Do I have enough gas to get there?

There are two types of people – at least according to the joke about gas in the car. There are the people who will fill up as soon (or before) the tank gets down to the halfway point. Then there are the people like me. When the light comes on, warning me that the car is almost empty, I try to see if I can still get to my next destination (sometimes even a second destination). Despite this game, I have never run out of gas. On the surface it looks like irresponsible risk taking, but I will tell you, it is not. I know that when the gas tank registers “E” there is about a gallon of gas left. If I know the mileage the car gets, I can do the math and figure out approximately how many miles I can drive.
In life, it can be a bit more difficult. I will push push push myself to go further, work harder and take on one more task. There are times I really wonder if I will have enough gas to get there. My day job is demanding and requires that I travel 4 days out of every week. My work takes up most of those days from waking till I go to sleep at night. I volunteer as an administrator for our local Buy Nothing Project. This does not take up a huge amount of my time but is something I need to fit in. I also have a couple other sporadic volunteer things I do to support the community. Then there’s the Family responsibilities with my daughters and grandchildren, which are joyous ways to spend time, but is still time spent. My step son also needs and deserves some of my time. Cherished time with friends is also an important aspect of my life and time. I have a monthly event that I host to help others on their spiritual path. This preparing for and hosting also drains my gas tank. Add to all of this blogging, writing books, and working on proposals with my coauthor. Some days I feel like I am running on fumes. And last but not at all least is time with my husband. Although, this probably fuels my tank more than drains it.
I’m sure most people today could make a list like I just did about everything that is tugging at their time. Jobs, family, housework, community; we would not want to give any of them up. We just need to make sure we have enough fuel in the tank to get everywhere we need to go. So what can I do when I start to run out of gas? How can I be sure to keep my tank full? Below is a dozen ideas that can help when you feel like you just don’t have any steam left.
1. Me time – find a quiet few minutes to spend time on yourself. Maybe take a bath or go to a yoga class with your me time. Maybe just have a cup of tea and read a book.
2. Exercise – even something as simple as going for a walk can help get the heart pumping and clear away the cobwebs. The world will seem brighter.
3. Healthy food choices – Have a snack, but make it something that will nourish your body. Then you will feel good about putting it into your body.
4. Fun – I love to travel. So if my husband and I can sneak away for a weekend, I feel like my tank has been filled. Other ideas could be a card game with friends, shopping, or a girls luncheon are all different ways to have fun.
5. Nature – Be out in the forest, sit by a lake, hike through he desert or up a mountain. Maybe you just spend a slice of your day in a park. The fresh air and sun on your face can give you the boost to complete the rest of your day.
6. Meditation – meditation is nice break from all the busy thoughts. You probably will not stop all the thoughts but it will give you the chance to step back from them for a few minutes.
7. Massage – I love the relaxing atmosphere of getting a massage in a dim room with soft music. Feeling those tense muscles start to melt under the skilled hands of the massage therapist can be very rejuvenating.
8. Listen to music – match the music to your mood or the mood you want. I have a “running” play list that is very upbeat. My “yoga” play list is more subdued and provides more zen to my day. “How I feel” is the play list I use when I am more melancholy.
9. Talk to a good listener – We all have that friend who is great at letting you ramble on and on. If you don’t know who this person is in your life, it is probably you. If you don’t have a “listener” friend, ask one of your other friends to fill that role. They will probably be glad to do it from time to time.
10. Count your blessings – we all have so much to be grateful for. You can mentally think of them or write a list. Either way it is a great way to fill your tank.
11. Laugh – Reading jokes on line, listening to a comedian, or watching some comedy are all good ways to laugh it out. There is even laughter yoga. Have you heard of that before?
12. Spend time with those you love – Nothing can fill my tank quite like spending time with my husband, family members, and close friends. Love will and can, keep you going.
Remember to find balance in life between things that fill your tank and empty your tank. You can’t keep going to do, all of those wonderful things that people are counting on you to do, if you don’t take some time to fill your own tank so you can make it all the way.
How do you keep your tank from running on “E”?
What is your favorite self care activity?

Thank you for reading my blog today. May your tank be more than half full always.

Please Follow the Adventure Sisters:

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

The Adventure Sisters on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

The Adventure Sisters on Instagram

@adventuresistersbwca

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area, like so many beautiful areas, may be at risk from exploitation. If you feel so moved please sign the petition below to save this amazing natural resource!

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

How I Learned to Love My Body Again

Think about being a child, care free in your appearance. How free that must feel. I watch my stepson and grandchildren. They will put on some goofy thing and know they look good. Body image is such a struggle for so many today. How can we heal this within ourselves?
My own struggles with body image started very young. I can remember being in elementary school and thinking I was fat. I am not sure where the initial problem started from. Was it my grandmother saying I should wear dark colors because they were slenderizing? Was it the kid on the play ground who called me a 2000 pound Tyrannosaurus rex? Could it have been noticing that clothes did not look on me the way they looked on my Barbie Dolls? Whatever the reason, from a young age, my body image sucked! It started a vicious cycle of dieting and binging that carried on until my late 30’s when eventually I had gastric bypass surgery. I lost 113.5 as a result of the surgery. I looked amazing, at least with my clothes on. Without them my skin hung and sagged. Without the fat I had way more skin than I needed. Stretch marks from years of weight gain made a map across my body. My breasts hung, more than a little, lower than were they belonged. I still felt disgusting. I consulted with a plastic surgeon to have skin pealed off of my body so that other skin could be pulled up and the folds would be decreased. Even after the surgery my body would not resemble those molded plastic fashion dolls of my youth. At least my body would be a little less gross. I scheduled the surgery.
At that time I was doing online dating. It struck me sometime before the plastic surgery that this was not the correct option for me. I needed to learn to love myself as is, otherwise how could anyone else love me? The kind of man I was looking for was the kind who could look past people faults and love the beautiful soul inside. I canceled surgery and decided any man who wanted me would have to be able to love this body with all of its mileage. I started working on loving myself. I started working on improving my feelings about my body.
I started small. Noticing aspects of my body that I did like was a way to begin. My toes are cute. I have strong legs. Parts of me that were easy to love paved the way to loving all of me. I found a great hair stylist. Which taught me my frizzy, out of control hair was actually full of really fun curls. Then the shopping began. The jeans and t-shirts were pushed to the back of the closet. Dresses now hung in the front. Pretty girly things that made me feel like a woman. I embraced my femininity. Changing my dating profile from “a few extra pounds” to “curvy” really helped me embrace my body as sexy, even if I still felt it was imperfect.
I did find a man who loves me as is. He is a beautiful and kind soul. The year we were married, Emy and I were planning our annual BWCA (Boundary Water Canoe Area) trip. These trips have morphed from fun adventures into an opportunity to work on wellness and self improvement. We still have lots of fun but they are now so much more. In the bags I included a pack of metallic pastel colored pertinent markers. “A fun activity for our trip, awaits in the bags”, I told Emy. Letting the anticipation of surprise speak to the little girl in her. All the while the little girl in me was relishing this idea.
As we sat on our private island in the BWCA, near our campfire, drinking tea, and watching the sun glisten off the lake, I produced the markers. “We are going to write message of love to our body”. She lit up. We set to work covering our bodies in words of appreciation and things we wanted to manifest for ourselves. When we were done the metallic ink sparked in the afternoon sun. Words such a strength, love, beauty, temperance, feminine, courage, and support adorned our bodies amidst peace symbols, flowers, vines, hearts, and other symbolic drawings. It was a transformative experience.
I am more comfortable with my body now than I have been since I was a very young child. I still have moments, but for the most part, I love my body. I love every line and fold. Even that parts that don’t sit as high as they once did, receive appreciation and loving kindness from me.

What struggles do you have with your body image? Do you have helpful tricks you can share with others?

Thank you for reading my blog today. May you have loving kindness for your body!

Please Follow the Adventure Sisters:
Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister
https://stacycrep.com
Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister
https://emyminzel.com
The Adventure Sisters on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters
The Adventure Sisters on Instagram
@adventuresistersbwca

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area, like so many beautiful areas, may be at risk from exploitation. If you feel so moved please sign the petition below to save this amazing natural resource!
https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org/tell-department-interior-and-bureau-land-management-protect-boundary-waters

Why Does This Always Happen to Me?

Have you ever noticed repeating themes in your life? Maybe you find yourself in the same situation repeatedly. The best predictor of future action is past action. This is the driving reason people ask behavior questions during interviews. This means when these themes repeat in your life, you are likely to handle them in the same way each time. Is there a better way to deal with them?
It has become apparent to me that when we deal with these repeating themes in the same way they will continue to repeat. The only way to really break the pattern is to pick a new response. Let me tell you a story. Ever since I was a small child I have had just a few close friends. I enjoy getting together in groups but tend to be drawn to individual intimate time together. Ever since elementary school I have had friends who do not get along. I was constantly in between my two friends who did not like each other. As I have grown this theme has continued. Although, my friends have matured. Still it seems, I am always having to choose one friend or another to do things with. I have tried being the friend matchmaker and taking on a “ the more the merrier” attitude. It has not worked. I still find myself in a place were I feel pulled between two different people, both wrestling for my time. It has not stopped with friends; I have seen the same thing with family members. At least people like me, right? I have tried being a mediator; trying to help one person to see the other person’s point of view. Still life keeps giving me the opportunity to deal with this in a different way. I do not want to loose any of these people from my life. I cherish my relationships with them all. My current strategy is to spend group time with friends when it works but not to push them on each other. I am allowing for individual time with people too. Will this work? I can not tell at this point in time. Perhaps I will need to try something different in the future.
I had a similar experience with a repeating theme around men who didn’t have time for me when I was dating. I finally noticed the repeating theme and chose another option. I broke up with the men who did not have time for me; moved on in the dating pool. I was blessed to meet a man who makes time with me a priority. He is now my husband. That theme is gone from my life, because I noticed the pattern, prioritized myself, and broke the cycle.
What repeating themes do you have in your life? What could you do differently to have a new outcome?
Please Follow my Blog – StacyCrep.com
Please Like and Follow our Facebook Page – @BWCAdventureSisters
Thank you for reading my blog today.

11 Reasons to Exercise

We hear all the time how exercise is good for us and important to a healthy life style. Those of us who struggle with our weight can spend a lot of time and energy trying to convince ourself to exercise. When we do not exercise we beat ourselves up and feel pretty poorly about ourselves. What if we looked at exercise in a new way. Instead of something we “should” do or something we “must” do? What if we had reason to “want” to exercise? What if exercise became more than just about the battle of the bulge? Here are 11 reason to exercise to benefit and care for you!

It feels great – Going for an early morning run or walk. The fresh air on your face as the sun makes his appearance for the day. As your body moves briskly along your route you can feel all your muscles coming to life. I have always said the hardest part of running is getting from the bed to the pavement. Once I am on my way it really does feel great.
Meditative – Exercise can be a very meditative experience. Whether you are dance to music, doing a plank challenge, or going for a hike, it helps you stay in the now. The usual whirlwind of thoughts seems to quiet while you and your body become one and focus on the task at hand.
Your body loves it – Your body really does love to exercise. It can get your heart pumping and your lung capacity improved. Bone can become denser and muscle grow stronger. Your body will thank you.
Improved endurance – You will see that your ability to go longer and farther will improve as your commitment to working out increases. When I travel, I love to be able to climb the winding stair cases to the top of bell towers and see the panoramic views. Whether it is dancing, love making, or canoeing, you will find your ability to keep going better.
Self esteem – Think how proud you feel when you complete something. Every time you complete a sweat session, your self esteem will be boosted. As you see other improvements in your body, your self-esteem will continue to climb.
Creativity – During Yoga classes I have written children’s books in my mind. On hikes I have planned creative projects. While doing strength training, I have gotten writing ideas. There is just something about using your body that allows creativity to flow.
Metal Health – All those feel good endorphins are more wonderful than any anxieties or antidepressants. Put the endorphins and your improving self esteem together and you may just find that smiling comes easier with a pep in your step.
Self worth – When you don’t feel good about your self it is easy to put yourself down. While you are putting yourself down, the next thing that can happen is you allow others to put you down as well. When you put energy into caring for yourself you can learn to love yourself again. Other people who do not show you the love and respect you deserve better watch out. You may put them in their place or send them packing.
Energy – I am always looking to manifest endless energy and plenty of time. This is one of the ways to improve energy. With improved energy, I am more likely to use my time to get something accomplished rather than plopping down in front of the boob tube. Thus getting more energy and more time.
You time – I am an introvert by nature. I need time to myself. This is a great way to get it, while also doing something that truly benefits me in so many ways. Going for a brisk walk around a lake is an amazing way to get a little space for myself.
It gets easier – The more you do things to care for your body, the more your body responds. It gets stronger and your endurance improves. You remember how much you love being active. Young children play and run without any thoughts to it being something they “have to do”. You can embrace your inner child and let them out to play.

I hope you find these reasons motivating. My intention is, that in at least some small way, they make the hardest part of exercise easier. The dreaded walk from the bed to the trail. May your life improve with your body.

What do you love about exercise, no matter how small? What would you tell others to help them feel more motivated?

Blessings! Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. Please follow me at StacyCrep.com and/or @BWCAdventureSisters on FaceBook. Have a great day!

Blessings Beyond What Is Typical

We have an employee wellness program where I work. One of the wellness activities was to make a list of things we are thankful for. There are so many reason why we should focus on the items we are thankful for. It improves mood. What we think about, come about. We are more likely to be generous with others when we recognize the gifts in our own life. I am sure anyone reading this could immediately come up with many blessings we have in our life. But what of the things we take for granted? What of the things that are hidden blessings?

Immediately when thinking about what i am thankful for I go to the standard blessings. My 3 beautiful daughters and stepson, 4 grandchildren, supportive husband, my home, job, my Adventure Sister Emy, dear friends, smart coworkers, and the like. I live a blessed life. My life has always had a way of working out and having things fall into place for the best. Of course we all have different blessing. What I call blessings, others may not feel the same way about. I may have blessings others do not; they likely also have blessings I do not.

There are so many things that we take for granted that others would consider a true benefit. I have always been healthy and as such I have taken my health for granted. Recently when I broke my wrist and did not have the use of my dominate hand I learned appreciation for my right hand. Another thing I have always taken for granted is the mobility we have by living in an age where planes, trains, and automobiles are plentiful. I had an elderly patient tell me one time about when she was sick as a child. Her father had to put her in the back of the wagon or buggy and hitch it to horses. It took them two days to get her to the hospital for treatment. Additionally it was winter so wrapped up in warm blankets was her protection form the elements. I know she was grateful for getting to the hospital. How different is that from our lives today. Emy Minzel, my Adventure Sister, has a blog post coming soon on EmyMinzel.com about another area we often don’t count as an blessing but it totally is. It should be on her blog by Jan 6th or 7th. I encourage you to look for it.

Hidden blessing are those things that do not seem like something to be glad for in the beginning. A teenage daughter coming home pregnant, can feel like the end of the world. After your grandchild is born, however, it can feel like the world is new and full of more love than you knew was possible. A divorce, can feel like everything is crumbling. It may take years of healing and mourning the loss of the marriage, but one day you may be ready to move on. The next marriage or relationship may be much healthier and more supportive. Or perhaps simply having a healthy self esteem and view of yourself will be the price at the end of the hard times. I once had a job that I loved. I decreased my hours to put family first. The owners made a decision to demote me and hire someone else into my position. At the time I felt so hurt and like such a failure. I quit that job and ended up in a much better job where there was more opportunity for advancement and better pay. Sometime God or the Universe conspires to bring us to better places, even though the path may be painful.

As I look out the window at a beautiful sunny day sparkling off the snow that blankets the backyard, I am grateful for the 3 degree Fahrenheit temperatures. After all it is 20 warmer than it was a few days ago and the sun is shining. Count your blessings, make a list of things you are thankful for, start a gratitude journal. What ever works to help keep your blessings in the front of your mind. Do not forget those things we take for granted and those times in life that turned out to be for the best, even if it didn’t feel like it at the time.

What hidden blessing have you had in your life? Have you had experiences you would like to share that made you realize something/someone you were taking for granted?

Please Follow my Blog – StacyCrep.com

Please Like and Follow our FaceBook Page – @BWCAdventuresisters

Thank you for reading my blog today.

Bringing Hidden Emotions to the Surface

Recently Emy and I started planning our next BWCA trip. We were debating how many days we should stay. Because there is usually no cell service and you have to arrange for an outfitter to drop you off and pick you up, once you are there, you are there for the duration. I have noticed that when I am “stuck” somewhere, without some distraction, my emotions move.

There was one year that it rained, a lot! Emy and I passed the time sitting under a tarp, drinking tea, journaling, and talking. There is no electricity so using your phone for entertainment is not an option. After hours of sitting under our shelter I felt this desire to leave. I didn’t want to be there anymore. It was like my “fight/flight” response was in full swing and I wanted to run! Of course there was no way and no where to run to. I had to just sit. Then a breakthrough happened. My emotions broke free. I had a revelation. I became aware of some old thoughts about myself that I was holding as true. I realized that I did not believe I was lovable. I broke into tears and cried (something I seldom do). Because of this solitude and sanctuary of the forest, I was able to process this emotion.

Another year, it was the day before we were scheduled to leave, a beautiful sunny day had us lounging in the sun. I could feel the anxiety building in me. Our scheduled pick up time on the next day seemed so late in the day to me. We had a long drive to Emy’s home and then I had an additional hour to my house. I needed to unpack from the BWCA trip. I was scheduled on an early morning flight the next day for work and needed to pack for that trip. Laying there, on a warm rock, next to a sparkling lake, I once again felt that “fight/flight” instinct kick in and I wanted to run. I needed to get home and get stuff done! With nowhere to go and nothing I could do, I asked myself why I was feeling this way. Digging into those emotions and explored their root cause, helped me realized it was about not speaking up for myself. When we were arranging our pickup time, I knew I needed to leave early. When Emy suggested a later pickup time to the outfitter, I didn’t explain to her my perceived need to leave early because of pressure to get ready for a work trip. I just passively let her pick the time. Here it was four or five days later and it was causing me discomfort. Being in a place where I could allow my emotions to surface without the distractions the modern world offers us, gave me the time and space to allow the emotions to surface. I had the ability to dig into them and see what was causing them. I then knew how to prevent feeling like this in the future and advocate for myself.

So often in life we use distractions so that we do not have to deal with our emotions. TV, alcohol, games on our phones, housework, and so many other things to “be busy” and not have to deal with or process our emotions. Give yourself time and space to just be. Even though, at times, it may be uncomfortable it will allow those old emotions to break free. Then you can deal with them and release them.

What types of things do you do to “be busy” and not feel? How do you find space to let these emotions surface?

Escaping from Reality

Have you ever wanted to be free from reality? Escape from it? I think we all have from time to time. Recently I heard the song Lost Boy by Ruth B. She talks about playing in the woods and being free. It brought to mind Emy and my trips to the Boundary Waters. The Boundary Water Canoe Area (BWCA) is a magical place. It does allow for an escape from reality, while hanging out and playing in the forest.
If you are not familiar with the BWCA it is unspoiled wilderness. Located in Northern Minnesota and Southern Ontario, it is forest and waterways. You canoe in and when you get to land, you pick up what you brought and portage (aka carry) it to the next body of water. The campsites are isolated and you see very few people up there. You will hear the wolves howling, see the occasional moose, and need to protect your food from the bears. It is a wonderful place to escape from reality. Cell service is spotty at best and absent all together in most of the BWCA.
It was in the BWCA that the Adventure Sisters were born. Emy and I went on our own into the untamed wilderness. Two ordinary woman out to have an adventure. The term “adulting” has become popular lately. The idea that we have to make responsible decisions even when they may not be fun decisions. Our yearly trip to the BWCA gives a nice break from the day to day responsibilities of adulting. There we have to survive. The only things you have are what you brought with you. So your decisions are based on survival.
There is a lot of work to taking a trip in the BWCA but it is a therapeutic type of work. Wondering in the forest looking for sticks, twigs, and branches, for a fire hardly feels like work. Paddling across a lake scouting for a campsite, seems almost more like play. Pitching the tent and setting up camp feels like adventure. There is also a lot of time for sitting around the fire, floating in the lake, and laying in the sun.
It is quiet out there amongst the trees, lakes, and wildlife. The chatter of a red squirrel and rustling of the breeze in the leaves allow an escape from reality. It allows you to go within, connect with yourself, and remember who you are. There is a peace and a flow to that place. It is a magical place. I find, since that first trip several years ago, I carry it with me in my heart. My own Neverland. My own way to be free.
Do you have a special place you go to when you need peace? Is it a real physical place or Imagined? What is it about this place the gives you that peaceful escape from reality?