When I was younger my family used to chase the snow. We would drive up into the mountains until we found a good steep hill to go sledding. Sometimes we went skiing. Now that I’m a mom, I’m proud of myself if I can get out for a small hike. When I think of all the activities my mom did with us as kids, I’m pretty impressed with her.
I have never lived in a place that gets an abundance of snow in winter. The biggest snow I remember was when I was living in Portland, Oregon, and a deep freeze swept through the Willamette Valley for about eight days. Everything shut down in the city, even the airport. At first it was wildly exciting, but after the third or forth day of staying home, it started to drive me crazy. I needed to get out.
Sometimes I feel that way during Christmas when day after day passes without much physical activity. Nothing feels better to me than going on a brisk walk or jog a couple of hours after a big meal. It’s hard to get motivated to brave the chilly night, but once I do, I’m always happier.
Another great way to get some physical movement during Christmas is to find a street with Christmas lights to walk down. It’s festive and invigorating. Don’t just drive down the street if you’re tempted—it’ll be over before you’ve seen everything anyway. Get out of the car and walk. If you’re with the right friends, you could even try singing carols. I did that once with a group of six or seven friends, and a stranger commented that we sounded like professionals!
This Christmas let’s find a fun activity to do that exerts some physical exercise. It will be fun for us and memorable for our children. We will return to our warm houses with a happier glow.
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