Books to Love: The Open-Air Life

“There is pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea, and music in its roar; I love not Man the less, but Nature more.”

Lord Byron

The Open-Air Life, by Linda Åkeson McGurk, a sequel to There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather, shares the myriad ways Scandinavian culture celebrates and immerses itself in nature and encourages everyone to live more in the great outdoors.

Some takeaways . . .

The Call to Adventure

Physical exertion, facing the elements, and seeking adventure have long been part of the Nordic ethos, epitomized by polar explorers and outdoorsmen such as Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen.

Even if not traversing Greenland or Antarctica, spending time outdoors is not always easy, but there are so many life-giving benefits that make the discomfort worthwhile. Nature teaches adults and children alike the values of humility, preparedness, wise risk-taking, self efficacy, and resilience through adversity.

How true it is that some of our best stories come out of persevering through something difficult, the times “we barely survived” some misadventure, now comical or meaningful in hindsight.

Scandinavians’ Charming Affinity for the Outdoors

Friluftsliv (FREE-lufts-leev), meaning open-air life, is only one of many Scandinavian words expressing a unique kind of engagement with nature. Some others . . .

• Skogspromenad: a forest walk

• Strandpromenad: a beach walk

• Barfotapromenad: a barefoot walk

• Fika: coffee break including snacks, sandwiches, or sweets, with socializing and relaxation. Often enjoyed on a hike.

• Turglede: the joy of going on a trip, and the little moments that make a trip magic.

• Hytte: a rustic cabin in the woods, usually without electricity or plumbing, which nearly every Scandinavian owns or longs for.

• Vårdträd: literally “caring tree,” a prominant deciduous hardwood that defines a homestead as the gathering place for celebrations.

• Smultronställe: literally “place of wild strawberries,” a special, often hidden, place one goes for rejuvenation outdoors.

Experience Nature Every Day, Instead of Seeing it as a Destination

Friluftsliv emphasizes simple, non-motorized ways of engaging with the outdoors, without competing or achieving. And there are so many ways to enjoy the outdoors every day:

• Moonlight walks

• Barefoot walks

• Sunbathing

• Gardening

• Reading in a hammock

• Biking or walking to work

• Cooking and eating under an open sky

• Walking with others while in a meeting or counseling session

• Cold bathing and swimming in lakes, rivers, and oceans

• Picnicking in the snow

• Backcountry camping

• Berry picking and mushroom foraging

• Learning the names of local plants and animals

• Early morning listening for birds, with a thermos of hot coffee

• Cross country skiing through a snowy wood

• Paddling a canoe or kayak across a lake

• Visiting historical and cultural sights in your area

• Celebrating midsummer with a cookout, or midwinter with a bonfire

Celebrate the Seasons

The birdsong, flowers, and rushing water of Spring . . .

. . . the warm smell of plants growing and sandy bare feet of Summer . . .

. . . the crackle of leaves and mists gathering on the lake in Autumn . . .

. . . the soft silence after a fresh snow and the hot dancing flames of a campfire in Winter . . .

When we value the unique, fleeting aspects of each season, we won't wish the current season away. There are many ways to enjoy even chilly or rainy days, and we miss this when we wait for the perfect weather.

The Joy of Missing Out

Spending more time in the world outside means spending less time in the world portrayed on screens. And there is a contentment in escaping the expectations, the hypnotic diversion, and the race of the online world for awhile in favor of something more nourishing, more vibrant, more wholesome.

Ultimately, the open-air life is about stewarding our time well, investing in relationships with others and with our surroundings, and finding joy in simple, natural pleasures. This book is like a deep bracing breath of fresh air, challenging us to truly embrace the outdoors as a way of life.

Having camped for a few months at a time over two different summers when we were younger, Big Country and I have a soft spot in our hearts for the beauty, quiet, and pace of outdoor recreation. But melding nature into my everyday life hasn't always been the most natural thing to do.

And so I’m grateful to this book for inspiring me to find new ways to enjoy our Alaskan surroundings, no matter the season or weather: morning walks in a drizzle with the kids, exercising outdoors in the moss, learning to grill my beloved steaks to perfection over a campfire, expanding our modes of travel with bikes and kayaks, and, this summer, bathing in the ocean!

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.”

Psalm 24:1-2

Until next time, happy reading! 📚

Liberty