Such a great read! It makes me think how even though my body isn’t always as comfortable in the winter walks, my soul often is. Interesting that the two don’t always go together.
agreed, that first wind that cuts through each layer is a tough one to get past. That little bit of uncomfortable feeling though might do us some good to appreciate being warm in our home after too
I love how you frame winter as something to engage with rather than hide from. Once you step into the cold, it feels much less daunting. Your reflections on friluftsliv are a good reminder that a simple walk or a few minutes outdoors can completely shift how we experience the season.
Thanks Violetta! and yes, we have spent too much time thinking we need to “hide” from winter, slip into hibernation. But that isnt what we need, we need to get out into it and feel it. It isn’t easy like other seasons, but winter is a season of many things. And one of those is a season to find strength and resilience!
On the whole, it is my belief that most humans have grown too comfortable in our super insulated houses, so much so, that we often check the weather online, before heading outdoors. Not that that's a bad thing, but to do it without even stepping out the door to notice the local temperature, which direction the clouds are moving in, the smell of moisture in the air, etc. is to say that we trust technology more than our instincts. Personally, I don't mind the cold, even going so far as to bathe in the cold creek at the back of our property from time to time in winter. Cold helps us to remember what our bodies are truly capable of.
So true. I’ve been trying to take more season-agnostic walks. Being out nature in all sorts of conditions reminds me of human ancestors and how we used to be so much more connected with our earth.
Well put, we didnt have a choice! we had to have a strong connection to understand how to survive and eventually thrive in nature. Getting out more and more is the best way to be reminded of that
the "cold plunge" trend has a strong showing here in the US (with many people abandoning it for the next thing) without fully understanding its roots or true intention. Bathing in the cold creek! It was never about "shocking" the senses, it was about connection to nature at a base line level. Feeling the cold, knowing the cold, understanding the cold.... all helps us remember as you put it, what our bodies are capable of!
In the UK winter is more of a wet affair, I am reading this while gently steaming dry after a soggy walk. Wet, dry, cold or hot - time outside keeps me myself.
Ah yes, you just require some different layers of the water resistant kind vs. the puffy thermals. But agreed, time outside does really keep us ourselves. Sometimes those ventures into weather that is (as you put it so well) a wet affair more so than others. It is easy to be ourselves when the sun is shining and temps warm. To do so in the chill and rain, well that is an exercise in resilience!
Haha, even though it's just a thin layer, the first snow is still so special! Is it cold where you are? Finally, I can wear a thick coat? San Francisco has been quite cool lately, only 48.2°F. It's especially cold in the mornings and evenings
we had another full round this mornign and it is still stacking up. Really feels like winter. And the beauty of norcal is that you stay in the sweet spot of weather right? 48 F is my ideal outdoor weather!
Such a great read! It makes me think how even though my body isn’t always as comfortable in the winter walks, my soul often is. Interesting that the two don’t always go together.
agreed, that first wind that cuts through each layer is a tough one to get past. That little bit of uncomfortable feeling though might do us some good to appreciate being warm in our home after too
I feel the same way — trying to make this year different!
I love how you frame winter as something to engage with rather than hide from. Once you step into the cold, it feels much less daunting. Your reflections on friluftsliv are a good reminder that a simple walk or a few minutes outdoors can completely shift how we experience the season.
Thanks Violetta! and yes, we have spent too much time thinking we need to “hide” from winter, slip into hibernation. But that isnt what we need, we need to get out into it and feel it. It isn’t easy like other seasons, but winter is a season of many things. And one of those is a season to find strength and resilience!
On the whole, it is my belief that most humans have grown too comfortable in our super insulated houses, so much so, that we often check the weather online, before heading outdoors. Not that that's a bad thing, but to do it without even stepping out the door to notice the local temperature, which direction the clouds are moving in, the smell of moisture in the air, etc. is to say that we trust technology more than our instincts. Personally, I don't mind the cold, even going so far as to bathe in the cold creek at the back of our property from time to time in winter. Cold helps us to remember what our bodies are truly capable of.
So true. I’ve been trying to take more season-agnostic walks. Being out nature in all sorts of conditions reminds me of human ancestors and how we used to be so much more connected with our earth.
Well put, we didnt have a choice! we had to have a strong connection to understand how to survive and eventually thrive in nature. Getting out more and more is the best way to be reminded of that
the "cold plunge" trend has a strong showing here in the US (with many people abandoning it for the next thing) without fully understanding its roots or true intention. Bathing in the cold creek! It was never about "shocking" the senses, it was about connection to nature at a base line level. Feeling the cold, knowing the cold, understanding the cold.... all helps us remember as you put it, what our bodies are capable of!
Once you learn to embrace the cold, winter becomes a magical time.
embrace it and stop fighting it. Layer up and get out!
In the UK winter is more of a wet affair, I am reading this while gently steaming dry after a soggy walk. Wet, dry, cold or hot - time outside keeps me myself.
Ah yes, you just require some different layers of the water resistant kind vs. the puffy thermals. But agreed, time outside does really keep us ourselves. Sometimes those ventures into weather that is (as you put it so well) a wet affair more so than others. It is easy to be ourselves when the sun is shining and temps warm. To do so in the chill and rain, well that is an exercise in resilience!
Yum.
Has it snowed?
Denver area got its first snow a few days ago! Granted it was barely an inch but still counts…
Haha, even though it's just a thin layer, the first snow is still so special! Is it cold where you are? Finally, I can wear a thick coat? San Francisco has been quite cool lately, only 48.2°F. It's especially cold in the mornings and evenings
we had another full round this mornign and it is still stacking up. Really feels like winter. And the beauty of norcal is that you stay in the sweet spot of weather right? 48 F is my ideal outdoor weather!
I want to see snow, but it's really cold in Northern California in the mornings and evenings. Lol