have to choose to foster the good and utilize it. I do my best to do the same. It is connection that is most important to me, not money or power. It is the divine spark of life within that connects us all that I like to promote in myself and others. This is what I find most important.

Empowering others to be as authentic as possible to themselves is what powers me to be and do better every day. The good in me, sees the good in you!

What is most important to you?

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

EmyforHouse.com

@emyminzel

@EmyforHouse15A

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earth Angels

emyminzel

I believe the world is a much kinder place then the news likes to lead on. I believe that everyday citizens like you and I, are great people who love our families, community and Country. I believe most people in all countries want the same thing for themselves and their loved ones too. No matter how different we are. I believe people would not flee their homeland if they felt secure and free. I believe everyone should have their needs met.

We all want and need clean water and air, nutritious food, our health, a safe warm place to live with a purpose to be alive. These are the essential elements of what makes us feel safe and fully free to enjoy life. When we are missing any of these we feel it intensely in every area of ourselves, mind, body, spirit.

I believe young children are the best example of what it means to fully enjoy being human. They run around learning new things all day, eating lunch, taking naps, not wondering or worrying about how their needs are going to be met. They just trust that they are. What a wonderful life we live for the first six years. Life gets more complicated as we grow but we still have the same needs.

I love that most of our Country is empathetic to those less fortunate who still have needs they need met. I see that from small to larger communities’ people are helping neighbors. Fellow citizens joining forces to form compassionate community groups doing their best to fill the gap for those in need that seem to slip through the systems already in place.

I see churches helping the homeless, I see children making donations to those in need out of their own funds. I see groups making backpacks of love filled with things that a child would need if taken to a foster home in an emergency. There are Earth Angels everywhere.I see communities’ organize angels of empathy groups that fill our towns, cities and states performing acts of kindness of all natures.

I believe compassion fills this Country no matter what the news tells us, I believe we are better people then they want us to believe. Maybe even better then we believe we are ourselves. Once we look past our perceived grievances we find we are not so different at all, that’s when the compassion can kick in. We see ourselves in others.

More Americans than not, know what it is like to have one or more of these needs lacking in our adult lives. We know that asking for help is hard, and we worry nobody will help us. That is when I see compassionate communities take care of each other by uniting and cooperating, regular people like you stepping up to do what you can. Funding Angel accounts for kids whose parents can’t afford school lunch, Go-Fund Me accounts that literally saving lives. I know you see it too.

Today’s blog goal it to remind you; you are good, you matter, I believe in you earth angels.

YOU CAN AND DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

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

*Disclaimer; this picture was saved from the internet many years ago, I do not know who to give credit to. If it is you I will gladly do so.

Five things to do when stressed

emyminzel

There’s been a lot of wonderful things happening in my life lately. Several opportunities have popped into my world as if by magic asking me to level up the effort and intensity I put into certain affairs. I find the new challenges exciting, even invigorating at times, but the sheer volume of the information I have been trying to learn and the effort I need to exert chasing dreams has me losing sleep and feeling anxious.

My anxiety is revved up so high I have heart palpitations and it feels like if I had an electric outlet in my chest like Iron Man I could power a small city. For some reason this also makes me feel even more excited about these opportunities because as an Adventure Sister I love to face my fears by doing things that frighten me just enough.

I won’t let the fear of the unknown stop me from pursuing my dreams and goals or any opportunity that God hands me. I believe if its meant to be it will be. If not, maybe that direction is just the way I need travel to get where I need to be. Just because I don’t let fear stop me doesn’t mean I don’t suffer the side affects of it like anxiety or stress. What do I do with all this extra anxiety energy banging in my chest? How do I calm the cyclone of thoughts in my head? How do I simmer down enough to sleep or even relax?

Exercise: I go to the gym or take the dogs for walks as often as I possibly can when I am feeling anxious. If it were summer I would take the kayak out. Exercise really helps to calm my mind and then my body seems to catch on and the anxiety passes. When I move my body it’s like all the energy goes where it’s supposed to go, and I no longer feel super charged like Iron Man.

Music: Blast it, sing along with it, jam out to it, cry to it, get mad to it or do as I do. Dance and jump around the house like a dingo while I sing to the dogs and birds is just another way that lets me release tension that makes my eyelid twitch. Music is therapy for you mind, body and soul.

Creating art: I’m talking any kind of art, craft or activity at all, working with your hands takes your mind off things. Scrapbook, make a vison board, I feel that making homemade soup or baking can be considered art. I love taking time out of life to get to enjoy making a yummy healthy soup that helps heal me from the inside out. I also like to write, but not always something like a blog or chapter, sometimes just escaping into making a manifestation list at the full moon is exactly what I need. Use your creativity.

Read: I find reading is a great distraction from the real world when you need a time out. I gobble up books as fast as I can when I have free time, I even buy books I don’t have time to read. I read at the gym, in the car or any time I just need to unwind and slow down the over active mental cartwheels keeping me wound up and anxious. Getting lost in a good story helps every time.

Friends, Family and pets: The very most important thing that I do when I am feeling stressed out and anxious is call on my closest friends for support. Having a friend or family member to talk about your thoughts and concerns helps you process emotions, releasing stress by talking about it can help you feel better. It eases my mind when I know that no matter how challenging life might be right now they have my back and are there for me. Somedays nothing tops cuddles from my dogs.

Wine: I will not lie, it is not the healthiest coping mechanism that a girl can use but I do have glass or two of wine in the evening because it helps me relax and fall to sleep. Maybe even a glass in the bathtub sound fabulous.  I don’t recommend it every night yet I do not judge, some doctors say a glass or two a night is A-Okay, so I won’t argue with that! Enjoying it with friends is even better. Tea is good too.

When I feel supported it helps me view these challenges as opportunities to level up and be the person I want to be. It helps me feel that even if things don’t turn out as I might like, I know that I will still be okay because I have my family and friends who love me for me. I think to myself “What’s the worst that could happen? If I try and fail I still have this wonderful life… If I do not try I will always wonder; “what if?” As an Adventure Sister think I would rather tell you what happened after I tried.

As I choose to pursue my goals I see stress is just component of the journey. I choose to be kind to myself and remember to relax a little. I must remember to enjoy the in between of here and there as much as I possibly can. By taking short time outs to rest my soul, ground myself, and be in the present moment it helps keep things in perspective. I remind myself each day bring my goals closer as I continue to put one foot in front of the other, with a glass of wine in my hand of course. Cheers!

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