Everyone’s been climbing a mountain this year. Ours has involved peaks and valleys. High-highs of more together time as we quarantined and worked from home. And low, very-low, lows of two working parents, two children in online school, and no family nearby in a time of travel restrictions.
Summer was a reprieve. We ventured out, we cautiously gathered with friends, we tried to tackle every day with intention to make the most of long, bright, days (all while missing family spread out across the country). And now, winter is coming.
But I stumbled upon some sights to behold as we put one foot in front of the other through September and October.
#1 The kids are all right. They will respond to the energy around them. Whether it’s a teacher, a babysitter, a crossing guard, a parent, or a friend who inspires them, our children can still find moments of joy even in circumstances that seem incredibly dark. “Normal” is gone but there is still a lot to explore and create in its place.
#2 Friluftsliv. Pronounced, “free-loofts-liv,” a Norwegian word that translates literally as “free air life.” It’s an ethos and it’s a mindset. We’re going all in. Welcome, winter. We’re ready and we’re going friluftsliving. I’m channeling my Norwegian roots, inviting friends and family near and far to join us in spirit, if not in person, until better days ahead.
Let’s go together. We’ll be looking up at the same sky. We’re going to keep it simple and meaningful and probably messy. We’re not outdoor experts, we don’t have all the gear, and heck, we live in New Jersey, but we’re going to start this adventure and put one foot in front of the other.
Let’s go friluftsliving.
