Tag: #lessonsthroughjoy

BWCA
#BoundaryWatersCanoeArea, #bwcadventuresisters, #lessonsthroughjoy, #lifelessons, #signs, #spiritual

Lake water tea with a swimming Moose

emyminzel

Lessons through JOY!

Chapter 6 ~ by Emy Minzel

Early one morning on our first Boundary Waters Canoe Area adventure. We were sitting on the boulder beach in our camp chairs having tea. I highly recommend bringing tea and honey if you are going to be drinking the BWCA lake water. The water is safe to drink after you boil it. Although it is pristine, it still has a lake flavor. Tea helps cover the taste quite well.

Tea is a lovely analogy to portray the lessons of our adventures. Stacy and I decided to challenge ourselves. By venturing into metaphorical ‘hot water’ situations. We showed ourselves and each other what we are made of. We recognized our tenacity, our will to succeed, encouraging each other to be authentically ourselves the whole way.

We enjoy supporting each other’s skills and differences. Like tea, we had let our best selves steep and flow in these challenges. We allowed the delicious blend of personality and talent to brew into cup fulling spiritual experiences. Which has allowed for this fairly new friendship to grow into a loving sisterhood over time.

So here we were vibing, observing nature like it’s our favorite TV program. Engrossed in a morning meditation of allowing stillness. The music of nature soothed our spirits and calmed the nervous system.

We heard beautiful birds’ songs, occasional beaver splashing or fish jumping, a faint comforting roar from the small waterfall just south of our campsite. This is what I miss most when I leave; the sound of pure uninterrupted nature; the sound of peace.

We were enjoying the moment of being one with nature when I spotted a giant animal swimming in the lake. It was moving fast! I ran to get my binoculars and zoomed in closer. Even with binoculars it was hard to be sure what it was. It looked like two huge rabbit ears flowing quickly through the water.

 “What is that?!” I asked Stacy and handed her the binoculars.

She looked and shrugged, unable to decipher. We had to wait until it got closer.

“It looks like a cow or something… oh! It’s a moose! Do moose swim?!” She handed me the binoculars back to validate her findings.

Now that it was closer I saw that it was a moose. Clearly, they DO swim. Turns out they are exceptionally good swimmers as she was demonstrating! The moose was moving swiftly for such a large animal.

“How cool is that!” I grinned wide as Stacy. I was impressed and psyched to have seen a swimming moose in real life.

“Let’s go get the Animal Spirit Guide, book! To see what message the moose is sending us!” Stacy said as she got up to grab it out of the tent.

Stacy and I believe that The Universe or God/Spirit, insert whatever you prefer to call a higher power. We believe it sends us messages all the time if we are present enough to see them and listen. For instance. Often observing an animal, you don’t see every day is a sign/message from the heavens just for you! We wanted to know what messages the moose was delivering this morning.

We looked up Moose in the Animal Spirit Guide, book by Steven D. Farmer, Ph.D. It said. ‘If a Moose shows up, it means you should feel proud of your recent accomplishment and share them eagerly, not to be arrogant, do it for the humble joy of sharing. It’s important to encourage others with their dreams and vision and by supporting their triumphs.’

In this book it also gives ideas to talk to the moose spirit when you are feeling extremely self-critical and need to remind yourself of your good qualities. There were more meanings in the book, but these are the ones that rang true to me at this time.

That’s how intuition works, when you receive a sign and investigate the meanings, some information won’t resonate, and some will. Use discernment to keep the things that ring true and dismiss what doesn’t. The Universe doesn’t have actual words, so you have to decipher it.

All the messages the moose had to share were comforting and confirming. I WAS very proud of myself for getting off the couch and out of my comfort zone for this trip. I have always loved nature but had fallen into the daily grind of life, like ground hog day repeating itself. I had lost touch with the true purpose of living life.  

From my previous chapter on canoe tipping and the portage to nowhere. The message ‘not to be arrogant’ had just been confirmed. Don’t arrogantly ask the Universe hard games… you’ll get them! Take it easy, share joy. Share your accomplishments with humble encouragement. This is exactly the main intention of writing this book and sharing our stories.

The moose hit the nail on the head with excessively self-critical thoughts. I am 4’ 11  1/2 ” and I had gained more weight than I preferred at the time. It was time to care for myself with kindness. (This lesson has taken me too long to fully incorporate and that’s another book all in itself!)

It was time for me to acknowledge that if I don’t love and care for myself, how can I expect anyone else to love me or treat me better than I treated me?  I was the one setting the standard here.

Stacy and I processed this message together as we drank more tea.

She commented. “This is so true! I would never allow someone to talk to me the way I talk to myself at times… Would, you allow someone to treat you the way YOU treat you somedays?”

Referring to how our inner dialogue is not always kind, especially for ourselves. I know that I am very critical of me. Yet, if someone talked to me the way I was talking to myself. Saying the judgmental harsh commentary running in my head out loud. I would think “those are fighting words”.

We talked about how we are very hard on ourselves and sometimes other people too. The conversation led to being judgmental of women and judged by them as well. How we need to lift each other up and encourage women to stand together.

We wished that we could all see that we do not have to be in competition. That we all have unique skills and talents that if we cooperated would make magic. Strong confident women that know there is enough success for all of us to go around.

Putting each other down, talking smack about how someone looks in those pants, or “OMG can you believe they just did that?!” This kind of energy isn’t helping anyone. We can unlearn this behavior.

What I have learned is gossiping about others doesn’t make you feel better. What it does is show others you can’t be trusted and will do the same to them.

How is this any different if we are commenting on ourselves? Our subconscious and self-esteem hear our inner dialogue. Our subconscious thoughts form our habits and beliefs! Ope.

I believe most of us do the best we can in the time and circumstances we are in. Including me! I have learned that ‘an eye for an eye’ leaves the whole world blind. Unable to see all the love and support that can be found beyond that relationship.

What if we just observed when we are judging or are being hard on ourselves or others? Then asked ourselves more questions to process and release those negative thoughts.

Would I give others in my situation more compassion than I am allowing for myself? If so, why?

What would I say to my best friends going through this same thing? What if I allowed myself the same grace? How would that change the way I feel about it?

Life is hard enough as it is. I’ve learned the energy I put out in the Universe is what is going to come back to me. What do I want to be returned? If you want others to support you with love and loyalty, do the same for them.

Girl Power is a real live energy! I’ve learned to embrace the power in divine feminine co-creation. I find joy being around the energy of the wonderful women in my life. They have a nurturing vibe, full open hearts, and share their stories of wisdom that lift my spirit and fill my cup.

The solution I came to, is treat myself like I treat my best friends. If necessary, I will deflect my own mean judgements or stories that bring me down. I will do better to be kind to me.

Words have power. That’s why they call it ‘spelling’. What energy are you sending when speaking or thinking of yourself or others?

Learning that my thoughts become things. Being more kind and encouraging, learning to be humble in all areas of my life. These lessons have all rolled together into a massive personal transformation over the years.

Digging deep into the divine guidance being delivered. Contemplating the unpleasantness of some of these lessons learned through relationships, careers, actions, consequences of paths taken. Seeing them as ‘life lessons’ and learning opportunities instead of things that just happened to me.

This has helped me become more the me I want to be. The me that does the inner work of transmuting failures into wisdom. Trauma into tenderness.

While I did not come up with this revolution at the exact Moose viewing moment. It has led to where I am today. These BWCA adventures kickstarted a revolution of my whole life for the better. I get to decide what it means to be “better” nobody else. Same goes for you.

I’ve learned it’s self-love when I allow myself to walk away from connections that do not value and respect me. These were the hardest lessons to learn. Not easy or joyful at all. I am healing by loving myself enough to stop allowing that behavior. Especially from myself.

In the long run I had to learn from taking those emotional hits. I knew I had to find the lesson and transform them into wisdom. It’s taught me to forgive myself for putting up with unkindness. Even realizing I had to forgive myself for the negative things I told and believed about myself. I saw that I can forgive others as it was their part in teaching this lesson as well.

From the lessons guided by the animal spirits that show up for me repeatedly. The spiral of life seems to keep me coming back around to acknowledge these teachings even more deeply year after year. A persistent continuing education of life curriculums.

Watching that moose swim across the lake was a cool experience!  I will cherish the memory and the message. I feel that way about all our BWCA trips. At times words fall short of accurately describing the changes that have occurred in my mind, my body and spirit. It’s difficult to truly capture the depth of my internal changes.

Taking time for introspection inspired me to share these stories of our experiences. Contributing to a new perspective on how I was going through life. I feel my soul is soothed by seeing that all these experiences do make sense years later in the journey of my life.

I don’t know what the future brings. What I do know. History has shown me that I can trust the path. I have every intention of enjoying that feeling of faith in each phase of my life. These stories have proven to me that everything is always working out as it should.

So, I will continue to follow the signs and trust my inner knowing. As long as I remember to ask the Universe for easier life experiences full of joyful adventures, supportive kind connections and love!

With much love,

Emy Minzel

Heart Centered, Nature Lover, Writer, Advocate, Adventurer, Yogi, and so much more…

EmyMinzel.com

#spiritual, adventure, Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Uncategorized

Release the Worms!

emyminzel


Lessons Through Joy ~ Chapter 2

by Emy Minzel

Ready or not here we come!!! Neither of us had never been to the Boundary Waters before. We had no idea what we were getting into. Folks from all over the world come to experience the
grand vastness and purity of our dwindling truly wild wilderness. No cell
signals, no electricity, you carry everything you need on your back and the
canoe too. It offers time and silence I need to get back to the simplicity our
lives are supposed to contain. Over the years it has been a vital necessity for
me to take this time to connect with myself and the earth I appreciate so
greatly.

Before leaving we had scoured the Outfitters website for a list of items to bring and added our own necessities like blow up tubes for floating. At the time we were both excited
to do some fishing in the BWCA. The fish “Up North” are legendarily big and
plentiful. This would be a first for both of us to have to “clean” or filet
own catch. We are both no fuss kind of women who do what needs to be done, even
the hard stuff. I love that about us. We make a great team. We both love
nature, water, and canoeing. We knew we were going to love this!

Our first fishing trip was a success. We reeled them in and released a few. We
didn’t want to take more than we needed for dinner. Both looking to each other
for guidance when we pulled the basket out of the water. After a few failed
attempts to put the fish out of its misery, our hearts deflated a bit. We
decided to let them suffocate on the boulder before cleaning them. Both of us
felt remorseful about what we put the fish through. Yet we were depending on
fish for our food and hunger was prompting us to get through it.

 I will not lie. The fish was delicious. However, this experience of taking a life had gotten to us both. The spirit inside of me felt sad for the fish and maybe even disappointed in myself. Neither of us said anything to each other while we continued to catch and eat fish that year.
Next year we vowed to find a better way to ‘release its spirit’ before we ate it.
At the time it felt empowering to be able to feed myself from the wild in this
way. The men in my life always took care of “gross” things like that.

Yet, when I took the time to contemplate it deeper. I realized there should be nothing ‘gross’ about it at all. It was a transformational experience realizing what it felt like to take an animal’s life and respect its sacrifice. I know it would serve humanity to acknowledge and appreciate the folks who do the work of getting us food from the farm and water to our tables.

I began to honor the hardworking folks and sentient animals who give me the energy needed to live. It was clear to me that I was too far removed from the food I ate. I was part of an ignorant bliss trend in humanity, blind to where my food comes from, how it’s treated, and how it’s processed… I saw I was a piece of capitalism contributing to tragic and detrimental factor in the environment and unethical treatment of animals. I was beginning to see that looking the other way is part of the human behavior damaging the planet and all who reside on it. I had never taken the time to contemplate or acknowledge it until this BWCA experience.

Continuing to the 2nd trip the next year into the BWCA. We brought our fishing
poles, worms and leaches. Try as we may, there were no fish! What the heck?! No bites at all. No matter where we decide to try our luck, not even a nibble. It wasn’t a big deal; we had packed enough food to keep us satisfied without the fish this trip. We were fishing just to pass
time.

One morning we both were on separate ends of our very large camping site with
hundreds of feet between our fishing spots. The spot was a peninsula of boreal
forest beauty. We were doing our best to enjoy the blue sky and warm day when
Stacy walked over to me and asked. “Are you having any luck?”

As I reeled my line in. Seeing the lifeless worm hanging from my hook. I looked at her and said “Nope. Nothing.”

I turned to Stacy and confessed. “I am having a really hard time with what I am
doing to this worm… I am torturing it. Stabbing it with a hook then repeatedly drowning
it until if finally gives up and dies.”

My sensitive heart was empathizing with the experience of this living being. A
creature of nature. Even though it is a creepy creature, I know it has purpose.

She looked at me compassionately and agreed. Then she asked. “Do you want to free the worms?”

I thought about it for a second and answered. “Yes! Yes. I do! I don’t think I
can fish with live bait anymore.” I also felt relieved to be met with empathy
and understanding from my friend. Joy and relief replaced guilt. 

She told me while over on her side of the campsite, she was feeling the same thing.
This happens often with us. Seemingly energetically in sync even when far apart.
It’s the magical workings of the same soul connection that brought us together.

We pulled the white Styrofoam container with the remaining worms out of the cooler
then headed into the woods. We found a nice spot that looked like it had
healthy soil, dug a hole for them and released the worms. It felt so right! It
was my soul acknowledging even the weirdest of creatures has feelings, and
awareness.

I believe all animals are sentient. They absolutely know when it’s
in pain and when death is their destiny. Honoring that knowledge has helped me
become a gentler person. We thanked the worms for the life lesson and said a
prayer for them to live long, happy worm lives.

On this BWCA excursion we decided to only use lures, or faux bait. I still liked the idea of fishing, being on the water in the sun. It gave me pleasant childhood memories of my Uncle Bob who is no longer with me. So, we were loaded up with a bunch of cool little lures and our fish basket. Carrying knowledge learned from last year we had collapsible poles which were far easier to pack and carry. Who knew that was even a thing? Many folks of course! We were catching on one trip at a time. You know what happened after all that planning? We didn’t put a line in the water even once. 

I realized that I was honoring my feelings and didn’t feel right to take a
life. I packed most of the food for our 5-day forest adventure. By this year, Stacy had chosen a pescetarian diet which is mostly vegetarian with sprinkling of fish and eggs. I support her decisions, and she supports mine. We had an abundance of fresh organic veggies, rice, quinoa, beans, and nuts for protein. We both love to cook, and I made sure we had all the ingredients we needed. I realized. Why take something if it’s not needed? We already had plenty.

At the time I was a midwestern woman, raised on meat and potatoes. A Minnesota Tator
tot hotdish making Queen. I appreciate that Stacy is nonjudgemental of other people’s food
choices. However, by just being her, she has raised awareness in me. It made me ask myself. “Do I want to keep eating meat?”

I was completely satisfied with the vegetarian diet we ate while camping with Stacy.
Never feeling deprived or hungry. I told Stacy. “I think I will stop eating so much meat.”

Stacy just smiled and said “You get to make the rules for your life! Do what you feel
is best for you.”

I suppose she has already been through these feelings and this journey. This transition
usually doesn’t happen overnight. I recognize that people stop eating meat for
their own personal beliefs and they are not the same as another’s decision. In the end what others eat is none of my business. I must do what feels right for me, my body, and my spirit.

This experience led to research on where and how mass meat production happens. There are so many great informative documentaries about our food. This knowledge has altered my
appetite and made me a more conscious consumer. I must honor that for the sake
of my animal loving heart. I have tried to be vegetarian, but my body did not agree with my choices. Now I add more veggies and grains and skip the meat several times a week.

I do my best to ensure it is animal products are free range and humanely treated. I choose to support small family farmers, shop the Farmers Market and co-ops when possible. By doing this, I also get to vote with my dollars. I realized change is all about choices. I get to make choices all day every day. I allowed myself to change my minds and habits as I learned more and allowed myself room for growth. I do not judge others and I am not trying to convert anyone either. This is just one of the seeds planted in the BWCA long ago that have sprouted since. 

My opinions and perceptions of life, living sentient beings, spiritual signs, emotional
maturity, and personal growth. We have both changed dramatically since those early years
when we first naively embarked into the BWCA. We had no idea how profoundly these
adventures would contribute to the soulful alignment of our daily lives in
years to come. The story that follows is one of my favorite examples. 

The very last time I went fishing was when I was running for the State House of Representative. I was on a mission to learn about tensions relating to my local and famous
Mille Lacs Lake in central Minnesota. I was invited by the Band of Ojibwe on a boat and
fishing tour. Where we discussed environmental, and racial political issues dividing our community.

During this trip, I was accompanied by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Natural Resources
Director and the independent Scientist they hired to do research. The Band was
helping and collaborating with the State of Minnesota DNR in hopes of finding
solutions. There were four of us on the boat including my campaign manager Jake,
who is an ecologist.

I brought my own fake lures to use while fishing. Out of curiosity they questioned why.
Using my story about the BWCA trip and the worms to explain my decisions. That I
no longer ‘release the spirits’ of worms, spiders, or bugs as I see them as a
necessary component of nature.  Not one of them gave me guff about this decision. Even after I didn’t catch a darn thing on the lake known for its abundance.

It was if Spirit knew, I didn’t need to. Just being on the water, learning from experts
on how I could support my community and environment if elected was enough. The whole day was an amazing experience I will never forget. All the while realizing that without a doubt; I would have never been on that boat, with those experts, or a congressional candidate. If I had I not stepped foot into the BWCA five years before. This was a life lesson learned through joy!

Fishing on Lake Mille Lacs 2018

The lessons the fish and worms have taught me were to honor my feelings. If it feels bad, don’t do it. The worms were a sudden and final decision to not use live bait.  I still have a great time being on the water with my friends or by myself, and there is no longer a need to fish. I learned to trust my inner guidance and be brave enough to do what feels right for me. Even if it means allowing my voice to shake and tears to flow while doing so. This happened often while campaigning. 

If it had not been for the empowering adventures in the Boundary Waters. I would not have had all of these world expanding experiences. I’ve learned that I am capable
and brave enough to roll with the waves of transformation on my life path. I have the free will to change my mind and my actions. I know deep down; we all do the best we can in the time and space we are given. It’s okay to be human. That’s how we learn and hopefully grow.  

As the wise Maya Angelou said. “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when
you know better. Do better.”

With much love,

Emy Minzel

Heart Centered, Nature Lover, Writer, Advocate,
Adventurer, Yogi, and so much more…

EmyMinzel.com

BWCAdventureSisters/Facebook.com

***Public Service Announcement***

We have since learned that worms are an invasive species and should never be released other than where they are found. I feel terrible that I did not know this at the time! I feel it is important to share the wisdom of our blunder. As we certainly would have made a different choice in where we released these worms. Like they say.

“You don’t know, what you don’t know. Until you know.”

Much like learning about washing your boat or canoe off before launching into a different body of water to prevent the spread of invasive weeds or mussels.

Now we know.

#lessonsthroughjoy, #lifelessons, Political

Making the Ask

emyminzel

Lessons Through Joy –

by Emy Minzel

The intention of this book called “Lessons Through Joy!” is to share how adventuring out into the wild wilderness of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area has transformed The Adventure Sisters profoundly. The Adventure Sisters consist of two middle aged women. My dear friend Stacy Crep and I.

Together we created BWCAdventureSisters/Facebook page. We created our blogs and began writing this book Lessons Through Joy! then proceeded to craft two other books immediately following. We are posting chapters from Lessons Through Joy! to inspire other women to expand out of the comfort zone into personal growth and joyful living.

The time we spent in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has contributed to the expansion of all the important areas in life. In my confidence, my career, my relationships, spiritual growth, personal development, even my Dharma/life purpose. It is my hope that sharing our escapades in “Lessons through Joy!”  and how they have transformed us, will motivate others to connect to the environment. And hopefully grow National support in the campaign to #SavetheBoundaryWaters.org

My name is Emy Minzel. I am a 47-year-old woman that feels much younger at heart. I have one daughter who is 30. Yep, go ahead and do the math… we are good with it! I would not change a thing. She is my best friend and an amazing human who I am very proud to know. Jason and I have been married for 16 years. We have one dog Hank and two cats, Beatrix Basi, and Sage.

I am an only child. Raised as a free range, latch key kid on the Iron Range of northern Minnesota by a single mother. My mother worked a lot to make sure we had what we needed. She let me follow my instincts and try different extracurricular activities. Now I realize how growing up with so much freedom made me who I am and gave me many skills I still rely on today. I am committed to practicing my best aptitudes in service to the greater good. While bravely allowing myself freedom and vulnerability to gain personal growth and wisdom through diverse experiences.  

I am in love with nature. This may sound weird to you. But I believe love is just a word unless you use it as a verb. Love is an act. Love means you apply action towards expressing that feeling. I consider myself an environmentalist; therefor I am very interested in politics. In 2018 I ran as a Candidate for the Minnesota State Representative. Then in 2022 I ran for Minnesota State Senate seat in my district.

My political effort was spurred on by the proposed permits to allow dangerous copper/sulfide mining. I simply can’t fathom how MN Legislators would even consider allowing mining practice known to cause disastrous pollution in the sacred Boundary Waters Canoe Area. 

These mines exist all over the world and have a 100% failure record of devastating contamination of the regions where they exist. Polluting water with forever chemicals, that are impossible to clean up and last for over 500 years. Thus, causing taxpayers billions of dollars as they will be left with the Super Fund Site cleanup bill after the mining company inevitably declares bankruptcy.

It is my love of water and wilderness of northern Minnesota that inspired me to alter my life path. I am determined to do what I can to protect what I love. What’s left of Minnesota’s clean water, and the undervalued beautiful gem of my home state, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Before my political runs, I was blessed to work from home as a Massage Therapist. Stacy, my Adventure Sister and I, were writing manuscripts together doing our best to manifest publishing a Best-Selling book series. We have written three books together like the one you are reading now. It’s unconventional, with two authors sharing two perspectives.

We think it is appropriate to share how being different from each other is a blessing. The journeys we’ve shared inspired the desire to encourage others to find the resolution to pursue their own adventures. These quests have allowed us both to level up greatly in our lives and we want that for you too.

Of course, I have several other interests that make me who I am. am the kind of girl who nurtures my family, pets and plants, likes to cook, garden and care for my community, and run chainsaw. I love to work with my hands, hiking with my dog, and doing anything in or on the water. The kind of girl who sings gratitude to the water while floating in it or on it, intentionally meditating to send love to the world. Filling my cup with soul food by Volunteering as a Board Member of the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in my community. Which gives me the gift of being inspired by good hearted, talented folks, while spending time with outstanding people I admire.

Stacy once told me I am intimidating and that I have big energy. I figure I am only 4’11 ½ “how intimidating can I be?! I would prefer to say I am passionate. Unafraid to give you my opinion in a respectful manner. This is who I am now. Not who I was a decade ago. I was not a joiner, and I was a homebody.

Over a decade ago, before we took our first adventure into the BWCA. I would have just finished Massage Therapy certification program, rented a space in town. Focused on getting clients and aiming for success. Yet, I began to feel there was something missing in my life. Something I couldn’t put my finger on. Feeling restless I had decided to seek spiritual meaning in life.

This is where our story of transformation begins. As divine intervention and divine timing will do. I met my Adventure Sister Stacy at a Stepping into the Metaphysical Energy class. It was taught by Bobby Sullivan in St. Cloud MN, at a store called Mind, Body, Spirit.  Her contributions to the class were insightful, and we came to learn that we both had just completed a Reiki Energy Healing course at the time. We exchanged phone numbers to “trade” energy work and practice. I took her card, left, then promptly forgot her name. To be honest, at that point in my life I was so introverted that I would not have called her to exchange Reiki.

Thank goodness she called me! Stacy was very pleasant in the class which felt safe for me to agree that we meet at my office. When she arrived for our trades, we didn’t really talk too much, just your niceties of acquaintances meeting for the second time, and we got straight to work. There were no words spoken during our first Reiki Energy Healing exchange. Yet, I felt a big energy shifting inside me.

By the end of this session, we both felt as if we were connected in a past life. As if we were sisters in a different lifetime.  We had just met… I was not “woke” by any means. Yet there was no denying we both felt a soul family connection to a woman we just met.

Thankfully Stacy only lived a town away from me at the time. We started trading Reiki often; we both looked forward to seeing each other. Learning little bits and pieces about our lives, and we started looking for more metaphysical classes to take together. Stacy felt like the safe, slightly older sister I never had. It was a bonus that she always picked me up and drove me around! At that time in life, it was very hard to get me out of the house.

We found great classes and events like a book study for the Bhagavad Gita class with Jaja Myra. Whom hosted Homa Fire Ceremonies honoring Ganesha the Indian Elephant headed God known for removing obstacles and Lakshmi the Indian Goddess of Beauty and Success. These ceremonies were powerful movers of energy that helped me expand my mind and spirit.

We would go to Shamanic drumming circles, learning more about shamanism. Attending several events where there were all sorts of new age spiritual modalities to try. It was clear these metaphysical practices were helping me become more aware. Aware of who I really was inside and asking myself. “Why was I hiding from the world?”

About a year later, I was still a homebody surfing the web when Groupon came across my email. It was 3-night, 4-day canoe adventure through Voyager North Outfitters in Ely, MN. I am originally from northern Minnesota. My great-great grandfather immigrated from Germany just before Hitler’s reign and settled in the densely forested land near the Vermillion River. The old farmhouse he built with his hands is still standing. We call it “the farm” and serves as a shared sanctuary and getaway for our family today. Since I am familiar with the beauty of the Boreal Forest in Northern Minnesota. This Groupon adventure called to me.

I thought of Stacy immediately. Probably because she was one of the only friends who would even consider doing something so outdoorsy. On a hunch, I forwarded her the email. Curious and hopeful of her response. I knew I couldn’t afford to go at the time, I believe it was just after Christmas and we were not financially able. It was just after the 2008 recession, and I was struggling with the demands of a new business.

Before I knew it, she emailed me and said, “I hope you are ok with it, I just purchased two of these for us!” She offered to “trade” with me for the purchase price. I felt it was a very fair trade so YES… I was okay with it! We were both excited. We didn’t know it then, but this is the adventure that would change our lives.

This Lesson Through Joy taught me humility and to ask for what you want. Since this lesson 14 years ago. I have lived this philosophy not just preached it. If I want something, I say so. No more hiding in my house or waiting for permission. This one vulnerable ‘ask’ literally changed my life. It helped me grow confidence to self-promote while building a business.

“Making the ask” is a skill I didn’t possess before then. Being brave enough to be vulnerable humbled me then brought me connections to many exceptional people since. It eventually grew to the ability to knock on doors and ask my community for donations and volunteers while campaigning for a position in congress and so much more.

Just last month, I learned of an artist work week retreat opportunity through the Oberholtzer Foundation. In northern Minnesota on the protected Mallard Island. The applications for this retreat were due last November. Since I had just learned about it two months prior to the retreat date. My intuition said. “Just try!” So, I did.

Two weeks later, I got an email saying that a spot had opened. They said I was welcome to go if I was available. The joy I felt while reading that acceptance email was enough to make me cry happy tears. As it happens, I just returned from that trip, July 21st, 2024. It ended up being one of the best experiences of my life!

These simple exercises of going out of my comfort zones. Being vulnerable and humble enough to ask for what I want. Really has opened more doors than I ever could have imagined. My advice is to voice your desires into the Universe and anyone who will listen.

It has become one of my favorite pieces of advice to share with others. “The answer is always no, if you don’t ask!”

With much love,

Emy Minzel

Heart Centered, Nature Lover, Writer, Advocate, Adventurer, Yogi, and so much more…

EmyMinzel.com

StacyCrep.com

BWCAdventureSisters/Facebook.com

#lifelessons, #signs

Journey to finding my missing joy –

emyminzel

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.

Every little thing seems just to be annoying me and 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 occurances 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 before I know it, I turn into a downer! I do not like this 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 counting my blessings and saying. “Thank you for this day.” The minute I open my eyes in the morning. I’ve started wearing my 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

https://stacycrep.com

Uncategorized

The purpose of changes and transition –

emyminzel

There have been some major evolutions happening in my life this past year. I feel like every single facet of my existence has been touched by change. All of it! There’s been so many evolutions that I believe I too have changed because of them. As humans do, we tend to appreciate our blessings and situations a little more after we’ve had an opportunity to see them in a different light. Sometimes we must first come very close to losing something we cherish, before we can see how valuable it really is to us. Is this true for you too?

I have been blessed with many opportunities to see just how wonderful my life is, after several lessons through joy allowed me to realize this! After experiencing a whirlwind campaign life; I am much more inclined to thoroughly enjoy quite weekends with my loved ones and evenings to myself. I now have time to make a home cooked meal, clean the house and even exercise, now that my schedule isn’t jam packed with campaign responsibilities. My life was like a soup. It was up to me to add spice to a dull dish, since I am the cook, right?! When I decided to add more excitement and flavor to my days/life, I changed the dish and it changed me.

Having the experience of being excessively busy, has helped me re-find the joy in my everyday tasks that once seemed boring. My perspective of working from home has shifted. I always knew I was blessed to do so, yet after this last year, I feel like my definition of work has changed and that my career has benefitted from my attitude adjustment. I very much enjoy my routine and the peaceful life now; when not long ago, there were days it made me mad with monotony! My career has allowed me to help others in my community and this brings me much joy and fulfillment. It just took me a bit to realize it!

My one and only child, moved out last Summer and that was also a huge life changer. I always knew she was going to go! After all, that’s why we raise our children the best we can. So they can be their best when they go out into the world. Yet, I miss her so much sometimes that I find myself texting, calling and making up silly questions just to hear from her. This has allowed me to appreciate the time we get to spend together much more, and I make it as special as I can.

The truth about my marriage was that we weren’t doing so hot, for a bit, last year. I mean that’s marriage for you; some years are easier than others. There is always love, but the friendship and bond we had built needed maintenance and I wasn’t able to give it the time it deserved for a while. The campaign was a wonderful distraction from our problems, but it also kept us from resolving our issues sooner than we did. I cannot blame the election for any troubles, that would not be fair or true.

It just so happened that the election occurred during this life lesson in marriage. I considered this time challenging, but we came out stronger for it. That was worth the experience and change of perception as well. I love my husband dearly. He is my best friend. This experience has helped me see just how much I treasure him and our relationship. This was a blessing inside the lesson through joy.

Even my friendships seem to have been touched by my change of perspective over the last year. I have learned to allow others leeway for humanness and I now freely give the benefit of the doubt. I have learned to love others as they are, unconditionally and without trying to push my ideals upon them. I have come to see my own quirks as something that may seem eccentric to others, but i’ve also learned to accept and love myself because these qualities are what make me special. I have learned this is what makes my loved ones special too!

I have learned that with age comes wisdom and that I have a whole lot of learning left to do! I believe I was also learning to love myself as I love others. This last year of my life has been a year of transformation, movement and growth that needed to happen. I am so thankful for all these lessons through joy, even if they may not have always seemed joyous at the time. Life has a beautiful way of bringing you full circle, to want what you need that helps you become who you are supposed to be.

I am love. You are too.

Wishing you the magical soulful healing you need right now to be the best you can be.

With love,

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

*Photo taken in Princeton, MN – homegrown old fashion vining petunias!