I had my camera out the other day, and Benji asked me, “What are you shooting?”
“Oh, unicorn stuff,” I replied.
It’s all unicorn stuff to me though, really.
We’ve been making Inspire(d) magazine for 10 years as of October 2017. Something about that extra digit in there blows my mind…10 years! We won’t get to add another digit for another 90 years, so let’s really relish in this moment.
…(Try not to cry, like me)……
Driving around the countryside, delivering magazines – literal stacks of positive news – to the amazing people of the Driftless Region, you get some time to think (don’t get me wrong – Benji Nichols does 97 percent of the Inspire(d) delivery, but I do a few select routes and love to ponder life, love, and, you know…the pursuit of happiness).
This summer, I thought a lot about Inspire(d), what we hope to do going forward, and what a decade of this experiment has taught us. What’s important? What is true? What do we need to do to make the world a better place?
Answers to these questions are seemingly subjective, but there are (at least) 10 things we feel stand out as indisputable truths. See below to read what they are (hint, people and community are at the root of it all)! (Just click the image for a larger view!)
Thank you so much for reading Inspire(d), my friends. Let’s keep sending those ripples of positivity out into the world, one community at a time. XOXO – Aryn
It’s tough to stay positive in the winter – when it’s edging on four feet of snow outside, the thermometer hasn’t popped above zero in days, and the only fresh vegetable in your house is a month-old potato, the force of the couch is strong. If it’s a blanket that’s made to be worn, it’s okay, right?
Wrong! At least not in the long-term. As Dylan Thomas said: “Do not go gentle into that good night.” Use this winter to get happy, inspired, and ready for spring!
Try making some changes and goals that sound fun. It can really work, says Mary Jorgensen, of Decorah-based certified Rising Sun Life Coaching. Jorgenson believes making small adjustments in your day can make a big difference in your life, and we couldn’t be more on board! So we’ve put together a list of inspire(d) ideas to “kick winter doldrums in the shins.”
Jorgensen also added a great tip that we couldn’t resist sharing: “Smile, even for no particular reason; scientists know that smiling generates good hormones, uplifts your mood, and – an added bonus here – prompts other people to smile back, which gives you warm fuzzies to beat the cold.”
We love that.
Make time for YOU:
There really is no such thing as “no time”. There is definitely “little time”, though, so you have to schedule the things you enjoy most – literally put them on your calendar on a time/day that you set, and stick with it. Go to a movie, get a beer or coffee with friends, take a yoga or meditation class (read some tips on meditation here). If it were my schedule, I might get a massage, take a bath…maybe even pencil in a nap!
Move! (No, not south… your body!)
“Practice the best antidote there is: exercise, dance, move your body in ways that generate blues-busting chemicals for your body and mind,” Jorgensen says. We agree, and so do experts at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. An article published by Mayo connects exercise and stress relief: “Virtually any form of exercise, from aerobics to yoga, can act as a stress reliever. If you’re not an athlete or even if you’re downright out of shape, you can still make a little exercise go a long way toward stress management.”
Plus, there’s more! – Exercise increases your overall health and your sense of well-being, which puts more pep in your step every day. – Exercise pumps up your endorphins, your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters. – It’s meditation in motion. After a workout, you’ll often find that you’ve forgotten the day’s irritations and concentrated only on your body’s movements. As you begin to regularly shed your daily tensions through movement and physical activity, you may find that this focus on a single task, and the resulting energy and optimism, can help you remain calm and clear in everything that you do. – It improves your mood. Regular exercise can increase self-confidence and lower the symptoms associated with mild depression and anxiety. Exercise also can improve your sleep, which is often disrupted by stress, depression, and anxiety. All this can ease your stress levels and give you a sense of command over your body and your life.
Here are some ideas for getting started: – Do what you love. – Make a schedule and stick with it. – Set realistic, smart goals. – Find a workout buddy.
(Be sure to consult with a doctor before beginning a new exercise program.)
At Inspire(d) HQ, we are currently loving spinning, yoga, pilates…and dancing, of course. Always dancing. Oh – and who could forget sledding?!
Play in the snow
Just embrace it. It’s here. Sledding, snow angels, snowball fights, snow forts, skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, snowmen. I’m already excited!
Play music while you’re showering
This sounds so simple, but you’d be amazed at how a little music can change your whole outlook on the day. Pick a playlist that is upbeat and makes you nod your head. Now just keep nodding. This is you saying “yes” to your day, even if you didn’t know it!
De-clutter your space:
If you’re going to be inside all winter, you may as well like what you’re looking at! Walk around your house with a basket, filling it with things that don’t have a home. (You might need a pretty big basket. That’s okay.) When you’re done, look around and see if you’ve missed anything. Be relentless; surround yourself with only things you love! Next go through the basket and make piles: to donate, to recycle, to trash, and to keep. Get the first three piles out of your house as soon as possible, then come back to address the last pile. Find solutions for storing these items so they will be easy to find and put away in the future. Then look around at your tidy house and all the things (and people, of course) you love. It’s a happy thing, right?
Move furniture
While you’re in house mode, maybe it’s the perfect time to rearrange! A new living room layout can feel like a new house! Take it a step further and learn a thing or two about feng shui. We enjoyed “Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui” by Karen Kingston.
Read inspiring books.
While you’re checking on feng shui books, why not check out some other books that are inspiring/happy/funny? We asked our Facebook friends and readers what books were their favorites – what a great selection we got! Report back if you decide to read any of them! (facebook.com/iloveinspired)
Reminder: Check with your local bookstore to see if they have what you want to read in stock!
Put Pen to Paper:
Getting and sending mail feels good, and so does letting ink tell your thoughts to a piece of paper. Try it this winter!
– Line up a pen pal – Write one thank you note a week – Write down all your crazy ideas in a notebook for future inspiration – Write a letter to your kids to open years down the road (or write a letter to your parents to give to them when you graduate or get married or just because).
This is something I started doing in college when I felt a little down or (shhhh) homesick. I would take a piece of paper – it can be big or little – and absolutely cram it with things that made me happy. From coffee to best friends to nice sheets to scarves to fresh snow to chocolate. Usually by the end I was feeling…gasp…happy! I also tucked the lists away. It was fun to happen upon them randomly later – (almost) as good as finding a long-forgotten $20 in a winter coat!
Plan a trip
Sometimes the best thing about winter is leaving winter. If you can’t swing a ticket to warmer climes right now, start planning for a “someday” trip. Make a savings strategy and a folder filled with sunny images. Even if it takes a decade to collect the dough, the anticipation and Trip Advisor reviews will pull you through many a chilly night.
Look at the stars
They seem even brighter in winter! Maybe learn some constellations:
Roxie has just started shouting MOON at night, and that, we think, is a great way to celebrate this dark, dark season. Look at the moon! Look at the stars! Get out there in that crisp air and breathe it in and just look up. While you’re at it, learn some constellations – it’s fun! Our favorites in the northern hemisphere winter sky are: Orion, Gemini (Benji’s sign), Taurus (Aryn’s sign), Pegasus, and Cassiopeia. Check out the cool astronomyonline.org site to learn more!
Remind yourself how lucky you are
Sometimes it’s annoying to hear “Hey, it’s not so bad,” but generally it’s true. So try to remember it. And believe it.
Okay, that morning cup of coffee makes you feel happy and awake, but a cozy warm drink, sipped with a friend or by yourself on the couch – that’s all about taking care of you.
Bake!
I’m pretty sure winter exists almost purely for baked goods. Few things are cozier than a warm oven sending out delightful wafts of chocolate or apple or lemon or pumpkin or caramel or (you get it)… through your house.
Check out your area college’s offerings – you can often audit courses, or even simply sit in (talk to the professor first). Also see what your arts organizations, galleries, and museums are up to, or even the local yarn shop or your chamber of commerce. You don’t have to wait until January 1 to tackle a goal or learn something new!
Dance. For real: Dance!
Even if you’re terrible. (You’re not…)
Bring a little color into your house:
I love to have fresh flowers on my table – that shot of color brings a smile to my face every time. But you could also make paper flowers or even a paper heart garland for a wall.
Make a new friend
Easier said than done, but boy is it nice to have friends. This new friend can be useful for planning trips, throwing dinner parties, coffee dates, as an exercise buddy or pen pal, or if you need help moving a couch! Pretty sweet dividends, right?
Speaking of Dinner Parties…
Small get-togethers make long winters zip by. Make it a potluck and it’s even easier!
No matter if it’s one blanket or ten, “all the experts” agree a fort is a good activity. Even better yet, put together a little picnic and dine al tento. (< Totally a word.)
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Aryn Henning Nichols loves the first snowfall, but hates the 54th (you know, that one in May). Finding creative ways to get happy has been a life-long goal, and a big part of why she started Inspire(d) Magazine with Benji over seven years ago.
Here’s what’s happening in the Winter 2017-2018 Inspire(d):
Learn to be Koselig This Winter! Stay cozy tips • Norwegian Best Cake recipe • local author interviews • Driftless outdoor fun • Justin Trails • EARL mass transit • & more!
My goal with this Inspire(d) is that you feel like you’re sitting down for a cup of coffee with a good friend.
There’s fun conversation, tasty food, and warm fuzzy feelings. In other words, it’s totally koselig.
We said that phrase a lot over the last month here at Inspire(d) HQ. “Oh, there’s a fire in the wood stove! Koselig!” “Smell that cake baking? It’s so koselig!” “Yes, you should light another candle. It will make it even more koselig!”
Koselig (“koos-uh-lee”) is a Norwegian word that loosely translates to cozy. It’s a bit more than that, though, and Sara Friedl Putnam explains it for us, with help from the folks at Vesterheim Museum (they’ve got a koselig exhibit this winter!). Basically, cultivating a koselig lifestyle means seizing any moment that gives you a warm fuzzy feeling – even if you’re heading outside! The koselig fun begins on page 14, and it for sure doesn’t end there. We’ve got an infographic (pg. 23) filled with ideas for getting koselig, so you THRIVE this winter (instead of just survive). We also test drove a recipe for what Norwegian’s call the World’s Best Cake (verden’s beste kake). It was fun to bake…and eat (pg. 26)!
Speaking of cake, make sure to put CAKE BREAK at Vesterheim on your calendar: 3:30 every Wednesday from December-mid April. Yep.
Oh, and again, speaking of cake (yes!), the recipe for that chocolate cake on the cover can be found right here. It’s our go-to birthday cake.
All right. Moving on from cake (fine). Next up: Books! More specifically, local books. We caught up with three folks entrenched in that scene for some fun Q&As: Wisconsin author Kathleen Ernst; Decorah’s own Keith Lesmeister; and Steve Semken, founder of Iowa-based Ice Cube Press. The interviews start on page 32 – check them out, then consider checking out their books for great winter reading.
As mentioned, koselig doesn’t mean you just stay inside…you’ve got to get out for fresh air, exercise, and fun, too! Remember: There’s no bad weather, just bad gear! We put together a list of outdoor activities to get you motivated and out the door (pg. 48).
Our Sum of Your Business follows that thought. Justin Trails Resort near Sparta, Wisconsin, loves winter fun. They’ve got snowshoeing, cross country skiing, a sweet snow tube hill, and even rentals for skijoring! Donna Justin took time out of her busy schedule to share some of what she’s learned in the three decades she and her husband have run Justin Trails Resort (pg. 51).
Are bad roads/ your iced up car windows / snowed in driveway keeping you from getting out? Well, you’re in luck! Kristine Jepsen learns – and teaches us – how to ride EARL Public Transithere in Northeast Iowa. Spoiler alert: It’s super easy, and they take you right where you want to go (pg. 56).
We also chatted with recycling guru Terry Buenzow over at Winneshiek County Recycling to get the 411 on what’s recyclable, what’s not, and what we should do with those broken twinkly lights and holiday extras (pg. 64).
And finally, we’ve got yet another great probituary interview – Barb Welgos – to wrap things up (promise that’s not a holiday pun).
My goal with this Inspire(d) is that you feel like you’re sitting down for a cup of coffee with a good friend.
