Nature confounds her summer distinctions at this season. The heavens seem to be nearer the Earth. The elements are less reserved and distinct. Water turns to ice, rain to snow. The day is but a Scandinavian night. The winter is an arctic summer. –Henry David Thoreau
Last year, I was gifted a week-long adventure at a relative's cabin in the snowy mountains. It was awe-inspiring, as it had been 12 years since I last experienced snow, having moved to Big Sur, California, in 2012.
I was born and raised in Northern Michigan, where I spent 36 winters in the Great Lakes region. Moving to Big Sur brought a significant shift in environmental cycles, scenery, and climate, deepening my appreciation for the wonderment of winter with a profound sense of nostalgia.
The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself. —Henry Miller
For 36 years, my March 13th birthdays were usually filled with melting snow, slushy ice, and that hopeful hint of spring sprouting in the cheery daffodils and crocus flowers.
Birthdays in Big Sur are usually filled with sea, sand, sunshine, mud puddles, waterfalls, and views reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands.
But in 2024, I returned to the snow, to the cold, to a Winter Wonderland.
I was giddy before we even arrived. I honestly can't remember the last time I felt this excited—especially to experience something I had wholly taken for granted for 36 years.
My birthday adventure did not disappoint.
A few days before we arrived, record snowfall blanketed the area.
By the time we got there, the roads and driveway had just been plowed.
We arrived in the evening, but like a kid on Christmas morning, I woke up early, layered up—hat, gloves, scarf—and braced myself for 10 degrees of frosty air.
Then I stepped outside.
It was snowing.
Magical, glittering flakes drifted down.
I tilted my head back, mouth open, catching those tasty, wondrous flakes on my tongue.
My love for the snow poured out in the five poems I wrote after playing outside,
all inspired by the theme:
"Oh snow, I missed you so."
I sipped hot cocoa and gazed out the window, marveling with awe at the beauty of it all.
Snow Sled
Oh Snow, I missed you so
"WEEE!"
Smiles so Big
Wonderment Breeze
How Magical
A Water's Freeze
"WEEE!"
Joy, Play, Fun
I soak in your Refreshment
Oh snow, I missed you so
The Wonderment of Winter
Yes, every human needs a daily dose of fresh air and sunlight, even as the days grow shorter and, for some, colder.
Every single human, just as soon as possible after waking up, should go outside and get at least 15 minutes of direct natural light. Period. –Michael Breus, PhD, sleep medicine specialist
Sunlight Yes And,
Fresh air, even in winter, is not just refreshing—it's essential.
Yet, according to an EPA report, the average American spends over 90% of their time indoors, where air pollutants can be up to five times more concentrated than outdoors.
Indoor air pollutants, including mold, synthetic materials, and chemicals from cleaning products, have been linked to increased stress, disrupted sleep, and poorer overall health.
Why Fresh Air and Sunshine Matter
Daily exposure to fresh air and sunlight isn't just a treat for the senses
—it's essential for overall health.
Even during colder months, moments outdoors, in the fresh air,
offer essential benefits for All Ages:
Boosts Vitamin D:
Winter sun, even filtered through clouds, helps your body produce vitamin D, vital for bone health, immunity, and mood regulation.
Improves Air Quality:
Indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Fresh, oxygen-rich winter air flushes toxins and rejuvenates.
Encourages Gentle Movement:
Clapping mittens, slow mindful awe walks filled with wonderfment, even laughing outdoors, keep muscles active and joints flexible.
Ignites the Senses:
The crunch of snow, shimmering icicles, inhaling the crisp aromas of Nature's splendor, generate refreshing sensory moments of joy.
Yes, And you, me, individuals living with dementia, disabilities, mobility impairments, yes, we all need daily exposure to fresh air, to the Great Outdoors, to the wider world we all share, to the life force that sustains all living beings!
The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will involve the patient in the proper use of food, fresh air, and exercise.
–Thomas A. Edison
Simple Yet Profound: Lead with Wonder
Even brief mindful moments outdoors can work wonders, literally!
The walk to the car, the health clinic, or the grocery store—these everyday transitions become opportunities to engage with the Green Care Code:
Stop – Look – Listen – Enjoy Nature
Be Intentional: Notice the sky, a pattern in the snow, the bark of a tree, the sound of a bird.
I was reflecting the other day about ways I inspire others to get outside, even when it is cold, and I've come to realize that the most essential element of my work with Care Outdoors is energy and excitement.
Enthusiasm energized with wonderment is the spark that motivates others to embrace and appreciate moments outdoors, in all weather. Wonderment, like Awe, is contagious and cultivatable.
Elevate Wellbeing with Care Outdoors
In All Weather
Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement… Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.
—Abraham Joshua Heschel
Most residential care communities have medication managers, but imagine the impact of appointing Care Outdoors Managers—individuals dedicated to ensuring that everyone—residents, staff, volunteers, care teams, and families—is getting their daily dose of fresh air, sunlight, and connection to the Great Outdoors.
Care Outdoors Leaders/Managers will revolutionize care, generating whole community care, a new way of being with care, where daily access to the Great Outdoors is as vital as food, water and shelter for everyone. In All Weather!
restoring Nature's health too! YAY!
In Norway, they have a saying, you may have heard it:
There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.
Norwegians embrace winter with open arms and even smiles!
Their cultural mindset, known as friluftsliv (open-air living), emphasizes the rejuvenating and restorative value of spending time outdoors, even in the harshest weather.
Just as essential, however, is koselig—the art of creating warmth and comfort indoors, where cozy moments with loved ones often follow invigorating outdoor adventures.
On my birthday adventure into winter wonderland, those koselig moments by the warm fire, sipping hot cocoa, after outdoor sledding, awe walking, and snow shoeing, inspired my poetry.
The Winter Wonderment Mindset, invites everyone—people of all ages, abilities, and walks of life—to go outside and discover the magic of winter.
Whether your marveling at glistening icicles, laughing at the sounds of the 'crunch crunch' of freshly fallen snow, or feeling the warmth of sunlight on a cold day, winter offers countless ways to connect with the Great Outdoors.
So, bundle up if it is cold and head outside, let the wonder and awe of Winter
refresh your spirit.
And while you're at it, inspire others to join you
–because sharing care outdoors feels so good!
Grant Funding For Equitable Access
Get Creative!
I am working to secure all-terrain walkers and wheelchairs for one of our local parks. However, I recently learned the following:
The Outdoor Equity Grant Program - Round 2
"Due to the current California State budget deficit, funding for the second round and future rounds of the Outdoor Equity Program (OEP) was not included in the 2024-2025 State Budget. As a result, the California Department of Parks and Recreation has canceled Round Two of the OEP."
Many of my neighbors and friends live just across the street from the park but are unable to visit due to mobility challenges.
In response, I plan to submit a letter, co-written by my neighbors, to our local Community Foundation by January 15, 2025, to request funding for these much-needed mobility aids.
These resources are essential for supporting equitable access to the Great Outdoors.
This is a barrier we can collectively remove.
May we work together and Normalize Care Outdoors, in All Weather and recognize mindful moments in Great Outdoors as not only a form of care
but a basic human right.
Ready to become a Care Outdoors Leader?
Visit: The Care Outdoors Program and learn more
Questions? I would love to hear from you!
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