We’re here again – the start of a new trip around the sun!
Reflecting and Looking Ahead
As the end of year approaches, it’s a good time to reflect on the past and set goals for the new year. It’s healthy to set goals for yourself. In bushcraft, goals help you learn and grow.
In a past article I talk about how to set achievable bushcraft goals. As an exercise, think about what you would like to learn and do next year. How would you like to grow?
Commit your thoughts to paper, tell a friend, or both. Then have fun making it happen!
Do Something Fun Outdoors
During the holidays we spend a lot of our time socializing with others. But this tends to make us sedentary. When you combine it with gigantic holiday dinners, we begin to resemble the elephant seals that show up on my doorstep along the California coast this time of year.
There are many outdoor activities people pursue during the holidays. It’s a great time to commune with nature. So use some of your leisure time to get outside and do your favorite things. Or try something new. Here’s just a small sample of the diverse ways people enjoy the outdoors in my area:
- Animal tracking
- Archery
- Backpacking
- Birding
- Botany and ethnobotany
- Bushcraft
- Camping
- Cross-country skiing
- Downhill skiing
- Entomology
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Historical reenactment
- Hunting
- Leatherwork
- Mountain biking
- Mushroom foraging
- Peak bagging
- Sea kayaking
- Snow camping
- Snowshoeing
- Traditional skills
- Trail running
- Whittling/woodwork
- Wild edible and medicinal plants
- Orienteering
I’m sure I left many out. So find something you like to do or try a new experience. But get outside this holiday and enjoy the nature around you.
I plan to spend my New Year’s Day doing what I love. I’m leading a public hike at Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Interpreting nature for others allows me to share my passion for the natural world.
Kulning for the Holidays
And add kulning to your list of possible activities. Before I read about it on Facebook, I was completely unaware of this Scandanavian form of music. It’s a herding call used in the northern forest. Herders (traditionally women) sing to call livestock down from high mountain pastures where they have been grazing during the day. It’s strangely compelling and beautiful. The calls echo across the valleys and mountains. It’s a perfect sound for the holiday season.
Happy Holidays
So have a happy and healthy holiday season. You have my best wishes for the coming New Year.
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