Finding Joy

In Friluftsliv, Kos and Bird Song.

Welcome to The Joy Edit with me Lucy, joy seeker, nature lover, cold water enthusiast and a woman on a mission to weave as many moments of joy into my every day life as is possible. Sharing the joys and the messy middle bits in between, because you can’t have one without the other.

This week I’ve been fortunate to spend time outside in nature, in one of my favourite spots, our local nature reserve. It is a space that always feels magical to me, it always creates such a sense of deep calm within me, the moment I step out of the car and start walking it’s as though anything I am feeling melts away with every step and in its place a profound sense of calm and peace washes over me. A sense of calm that cannot be disturbed even when accompanied by unhappy little ones, such is the magical powers of the nature reserve.

Ever since Covid it feels as though I look at nature in a completely different way. I’ve always enjoyed “a walk” but I’d never consider myself as “outdoorsy”, since those months of being at home unable to visit the places I’d usually go to, it feels as though I now see the natural world in such a heightened way. Stepping into nature literally fills my body with such a giddy sense of joy, listening to the birds singing all around me makes me feel so euphoric.

I feel as though the way I look at the natural world around me has been dialled up, my eyes now attuned to notice the world in an almost hyper focused state, as I’ve slowed down and really taken in those tiny moments, stopping to notice the leaves unfurling on a branch. Stopping to photograph every blossom, the canopy of trees above my head. It’s honestly intoxicating and one of the fastest ways I can fill up my Joy cup. Extra bonus if it’s sunny, but I’m slowly learning to find joy no matter the weather, because we really have no control over the weather so we have no choice but to embrace it and find the joys, the way the earth smells after rain, the way the water droplets hang on the petals. Each weather bringing its own enchanted energy.

Each time I’m out in nature experiencing it all, I feel so thankful to be alive to be there in that moment taking it all in. I feel so incredibly lucky.

This week there was the added bonus of being greeted by a carpet of delicate bluebells, one of the highlights of the natural year for me. My wisteria is also in full bloom in the garden and for the first time I’ve noticed how wonderful it smells and what a haven for bees it is.

Over the last few years I’ve been learning so much about the benefits of nature and in spending time in nature, especially for children but for adults too and the more I read the more I understand why it is so incredibly important for us all. I’m very drawn to the Scandinavian way of living and the way that time in nature is such an integral part of life. If you’ve followed for a while you will know I’m currently in my Scandi love era, having visited Denmark, Norway and Finland over the last year. This week I finalised plans to return to Norway this summer, something I’m so incredibly excited for and whilst researching for our adventures this week I learnt a new word;

Frilufsliv- the Norwegian love for the outdoors, roughly translated as “open-air-life” that Norwegians proudly pursue. The expression friluftsliv was invented by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in the 1850’s, who used the term to describe the value of spending time in remote locations for spiritual and physical wellbeing.

Friluftsliv is not just a “thing” it’s a whole philosophy, a way of life. A simple life in nature without distroying or disturbing it.

Regardless of the seasons and weather forecast.

Connect. Calm down. Clear your head.

The concept is also tightly connected to “kos” - cosiness.

I am very much here for Kos and Friluftsliv a hike followed by cosy cinnamon buns, that sounds like pure joy and I cannot wait to find peace on Norways vast shores soon.

Photo from Unsplash

But back to the English countryside and this present moment, I’m currently finding the sounds of the birds singing around me to be one of my most favourite things, waking up in the morning and opening the window wide to let the dawn chorus float in. If I can get myself out of bed a walk at sunrise is my absolute favourite way to start the day and fill up my Joy cup, when all you can hear is the birds singing it is so soothing. It’s as though I can physically feel my body relaxing as the birds songs permeate my soul, my very being. As I shared last week I’ve even stopped listening to music on my runs just so that I can take in the sounds of the birds around me. And there is much evidence to back up these feelings and just how beneficial bird song can be for us.

Studies have shown that listening to birdsong can reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, and paranoia. It can also improve overall mental well-being and boost positive emotions.

• Stress Reduction:
  The soothing nature of birdsong can help individuals relax and reduce stress levels. Exposure to birdsong has been linked to a decrease in cortisol, a key stress hormone.

• Focus and Attention:
  Birdsong can help to restore attention and improve cognitive function, making it a useful tool for studying or working. It can also mask background noise, which can improve concentration.

• Sense of Safety and Well-being:
  The association of birdsong with nature and a safe environment can trigger a feeling of security and relaxation. This can be particularly helpful in stressful or anxious situations.
  

• Improved Mood:
  Birdsong can lift your mood and help you feel more positive and connected to nature. It can even help individuals with depression feel better.

So that explains the deep impact those little birds and their joy filled songs have on my wellbeing.

Photo from Unsplash.

And on a final note if anyone else is feeling as though they have lost the enchantment and joy from their lives recently I’d recommend this beautiful book that I’ve just finished reading “Enchantment” - “reawakening wonder in an exhausted age” by Katherine May. I absolutely loved “Wintering” and was keen to read more of Katherine’s books, and whilst I enjoyed this Wintering is still my firm favourite. But this was a thought provoking book with lots of links to time spent in nature, cold water and slowing down. A perfect recipe for joy.

“Enchantment is small wonder magnified through meaning, fascination caught in the web of fable and memory. It relies on small doses of awe, almost homeopathic: those quiet traces of fascination that are found only when we look for them.”

Until next time