FREE LOOFTS LIV
While the past several months of quarantine and working from home have been rough, no, I haven’t lost my mind and started talking gibberish. At least not yet. Instead, I’m using this unusual time and place in history to expand my horizons and discover new things I never thought I’d enjoy. Like spending time outside in the cold rain. Or picnicking in the snow. I know! You don’t believe me that I’ve not gone crazy. But what if I told you that this counter-intuitive practice could be the ultimate key to happiness?
Friluftsliv is the Norwegian concept of outdoor life. Loosely translated, it means “open air life”, and is the reason many believe that Norway lands atop the list of the world’s happiest countries every year. In fact, the concept of friluftsliv has been incorporated into therapies for military vets who suffer from PTSD and for those struggling to overcome grief or loss. And the best part, you don’t need to live near a fjord to experience the amazing benefits this lifestyle has to offer. We city dwellers can find ways to integrate it right into our everyday lives.
Here’s the trick. Don’t simply consider outdoor activities like hiking, bicycling or running as the only qualifiers. One can experience the positive effects of friluftsliv from shoveling snow or weeding the garden. It’s about the calm you feel when you are free from concern or worry, the kind of freedom you can only experience from nature. But it can also be about strength and courage. It’s what happens when you get out of your comfort zone and climb that rugged terrain or go for a muddy walk in the rain, making sure to get your dirtiest. In the end, it’s really about a state of mind more than a physical pursuit. And the results include greater creativity, relaxation and lower blood pressure, just to name a few.
As for that pesky weather, the Norwegians believe there’s no such thing. Save for the rare polar vortex or something like a hurricane, Norwegians believe there is not bad weather, only bad clothes. Living in such an icy climate, they have learned to embrace all that the environment has to offer, sometimes enjoying outdoor activities even more when the temperatures really dip. The fact is if you are dressed properly for the weather, you can enjoy the great outdoors anytime you want. This explains how they spend around 300 days a year outside. They have let go of the limiting belief that it’s too cold or too wet. Simply dress the part and make it so. Or – don’t. Norwegians even swim in pools outside year-round in all weather and some even find it particularly enchanting during the winter when it’s snowing.
There’s a lot of talk about how challenging the fall and winter will be for us this year, given the uncertainty of that naughty virus. But the Norwegians would say it’s all in how you look at it. I personally will be embracing winter for maybe the first time in my life and refusing to let it stop me from exploring the outdoors and savoring its beauty. A newly purchased fire pit already has me enjoying evening cocktails outside while watching the sunset, followed by star gazing in 40-degree temperatures. Trips to the arboretum in late fall and early winter are being planned for our family. And bike rides with our puffers on will become the standard this year. The neighbors might watch from their windows, wondering if we’ve gone mad. But I’m hopeful that we’ll start a trend.
Looking for more inspiration? Grab a cozy blanket to wrap up in during your winter walks, then let it double as something to sit on when you come across a particularly beautiful spot to take a break. Sit quietly as you listen to the sounds all around you. Run your hands through the grass or shrubs, smell the flowers around you or crunch fallen leaves in your hand. Even grab at the dirt and the mud, observing how you can influence its shape. Then take a deep breath and notice the clarity of your mind. Now you’re living the free loofts liv way. And it might just turn out to be the best thing you’ve ever tried.