It’s wintertime, a.k.a. stay-indoors time, right? I used to think so. I’d hustle from English class to calculus, calculus to history and then quickly home. I’d finish all my homework and housework and wonder what to do with myself (indoors of course). Movies? Museum? A book? Maybe visit a friend or go to the gym? Evading chilly temperatures and blustery arctic air was my winter lifestyle; I sidestepped the great outdoors at all costs and paid for it.
My behaviors inevitably led to a pesky case of cabin fever, a precipitous drop in energy and rampant antisocial tendencies. Some call it “the winter blues,” inferring the cure comes with the change of seasons. I’ve found, however, that a little green can cure the blues, even in the middle of January.
I ventured into the wilderness (properly clothed, of course) to discover the beauty that is Maine. I mean, our license plates boast “Vacationland” for a reason. Millions of people visit our great state in the summertime. They tromp through our woodlands, laze on our beaches and swim in our lakes. Tourists take advantage of our relatively unpopulated, pristine terrain, so now that they’ve all left, why shouldn’t we?
This year I reclaimed my right to explore my state and learned how to cross country ski. There’s just nothing like the smell of balsam fir in the morning and the calm of a frozen forest. You may be thinking, “yeah, but it’s cold out there, that’s no fun.” Cross country skiing is excellent cardiovascular excersize. You will generate warmth and assuage your discomfort very quickly. Not only that, but you get to soak up some sun, breath some fresh, crisp air and have some fun. (Can you remember the last time you had fun doing the same old trot on the treadmill?!)
Snowshoeing, downhill skiing and skating are also great kindling for your metabolic fires. They are great way to boost your energy, clear your head, get in shape and revive your relationship with nature. They are also “green” activities. When you take part in these sports, you help yourself and in no way hurt the planet. In fact, you get to admire the diversity and beauty this planet has to offer.
I had thought about skiing before, but I never actually did it. I would justify circumventing the slopes by saying “well, I’d ski, but it’s too expensive. Lift ticket, equipment, transportation…” What I never recognized were the other activities that can be done for free. You don’t have to go to some fancy “snowshoeing/cross-country skiing resort,” just go to your local hiking trail. (There are places to go, however, to rent equipment and take lessons if you wish. $20 will get you equipment and a day pass at most and $35 will get you a “learn to ski” package.) After you’ve tried it out and discovered how much you love it, you can purchase your own equipment for $150 and up, used for less. That’s a one-time expense. No lift ticket is required for a local trail, a large field or the beach.
Consider how much money you spend on “indoor activities:” movies, shopping, parties, gym memberships, etc. You could easily blow $150 on a boredom induced shopping spree or three Saturday nights out at the bar; but none of these will invigorate you like a trek through wooded trails.
Don’t hibernate this winter, go out and enjoy all that Maine has to offer. Discover all the humbling, ice-glazed scenery you’ve been missing.