This year, learning about friluftsliv—a Nordic concept that involves embracing nature, no matter the season or weather—has helped me keep up with my outdoor exploration. Friluftsliv is not hiking up a mountain for clout. It’s walking around your local park, noticing the bird sounds and the swaying of dried leaves left on barren trees. It’s listening to the crunch of snow beneath your boot and finding pleasure in the sharp, chilly air. It’s a way of incorporating nature into your everyday life. I find that viewed through a more charitable lens, the gloomy gray light of winter becomes soft and the slushy sidewalks become charmingly squishy.
