Baltic Christmas Day 7 - A Walk in the Woods

It is easy enough to stay inside in the winter, colder weather combined with rain (or snow) making the decision to curl up on the couch with a good book far too tempting. In December, the need to run Christmas errands, get in that holiday shopping, write holiday cards and bake all sorts of goodies often supersedes spending any time outdoors. However, we need to make a conscious decision to get outside during the winter months; not only is it healthy for you physically, it is also imperative for your mental health to spend a few hours in the fresh air each week.

Senlatvieši lived connected with nature, they were in tune with the sun, and life was dictated by the seasons. Ziemassvētki was a celebration of the winter solstice, the return of longer days and the eventual approach of a new growing season. I believe that connectedness still runs in our blood, the need for nature as ingrained in our beings as the need to breathe. Our seņči didn’t have the luxury of hibernating away the winter, there were homesteads to manage and farm animals to care for. Maybe most importantly, the social interaction during the winter months – budeļi, Ziemassvētku gatherings, even a visit to the neighbors – all ensured time outdoors.

We live in a medium-sized town, but are lucky in that we live close to the mountains where recreational opportunities abound – this makes the task of budgeting in time to be in nature easier. However, I used to live in a medium-sized town in the middle of the Midwest – scenic views were pretty much relegated to the view from the highway overpass, and winter hiking most often involved trudging across the unplowed quad to class. The trick to getting the needed dose of nature was to realize that it is everywhere; you only have to travel as far as your front door to experience it.

Take the opportunities offered this season! Bundle up and take your cup of coffee out to the porch in the morning – 10 minutes to breathe in the fresh air and organize your thoughts. Opt for an evening walk instead of that 30-minute sitcom. Spend your lunch hour outside with a thermos of hot soup. Wrap the baby up and walk them to sleep in the sunshine. Admire the skeletal frames of bare branches against a blanket of clouds, and watch the squirrels and the thickening of their winter coat. And on your way home, pick up a few acorns or pine cones and bring them indoors to remind you of the new life that is lying dormant all around us, awaiting spring to unfurl their leaves to the sun.