Tag: #liveyourdreams

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What if?!

Emy Minzel

What if’s can be exciting, concerning, scary or life changing. Imagining the future, can be extremely exciting or intimidating depending on how my emotions are at that moment. I have been thinking about where I am putting my effort and energy. I am putting in a great deal of time, energy and creativity into moving forward to the future I hope to create. That feels exciting!

I would love to have a chance to facilitate change in my community as the Representative for my district. I love my community and the people who’ve created it. I love how everyone I meet truly cares about each other and bettering our rural way of life.

The books Stacy and I are writing have been a big part of our lives for the past several years. We have invested a large chunk time pursing the dream of helping others. It took time to define the purpose of the message we wanted to convey. We did it by supporting each other and fostering strong relationships not only with each other but in all our relationships.

We want the adventurous philosophy to be defined as nurturing self-love. By learning to love ourselves as we are, leveling up, and encouraging others to be authentic while accepting everyone for who they are too. We promote the ideas of learning to love others because of our differences, not in of spite them.

We are all different for a reason, celebrating uniqueness helps others believe in themselves. When you believe in yourself, you believe you can do things others may not be able too. When people are encouraged and supported, they try small things to better life, this benefits everyone around you.

These small acts of bravery, kindness, and love multiplied by everyone in the world could and would make the world a better place for all of us. I know that even just a little effort helps the world be a better place.

Yet when my imagination gets going, I think what if?! What if I do all this work, invest all this time, money and energy into pursuing my dreams and… I end up being exactly where I started this time next year? What if we don’t end up where we thought we would? Will I be able to handle disappointment if I fail?

Yes. I will.

What I know is at this point in my life, is that it is scarier for me not to try to succeed doing what I love, then to worry about failing. I have this opportunity to reach for the stars while being brave enough to be authentically me. Choosing to level up by doing more than I thought I could.

I know I must accept the outcome as it is, not how I thought it would look. The thing about life is you don’t know how it will look when you get where you are going. Then when you are finally ‘there’ most of the time you are already reaching for something else.

Is this the point in my story where I talk myself out of the negative what if’s? Is this when I give myself the advice I would give to a friend and say,

“This! This is where you are supposed to enjoy the moment. Enjoy today as it is! Choose to really take in the excitement and emotions of how it feels today. What if this is part of the journey too? What if you make it okay to be terrified, frustrated and excited all at the same time? What if you started to take those awkward baby steps in faith. Knowing you are being divinely guided in the direction of your dreams. What if that’s all you have to do?”

The uncertainness of my future concerns me. Most days I talk myself into believing I will reach these goals. I tell myself I am emotionally strong, hardworking, kind and big-hearted woman that can do anything I put my mind to.

On the days when I don’t see any progress, reward or feel unsupported, those days feel very different. That’s when the negative what if’s sneak in. Today I won’t allow my active imagination to scramble the energy of my big, beautiful dreams of a healthy happy life, community and world.  The Universe is listening to my vibration, I know it’s best to keep my thoughts positive.

What if I do succeed? What if I do win the election? What if we do get a publishing contract? What if I get to be a writer for real?! What if I get the chance to be the change I wish to see in the world? What if my dreams come true?

What will I do with my life then? Would I be starting two new very different careers that could truly having a direct impact on the world around me. Holy Moly…. What if?!

What if I get to live the life of my dreams? Doing exactly what I like to do, by just being authentically me?! That would be exactly what an adventurous soul like me would do. So why not believe that version instead? I think I will.

And so, it is.

Wishing you an abundance of love and blessings,

Emy Minzel ~

https://emyminzel.com

@emyminzel

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We have already won

Emy Minzel

Tomorrow my friend and I will find out if we win a publishing contest. We have been so busy with other parts of our lives that we haven’t had time to worry or concern ourselves too deeply in the outcome. Although we both sincerely really want to win this contest, we are detached from fixating on the win.

Success does not rest on winning a contest. I believe success lies within the people we help, the readers who enjoy our work and get joy from our message. When we started our joint literary adventure, we were very clear with each other that we truly wanted to help others find joy in their lives.  We have both been through our share of tough times and we wanted to share with others how we chose to cope, heal, and rise above to make it through to today.

The community we build on acceptance of being authentically you, doing our best to level up in our lives by being better and doing better, while seeking joy in our lives every day, even the crap days, is exactly what we wanted to create.

We wanted to create a non-judgmental community of authentic, great, and magical in their own way kind of people, that are willing to accept and cherish others for their differences. To create and celebrate everyone’s uniqueness. We celebrate eccentric and unconventional people who do what they can to truly stay authentic to themselves while being the best person they can be.

When deciding to write these books of lessons, we kept in mind that most people at the core of their beings are good. Knowing that even those with the best of intentions make mistakes in their lives, including ourselves. We believe that in general, most people are doing the best that they can in the time and space they are given when on the journey of life.

This gave us strength to be brave enough and support each other while spilling our guts, our dreams, our fears and our feelings out on to the pages of our books. We try to keep our blogs positive because we know that the world is bursting with stories of the opposite. While being authentic and honest that life isn’t always joyful but how I choose to handle myself during those times it is what matters most.

We are fully aware and intentional of the energy we send out into the world with our words. This makes me try to be accountable and hold myself to the standard of joy, love, and kindness. I my best to be a light in the dark.

I see the good in the world because I am looking for it. If I can’t find it, I can create joy myself. I don’t need music to dance, when I feel the beat of my own rhythm inside. I can choose to radiate with joy because that is what I need to feel in my own life.

We understand that winning a contest would indeed be exciting and joyous for us both. We also believe that life will support us on the path to our highest and greatest good. No matter where it leads or how it looks.

If we win, we will be ecstatic and overwhelmed with thankfulness! If we do not, we will not be discouraged. We will keep on, keeping on. That is part of the adventure too. Together we have learned to trust life to bring us exactly where we need to be.

This experience has been a giant blessing gift wrapped in well-earned wisdom, and we get to use on all paths of our journey.

This is the magical stuff of life. Starting out in the deep forest of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. “Two hippie chicks just looking for enlightenment one portage at a time.” has led us to situations in our lives we would have never even imagined.

I believe we will succeed; it may not look like what we think, but I know that no matter what… it’s going to be fabulous, because we will make is so!

Thank you for reading my words while I reach for the stars. I hope that you will learn from our wins, our losses and enjoy our unique views on the world around us. I cannot wait to share the next steps of my adventures with you.

Sending you love, luck and most of all JOY!

Wishing you an abundance of love and blessings,

Emy Minzel ~

https://emyminzel.com

@emyminzel

 

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Enjoy Life!

Emy Minzel

This past weekend has been full of family, friends and love. My mom came to stay for a visit and we had my neighbor over for dinner. The next day we went out with my best friend of 29 years to play bingo on her birthday. Today is Mother’s Day, I woke up to the dishes done and the animals all fed because my daughter took care of it for me.

My mom and I are going to go flower shopping this afternoon, which is a tradition we both enjoy very much. I love it when life sends me a whole weekend full of blessings. It was busting with love and friendship all jam packed with laughs and memory making.

Sometimes it’s okay to leave chores unfinished, it is okay to leave the to do list sit unchecked for one more day. The good stuff of life comes when it is here, and we must seize the opportunity to enjoy it or it will pass without us.

There are many days that seem to all look the same, going to work, coming home, doing the same chores year after year, week after week and day after day. If we don’t grab the special times and enjoy them thoroughly they will pass, leaving us with a life of work and chores! No, thanks.

This is not the kind of life I have any interest in creating for myself or my family. When my mom is visiting I like to enjoy our time. I choose not to worry about the stuff that doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of life. Once in a while we need to remind ourselves what is truly important.

P.s. it is not work, and it’s not chores or your to do list. These things are just things. I have learned people are important, connection is important, making my relationships and fostering more love and enjoyment in my life, this is what is important.

Everyone around you will benefit from participating in life to the fullest. I have found when I am “here and now” that it helps my spirit feel connected with those I am spending time with. I have a nurturing soul that cherishes connection and feeling like I am doing my part in creating my life experience for the better.

Taking pleasure in life’s small moments like sharing morning coffee with my mom and daughter, oh man… This is the stuff makes my heart smile.

I know we will look at the pretty flowering plants that my mom and I pick out, we will see them all summer long and as months go by we will remember our day together. I will remember that this weekend she won BINGO two times in a row! I will remember time spent with my longest time friend on her birthday.

I will remember my daughter being her super sweet self. How she took care of the small stuff this weekend, that would bug me if left undone. She knows this about me, I like things just so, and I appreciate her effort to help me very much. I feel loved when she shows she cares in these small but meaningful ways.

I will remember roaring laughter at the kitchen table with my mom, daughter and neighbor. It was as if the house was rumbling with much needed girl time therapy, deepening relationships, making soul connections.

I will remember that this whole weekend, because I chose to be present, invested and here. All in, all weekend.

Where are you today? Are you thinking of your to-do list ? If so, make sure you write, ENJOY LIFE right on top of that list!

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ 

https://emyminzel.com

@emyminzel

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Let me be the light

Emy Minzel

Before my life was in full swing with working, writing, campaigning and fitting in family time. I had a couple years when I was able to spend ample amounts of time by myself. I enjoy my alone time and my own company. As an only child, I know how to keep myself entertained and occupied.

During these stretches of solitude. I would ponder deep thoughts about my life, what am I doing with it? Where am I going in the future?

Honestly, I didn’t know for sure. I had plans to live more sustainably, so I worked outside in my garden a great deal, I spent time with my dogs and got lots of exercise. All these activities gave me ample time to contemplate life. I was content in my relationships, I have a wonderful life, I was writing books with my best friend, yet I felt deep in my soul I still had much more to do. But what?

I would pray to whomever was listening to me, my grandma up in heaven, my guides and angels that look over me, and of course the Higher Power above. I had one consistent prayer that I would ask for and that was “please just let me be a light in this world.”

I didn’t have any thoughts or ideas how that would look, so I just went about life, doing my best to be kind. To help others when I could and tried my best to be a good steward of the earth. After all if God created this beautiful planet, I want to treat the earth as the gift is. With respect.

Adventures into the forest of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota. Guided me to inner work on the goals I wanted to accomplish for the coming year. My friend and I would make lists, then have a fire ceremony where we would burn the list to send them up to the heavens in the smoke to be answered.

Over the years we’ve held many fire ceremonies over the years. I’ve found it is an effective way to communicate with energies beyond what we see with our eyes. I believe there are angels/spirits watching over us, somedays shaking their heads in disbelief, I am sure.

Some of the ideas I tried to manifest weren’t for me, or maybe not just at the time I asked for them. Yet a great deal of what I had asked for did start coming true for. Psst… Manifesting tip #1, if you want it, you must make steps toward it. Hardly ever does it just come in the mail delivered to your front door or get set on your lap.

Also once you burn it, trust it’s on the way and detach from it as if it’s not your problem to deal with because the heavens up above have it handled. You must not be stubborn or too specific about exact details. For it may not come in the way you think it will. Like Mike Dooley says, “You can’t micromanage the Universe.”

This prayer of “please just let me be the light,” I never told anyone. It was only between me and the Higher Power.

Fast forward to today after several years of this constant prayer/mantra and I was sitting in the car with my Campaign Manager just a week or so after being endorsed by the DFL. We were both feeling overwhelmed by the giant undertaking of a campaign neither of us had planned on participating so acutely in.

We were running around chasing our tails trying to gather what we needed to craft a plan of action, while feeling like we had no energy left to keep moving forward.

I looked at her and I say, “I don’t know if I want to do this anymore.”

She sat there for a few seconds and said to me. “You can’t quit. Please don’t quit. You are the light! We all need you.”

I could not believe she said those words to me. It was like God had put those specific words into her mouth, she knew exactly what to say so that I knew; I needed to persevere.

I could not help myself and I started to cry, I cry a lot. I feel deeply. Yet for some reason I knew in my soul that she was a messenger of the heavens above. Sending encouragement and answering my prayer with the confirmation I truly needed.

That was the day, I knew in my heart. I must not give up. I must continue so that I facilitate the change I wish to see in the world. It was not easy for me to leave my comfortable life I had been blessed with. I was not used to the demands of my time and energy; I was my own boss for a reason. The change of pace from a work at home business owner, writer, wife, and mother to campaigning for the State House of Representatives was a drastic shake up of my days and how they used to look.

I am choosing to keep moving forward because I believe it is the answer to my prayer; just let me be the light.  I am choosing to shine the light in my community, doing what I can because I can. Because I have been asked to do so. Right here at home, in the beautiful place I live.

I love Minnesota. I love our Minnesota way of life. I believe I live in one of the most beautiful places in the United States and I wish to keep it that way.

I will shine my light as the beacon to the way of progress in the direction that is sustainable and healthy for all. I hope I get to be one of the lucky ones that gets to lead the way to a brighter future.

My vision is to be the proverbial brave hermit coming out of profound solitude and contemplation to shine my inner knowing like a light.

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ I am love.

https://emyminzel.com

@emyminzel

Picture courtesy of Pat Theilen

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Thank you.

Emy Minzel

The campaign trail has been fun, exciting, scary, invigorating, exhausting and full of emotional ups and downs already. I am enjoying this new adventure very much! I love getting to meet the people in my community who surprise me with an abundance of knowledge and kindness they willingly share with me. I am learning a great deal about the fabulous folks I am blessed to be surrounded by.

So far, the hardest part of the campaign for me to wrap my head around, was asking everyone for their financial support. I know I am not the only one who feels weird about asking for money. I just had to convince myself that the fact is, it is not asking for myself. It takes real dollars to make change happen, it takes real dollars to spread our message.

While I was in Washington, D.C. I took a class about asking for donations, seems like I was not the only person in the room with the same hesitation of asking for financial donations we need to spread our message.

The instructor had asked us to offer one word that describes what asking for money felt like.

Asking for money makes me feel….                         

Embarrassed

Intimidated

Uncomfortable

Nervous

Self-Conscious

Scared

Then the instructor had us use one word to describe what it feels like when we give…

Engaged

Connected

Thankful

Included

Proud

Joyful

Encouraged

Valued

Hopeful

It hit me during this class, that people do not give because they are asked. They give because they believe in me and they want to be part of the campaign that changes our community for the better. My supporters give their hard-earned money and their valuable donation of time to the Emy for House Campaign because they are committed to our ideals and our beloved community.

I now see it as asking for help from my community to support my effort in defending our values of caring and compassion for the people in our district and the environment we all share. It is asking for assistance in finding the money it takes to share the message that Emy Minzel is going to be the one to stand up and fight for the people in my community who are not feeling heard or acknowledged.

This fills my heart with so much joy to feel supported by wonderful people. It gives me fuel to keep burning both ends of the night. It helps me push through the long days knowing I am being given so much support. It really does feel like I am being pushed along by a communal wave of people power like a vessel on a wave headed in the exact direction I need to go.

As I sit here tonight enjoying the sunshine on my deck with my dogs, I am filling out ‘Thank You’ cards. I send them out to all the people who have donated to the Emy for House Campaign. I tell you what, it humbles me, makes my heart swell with gratitude and determination to win. Of all the things that are happening on the campaign trail, writing Thank You notes is my favorite.

I am blessed.

Thank you for your support, I truly appreciate you.

If you wish to follow the Emy for House Campaign check us out!

@emyforhouse15A

emyforhouse.com

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings,

Emy Minzel ~

https://emyminzel.com

@emyminzel