This is Winter

It is -20 outside in Montreal. Even though the sun is shining, the distinctive crunch under your feet lets you know that it is really cold. Yesterday was a snow storm. In both cases there were few people to be found out and about.

Living in cold climates, people often retreat into the warmth of their homes once winter arrives. However, being an outdoor enthusiast, the idea of staying inside for months on end is never an attractive option. As I sit inside reading, I realize I have been sucked into a 'stay inside' lifestyle where I watch movies, exercise in gyms, cook elaborate meals, clean out old closets and observe the great outdoors from behind glass panes. In these moments I am glad that I don't have to be outside and pity the poor souls that have chosen to brave the extreme weather conditions.

Then it happened, a change in perspective. I realized that I want to be outside. That outdoors-oriented people around the world dream of having the chance to experience Montreal's winter and here I am taking it for granted. I am not snowshoeing, crosscountry skiing, ice fishing, tobogganing, alpine skiing, ice skating or even hiking in the woods. I had tried to convince myself that I wasn't partaking in any of these activities because I was low on cash, but aside from alpine skiing, none of these activities is particularly expensive (especially when you live in a place where most of your neighbours have the gear for you to borrow in a worst case scenario).

My only saving grace is that I have been taking my dog Odin on walks everyday. Once I realized the err in my ways, I started adventuring into the local wooded parks to revisit some of the places I used to adventure when I was a kid. Honestly just running around with Odin in the snow is gratifying. The snow is crisp and clean and seriously cool.

So here is to dreaming up some awesome wintertime adventures over the next two weeks and not sitting around on my behind letting this great opportunity to pass me by. Here is to learning that every landscape and every place being full of potential for fun and to being able to identify how to exploit them for the best.