Tag: #worthit

Decisions, Decisions…

emyminzel

It’s no secret that our life path is just made up of decisions we make along the way. In our careers, family, friends and even our health, the path is a product of decisions we’ve made prior. How my life looks today is directly because of the things I chose in the past. Sometimes we make bad decisions because we just don’t know, what we don’t know yet!

We must not kick ourselves in the butt when we do find out. It is then that we can use that opportunity to make an even more informed decision and move on from there. Who I am now, recognizes that in my younger years I would sometimes try to blame others for my failings instead of taking responsibility for my decisions. I had to get out of my own way and grow. I had to learn it was all up to me and my decisions to get the life I wanted.

Even when my decision was to be lazy and unproductive with my time, affecting any progress, the old me would think “Well if it’s meant to be it will be!” When really, it will be if I decide to make it so!

When Stacy posted her blog Let’s talk about Desire yesterday on stacycrep.com she hit the nail on the head talking about desire and distraction. I wanted to share my expericence of chosing destractions over what I truly desired and how I changed my thinking to prioritize what I truly wanted.

This thinking ‘if it was meant to be will be’ was justifying behaviors and decisions that were not getting me anywhere! I just didn’t see that it was me, standing in my way to the life I really wanted. It took years before I was ready to admit that my dissatisfaction was my own fault. That the decisions I made each moment of the day was the product of how I felt about life. Then, I had my “Ah ha!” moment and realized that nobody can change my life but me!

After this awakening, I started experimenting with mantras and found one that I loved and motivated me to take responsibility for my decisions. I still have it on a post-it note on my bathroom mirror. It says “I deserve the best! I take charge of my schedule and my life!” This simple yet powerful mantra moved me to get off the couch and start making progress towards the career and life I know I wanted but wasn’t making any progress getting too. I finally saw it because I stopped procrastinating and started doing what I knew I needed to do.

For years I knew I wanted to be a writer, yet I just did not believe in myself. So, I did not even attempt to write. When I did, it was in my journal and for my eyes only. I complained about it a lot because I was so unhappy with my lack of progress. Instead of taking the initiative to write something worth sharing, I would nap, clean, veg on the couch or anything at all besides write. How in the world did I expect to be a writer if I wasn’t confident enough to even try?

It was one small, yet life-changing decision several years ago, that got me fired up about my life goals again. Adventure Sister Stacy had encouraged me to start writing and she decided she was also going to write too. This sister solidarity gave me just enough support that I was willing to give it a shot. When we started writing, Stacy and I set a small goal of 500 words a week to keep us accountable. The best surprise was that we both ended up blowing the doors off that goal and had a great time while doing it!

We kept writing and writing and now have three books waiting for us to publish! As it turns out, editing is not cheap, and we needed to find a way to pay for the next step of making our publishing goals happen. A year after we got just our book proposals edited and paid for, we still needed the money to edit the rest of the books. We sat on this conundrum for a while and together made the decision to start putting together women’s retreats to help raise the funds to bring our books to fruition!

This is a very exciting next step in our writing careers, and all came about organically from our decision to keep making progress towards our goals and dreams. When it occurs to me that I wasted several years of my life because of my decision not to believe in myself, it can bum me out at times. Yet I know I cannot get down on myself too bad, because you don’t know, what you don’t know until you know! When you do, look at the progress you can make!

I am so thankful that I made myself take initiative to make one of my dreams come true. I did this by taking responsibility for how I was spending my time and energy and changed it to what I needed. These small decisions added up to big changes in myself and my life. I do my best to make good decisions and take responsibility with this life I’ve been blessed with. Doing so has increased my self-esteem and motivates me to keep moving forward with my goals and dreams; one small decision at a time.

Wishing you love and blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

http://stacycrep.com

*Photo taken at Candie Kitchen in Knife River, Minnesota

 

 

 

5 reasons to foster furry friends!

emyminzel

Have you heard of animal rescues?

There is a local animal rescue in my town called Ruff Start Rescue. It’s run by a young woman with a heart as big and radiant as the sun. Since starting the rescue in 2010, they have grown to over 600 volunteers and have saved over 5,500 animals. I do my best to volunteer when I can, although it is not nearly as often as I wish I could. So, I donate dollars and I foster animals in need, as often as possible.

I love our local rescue because they are not like other shelters or rescues. Ruff Start Rescue sets dogs and cats up for success in a home-based atmosphere by asking volunteers to foster them in their homes as part of their family. This allows the animals to learn manners, be potty trained and get vetting needed; while giving the animal the opportunity to be loved by the family that hosts them.

I have learned so much from the dogs I have helped find forever homes for. Some of them broke my heart. Yes, I cried and wished them well on their journey into their new lives. It was all worth it though; all the tears, all the messes, vet visits, laughs, cuddles, slobbers and love. All worth it!

We have had such great, heart opening experiences, that I just had to share the top five reasons you should foster too! The number one question/statement I get from friends when they find out I foster is: “I don’t think I could foster because I would fall in love and it would be hard to let them go. How do you do it?” Here is what I tell them.

1. “You” get to choose the right family – Ruff Start Rescue lets you, the foster, pick the best family for your foster animal. They trust, that since you have been loving and caring for the animal, that you will know what kind of atmosphere it will thrive best in. If you don’t think the dog will do well with little kids, then the dog does not go to a family with little kids. The point of the rescue is to give the animal its best chance for success and not to put it in a situation destined for failure. You get to go through the adoption applications and interview the families. It it’s much safer for the animal then just allowing anyone to pick and purchase them from a website.

2. You will fall in love – The truth is, as a foster family, we do fall head over heals in love. That’s the point! To show love, compassion and consistency to the dog/cat that may have never been loved before. This is a soulful connection that doesn’t just make emotional growth and stability possible for the animal, it helps you too! To love another living being enough to let them go to a forever family where they belong, is selfless. Helping them find their forever family is much like raising your kids to be prepared for the world. It’s the right thing to do and so rewarding to see them happy and healthy; living their best life.

3. Be fully prepared for the possibility of a foster failure – Foster Failure happens when you foster and end up falling in love with an animal that just fits your family. Then you decide to adopt the animal yourself. I have done this twice. The most recent foster failure was our dog Hank, who was found as a stray. He was held in impound and his time was up. I saw his face and plea for help and I just knew we had to help him. He was almost like a wild animal when we got him home, he needed lots of training and love.

4. It’s hard but worth it – We even had to do a couple weeks of shutdown acclimation before Hank got to meet my resident dog Gus. Hank got to sleep, eat and just decompress in my daughter’s bedroom until he got comfortable and relaxed with his new living situation. It took him a couple weeks, but I believe allowing him this time to feel safe, made all the difference when we introduced him to our family dog. It was hard keeping everyone separated at first, but we were dedicated to Hank’s success. Hank has paid us back for not giving up on him with love and loyalty and he is a wonderful addition to our family!

Photos 3_17_2017 1664
Hank in Impound

Handsome Hank Hank after adoption

5. Letting go –  I like to think dogs are like people, although I love them all, some are easier to get along with then others! So, this means some are easier to let go then others! There was a little dog named Rosie,  we fostered several years ago, who had contracted Parvo. Parvo is a disease that kills puppies. This little stinker beat Parvo but the battle was scary and heartbreaking.

There were sleepless nights and a whole week where all we did was just cuddle her, while praying she would live. We had to hydrate her by injecting fluids subcutaneously, which it hurt her to do so. Listening to her cry, while we tried our best to keep her alive, was just as hard as letting her go to another foster family.

We nursed Rosie through Parvo and our resident dogs helped to potty train her and teach her manners, while we loved her very much. She was the coolest little dog I have ever known. But, one day out of the blue, we had to let her go to another foster family on very short notice. One of my dogs, Penny, started to get aggressive towards my other big dogs while playing catch. We felt that it was just not safe anymore for little Rosie, in a house of big dogs that just became unpredictable.

So we called the rescue. They came and got Rosie immediately, because they are dedicated to keeping their foster dogs safe and healthy. It was hard for me to love Rosie for so long, only to have her gone in a flash because of my own pack. It was the best thing to do for Rosie, but it was hard on all of us.

Rosie Rosie

It is true that not every story ends on a happy note, but most of them do! Rosie found an amazing family soon after leaving our home. We have had foster dogs who’ve had Cancer, Parvo, broken limbs, worms, and broken spirits but have gone on to live great lives. The rescue we work with understands that life and animals can be unpredictable and have helped me through many situations throughout the years. I think of the starfish story when I think of fostering animals. You may not be able to help all that need rescuing, but you can help one at a time, and that is better than none.

If you have the time, energy and enough love to share; I recommend you try fostering too. It is such a wonderful experience that I keep going back when our family has the time to dedicate to a rescue animal. I keep going back to Ruff Start Rescue because they have always been there to help me when I need them. They are local hero’s in my mind and this is a cause and crew I love to support. Maybe you would consider opening your home and heart to a furry friend in need.

Please donate if you can to a wonderful and deserving organization! http://www.ruffstartrescue.com

Wishing you an abundance of blessings and love,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@EmyMinzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

Five great reasons to get a Massage!

emyminzel

Over a decade ago, I had an accident that caused me to sprain my neck. I was sitting on a tall stool, in my fathers-in-law garage. When he came in for a big bear hug and knocked the stool I was sitting over. It was a fluke accident and I thought I was fine at the time. The next morning though, I woke up in so much pain, I could barely lift my head off the pillow. It was so painful I went to the doctor who prescribed pain meds and muscle relaxers. They helped but muscle relaxers put me to sleep and the lingering pain and stiffness of the whiplash, I incurred, stayed with me even with medication.

I decided to go to the chiropractor and get some adjustments, physical therapy and massage to help me heal. I felt some relief from the adjustments, but the PT seemed to just annoy my problem instead of helping. The one thing that did offer immediate and lasting relief was the massages I received. I was so stunned by how much they helped, that I decided to go back to school to become a Massage Therapist. I was so relieved I wanted to help others in this same way!

Now I am a Certified Massage Therapist because of my personal massage experiences!

Massage Therapy is good for you in so many ways. I know a lot of people think of massage as ‘pampering or indulgent’ and honestly, I used too also! The truth is… giving your muscles, the relief they need to function at their best is taking care of yourself! If your car has a bad tire, you just don’t ignore it, you fix it so that your car performs at its best. Massage is no different than giving your body the maintenance it requires to be the best it can be.

Massage therapy not only feels good, it is good for you!

Increases circulation – releasing tight muscles lets the blood flow freely, increases healing in the area of your body that is injured or just sore from regular use.  When you increase circulation, you decrease the time it takes to heal. Clients who work out regularly, benefit from massage to keep their muscles from forming knots, therefore keeping them in top form and to prevent injury.

Loosens restricted areas from overuse or scar tissue – lots of people suffer from repetitive injury pain: in their neck, shoulders and back areas from their work. Manipulating and loosening the tissue in these areas gives the body great relief.

Increases range of motion – people who work on computers or drive all day, sit in the same positions for extended periods of time. This can lead to so much tension in their neck and shoulders, that they have a lowered range of motion. If it is difficult to look behind you when backing the car out of the driveway, you have restricted range of motion. Massage can help get loosen those tight muscles, so they perform the way they are supposed to.

Relieves stress – This is a side effect of the physical relief of massage therapy. When the body feels better, so does the mind. Allowing yourself an hour to check out of the real world and give your mind a break; does wonders for your stress levels and attitude. I know lots of moms whose only time out that they get, is the time they have on my table. It is not pampering, it is taking care of yourself and you are worth it!

Lowers blood pressure – Studies have shown that a consistent massage routine can lower blood pressure by lowering your stress hormones. When you lower the flow of these hormones you also lower your temper, anxiety and stress reactions. Doesn’t that sound lovely?!

There are so many kinds of massage to choose from; so make sure you talk to your massage therapist to get the one that is best for you. Some folks like to have light pressure with the sole reason of relaxing. While others feel like it is not a good massage unless you feel it the next day.

Pro Tip – Do not be shy about your preferences! Your Massage Therapist wants you to enjoy your session so speak up and let them know what you are thinking. Most of us are not mind readers. If you need more pressure or less, it is okay to say so! I tell my clients: “Don’t be afraid to speak up. You will not hurt my feelings because I want you to enjoy your massage!”

There are so many reasons why you should get a therapeutic massage. So, with all these reasons… “Why are you NOT getting regular massages?!” I am here to tell you, “You are worth the investment of keeping your mind, body and spirit in working order!”

I love you. I want you to know that you are worth taking the time for yourself and spending the money on your needs.

Thank you for reading my blog today! I hope it encourages you to take some time for yourself. You deserve it.

Wishing you an abundance of magical blessings!

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Wins have Big Impact

emyminzel

After an emotionally long month on the campaign trail, I finally had a big win. We (my campaign team and I) have been working tirelessly to keep our forward momentum going, and at times it is overwhelming with all to-do’s that need to get done for the campaign, on top of work and home life. Last Friday, we had a fundraiser, at a local business that supports Minnesota’s native environmental restoration and invited many people from my community. I was humbled and felt blessed by all the support of other local business owners, advocates, and neighbors that attended.

I was not nervous at this event and felt that I delivered my speech very well. No note cards needed, it all came from my heart, and thankfully I found the words I needed to express my thoughts and issues I wanted to address that evening. I met many wonderful people, who often told me, “Thank you, for running. We needed you to do this for us, we appreciate your hard work, keep up the good work!” I’m not one who fishes for compliments or praise but for some reason all the thank you I received, really helped me to see that my effort is very much needed and appreciated. Who doesn’t like to be appreciated occasionally?!

It got me thinking, that even though these past months I had been working sun up to sun down, I have also been meeting many wonderful people I would have never had the chance to if I weren’t pursuing this political position. I had a great time at a community picnic I was invited to at the northern end of my district. I was so thankful to be invited and get to meet more people and have the opportunity to make more friends.

I have this habit where I tend to over think, over analyze and stress myself out over things that haven’t happened or (I think) might happen, which has gotten to be quite annoying. You know it’s bad folks when you annoy yourself with your own bull. I think it’s a human trait to make a mountain out of a mole hill when I don’t want to do something. I will procrastinate until I finally give in, only to realize it really wasn’t so bad after all. Why do I do that to myself? I make more stress and anxiety for nothing sometimes.

For example, as a candidate, it is a practice to go “door knocking” to make direct voter contact with your constituents. I haven’t knocked on a door since I was a Girl Scout selling cookies. I was certain, selling cookies, was a much easier sell then selling myself for the State House of Representative seat. Turns out, I was wrong! Door knocking was quite enjoyable, I got to meet more of my neighbors, and get exercise, while also hanging out with a few awesome Emy for House Volunteers that came with me!

I was putting off door knocking because the thought of it made my eye twitch. I have come to find out after I tried it a couple times, that I really like it! Isn’t that funny how we can want something so much but be so resistant to some of the things that move us out of our comfort zone?

Like public speaking, I was terrified at first but after a few times it does get easier. Once I learned to just trust my heart, my words, and to allow myself to be authentically me it was much easier. Going to meetings, community picnics, fundraisers, door knocking, fairs, parades and all the other events and festivities that allows me to meet voters can seem overwhelming, but once I get there, I end up having a great time and I feel energized to keep on keeping on!

Even after a long month of hard work, I have concluded that this political journey is worth all the emotional ups and downs, lack of sleep and sometimes even sacrifice of me time and family time. To be able to work towards the greater good, serving others, seems to be what fills my soul with purpose and joy.

Now if there were only another 12 hours in the day so I could spend more time with my family and loved ones, that would be great! But there is not, and this is the path I have chosen. I have put myself “out there” for my community and for the environment I wish to protect. This path is exactly where I am supposed to be, even when it feels hard, I know it is right.

I am thankful for all the folks who continue to support me and the people I meet that turn into Emy for House Supporters after we talk. Friday’s fundraiser was the emotional reward that I needed to keep carrying on. I am thankful for the moments of Joy that keep me dedicated to winning this election for my community. I am thankful for the opportunity to be so well received while being authentically me. I am feeling very blessed.

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

 

Earning trust takes time.

emyminzel

It’s very rare that people give their full trust even to the folks closest to them. It takes many years to really trust someone.  I believe you must have trust to build intimate relationships that are fulfilling and meaningful. This conclusion didn’t just come out of nowhere. I learned this lesson the hard way, youth made me reckless and I let people I love down.

Even if it wasn’t on purpose, the effect of lost trust was still the same. I had hurt others and it takes many years to get back the closeness we once shared. The time it took rebuilding those relationships was worth it, and a valuable life lesson. I have learned to be honest even if the truth hurts, it is always the best option.

There are relationships in my life that did not survive lost trust as well. These were also valuable lessons I carry with me. I have been on both sides of the fence of trust; like most everyone else. I have been let down, deceived and fed up enough to let relationships go. I have also been on the opposite side and was dismissed as a friend myself.

What I have learned from my experiences is that trusting relationships feel better. Knowing that others can depend on me and I can depend on them is comforting. I like being trusted, I like having others in my life that can rely on me.

These lessons learned the hard way have been blessings in disguise. They made me better my own character, to grow into the person I was meant to be. Through experience on both side of trust, I understand that earning trust takes time and consistent dedication to preserving it. I also feel that it is worth the effort most of the time.

Love is a byproduct of trust, it’s not often we don’t deeply care for someone we truly trust. They go hand in hand. Building relationships takes time, building trust takes longer, but once you have them both… I think that’s a secret ingredient that the good stuff life is made from. Fulfilling relationship are what makes life vibrant, joyful and full of love.

Building a relationship based on trust is scary, we’ve all been burned before. But I believe there are still wonderful people in the world. People who believe in supporting each other, and who also want deeply rewarding relationships that are healthy for our souls.

When you find the desire to build a friendship with others, know that they are just as weary about opening their hearts and letting you in. It makes it important to hold the intentions of trust, integrity, and above all else determination and dedication to owning your part in the relationship. You own the responsibility of bringing your best intentions and actions to that bond.

Then dedicating years and time proving it.

Building trust takes time. Letting others in to your soul takes courage.

But, it is so worth it.

Thank you for reading my blog today!

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

*Picture credit LifeHack.io