Monday
23Nov2009
Outside
Monday, November 23, 2009 at 8:14PM Today I wanted to talk to you about one of the daily essentials of rhythm, which is spending time outside (yes, EVERY day), but frankly I've spent so much time outside today (two long walks and a gorgeous afternoon/evening bonfire) that I'm a little worn out and am going to take advantage of my little ones' early bedtimes to go to sleep myself.
Here are some outside photos to tide you over, taken over the past couple of glorious days:
Outside. The short version of my intended post: Get out there. Do it every day. No less than an hour. Make it unstructured time. Keep your mouth closed and your heart open.
More tomorrow.
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Reader Comments (22)
Such lovely pictures! It feels so good to get out everyday and breathe the air (and usually the rain). loving your blog! xo m
oh yes. I'm sad however, as I've been struck with a bum knee for way too long and we've been fairly housebound these days and it's KILLING me. I can't tell you how much daily outdoor walking does for our days. Hoping to get out there soon. Even if I have to find a drive-up version of it.
Ugh! You got me. It's been raining here, HARD, endlessly for days now, but we've all got plenty of raingear, so no excuses! Thanks for the reminder to get out there. We all feel so much better when we do.
i couldn't agree more... i have lived (with my little one) in 3 countries with different climates and really, unless it is unsafe to do so, there is no excuse for not getting out every day. i find that there is a real difference in how people spend their time out of doors, culturally speaking. some people consider getting outdoors to mean driving to an area of natural beauty to partake in an activity like hiking or cycling, where as others are content in the beauty that lies right outside their front door. however you do it - i think the important thing is to do it.
I'm curious exactly what you do with the baby when you go outside. I have a son who is almost 15 months, not yet walking by himself, and a 4.5 year old daughter. That pretty much limits us especially on very cold days. We can go for walks but it just gets too chilly for him to sit around in the stroller and watch her play. We've tried various carriers but he has always resisted 'babywearing'.
A great reminder. I tend to not go out when the weather starts to cool significantly around here. Yet another reason to move somewhere warmer. ;) But in the meantime I should work on warmer clothes and just.doing.it.
Love the reminder and the pictures. We're getting ready for big time cold here so an hour is impossible, but even ten minutes help our frame of mind. Do you go out when it's raining.
You are so right; being outside is essential for our sense of well being. Your children are very lucky to have you for a mommy.
couldn't agree more!! really makes you feel so much more apart of your neighborhood too :)
YES! And...it's all about the gear!
Brilliant!... an absolutely gorgeous and inspiring post!
Being outside on a regular basis is so essential—one of the things that makes me feel really alive and for lack of a better term, grounded, and I am grateful for everyday when I can get out there. I sympathize with Kate, I know that it can be so difficult to deal with the pain and with the restricted movement that these kinds of problems can entail. My heart goes out to you and I applaud you for considering alternate versions of getting out there. Health and strength to you...alison
Do you go out when the girls are sick?
I'm looking forward to Wesley walking to making this more doable for us. Right now we go for regular walks around our neighborhood and watch the ducks, but mostly I'm wearing the babe. We try to take a blanket and sit outside too, but we have to go for a ride first because every spot of grass around us is covered in doggie or duckie poo (yuck). I can't wait for the cooler South Florida weather in the months to come. In the summer, it's quite brutal here. Thank goodness for our floppy sun hat!
I try to be outside everyday except if it's raining heavily or snowing. It helps me clear my mind and the children get to burn some energy too. I always sleep better on the days I get to be outside
Agree 100%! It is amazing what a mood changer getting out is. We are out every morning and every afternoon, and it keeps everyone content. That being said, I am starting to worry about how to maintain this in the Canadian winter.... ideas?
Yes, yes, yes! I have the worst time convincing parents that when I say I'll take their kids outside every day, I mean EVERY day. I love the quote "there is no bad weather, only bad clothes." Beautiful pictures, too.
Amen. Outside is a necessity.
Sunds, to reply to your post, I don't know wheter you are a Canadian or not, but as long as the kids are well dressed, it is possible. Get some hot clothes, that breath well, and are easy to put on and get off.
And when the snow comes, kids usually wants to stay out, and not come back in.
I agree, great reminder and a great way to encourage imaginative play. Although, I too wonder what you do when your girls are sick. My boys have been sick for a week now with a bad cold and when we go outside their cough gets worse. Ugh.
Such a beautiful post. Thank you. This is a reminder that I needed.
Yes. It is so essential to our happiness here too. Since the snow came here our routine is bundle the babe up in the ergo and pull a sled for when my 3-year-old gets tired and then head in to the woods or to the sledding hill. It really is so important. Beautiful photos- so much green! I realize I've already gotten used to the snow.
Sunds: I also wanted to reply to your post, as I spent a large part of my childhood years (5-17) in Winnipeg, Canada (some of the coldest winters imaginable!), and the years before that in Finland, where people have a very different outlook on being outdoors in the cold weather. I also lived in Finland with my infant son (from when he was 17 weeks to 12 months), and although the winters there are cold and very dark, we were out every day, bundled up in many warm layers, and we would spend considerable time outdoors going for walks (and walking for necessity as we did not, and do not have a car), playing in the snow, etc, all of which is very common there, in fact, it is still common practice for babies to have their day naps outdoors in their prams, even in the winter months (well bundled of course). In Winnipeg, on breathtakingly cold, clear days my family would often head out with our cross country skis or sleds, or just spend time building snow forts and such, in preference to staying in. I remember days so cold that my eyelashes formed ice crystals, but I also remember being very happy and very healthy, as my son has been. I hope everyone gets out there each season, rain or shine - you'll surprise yourself!
An early New Year's resolution? Outside every day, no matter the weather, even though I am in Minnesota... I think I ca do that. (I'm not ready to commit to an hour though... maybe I will work my way up slowly.) A good reminder... and inspiring photos.