Its dark here at Bamsebu – our 20sq mtr trappers cabin. The little bit of light we do have we run outside to capture with our camera, our beings and our senses. Black Friday means something entirely different here as we are in the long polar night.
A night where ‘black’ overtakes our scene until February. Back home we know it’s a shopping frenzy and habits take over. It’s hard to break habits unless you do something very dramatic, like, say – move to Bamsebu for nine months! We’ll take on that challenge.
So here is your challenge – get outside today! Put on your raincoat, down jacket, running shoes, flipflops or hiking boots and GET OUTSIDE! Take a friend or neighbour with you and remind yourself that you have absolutely everything you need – and more. After your little expedition outside march into your closet and grab some clothes that you have not worn for a while, this might satisfy a need to shop. Better yet grab some clothes and gift them to your nearest thrift store.
By way of disclosure both of us have taken more than we even need here at Bamsebu – in terms of clothes that is. We still wonder if we have enough cheese, chocolate and potato chips – but we will survive. We have been here for over 70 days. That is almost the same amount of time it took Sunniva and team to ski to the South Pole. No shower. No shopping. No problem.
We are all immersed in a culture of consumerism. A culture that encourages us to take. Like all of you we are trying to be mindful of our choices since all thoughts and actions impact our resources and our planet.
We can reuse, recycle and re-purpose. It’s actually a lot of fun and pushes that creativity button. Our parents’ generation seemed to be far more thoughtful, they did live with fewer choices. Hilde grew up with hand me down clothes from her brothers and sister, often shopped at thrift stores and Sunniva went “dumpster diving” to get furniture for her first home.
Let’s all get outside today.
Explore. Dream. Discover. Re-gift. Re-purpose. Recycle. Shower less. Be more.
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Just wondering what it truly is like in complete darkness. Are you ladies supplementing Vitamin D or strictly from your food source? Much admiration with regards to your ability to always find the positive in each and every day! Keep shining, smiling and most important, DANCING!!!!!!!!! ?????
Thank you for sharing – it is fantastic to feel how simple ones immediate surroundings can be yet still thrive.
We did get out for the day as it was finally raining here in California. Pascale and I took Kjell’s dog and hiked the horse trail on Catalina Island in the rain. oh boy – the dog ran through puddles and mud and we all enjoyed it so very much. Fresh air is the cure for mostly everything. Keep posting, living, exploring and enjoying!!!
I am catching up on your blog and love reading about your adventures, challenges, fears, and loves. You two are brave, adventurous souls, doing such good work for research and for sharing with others.
The outdoors is definitely my church. Hiking, cycling, kayaking, snowshoeing, skiing … I have had so many opportunities to do these things in such amazing places on this planet. I’m so grateful.
A simple walk in my own neighbourhood, however, is also treasured. When I was stuck in a hospital room in February 2018 after cancer surgery, I promised myself that I would never again take the ability to walk outside, into the fresh air surrounded by nature, for granted. Sometimes we don’t fully embrace the things we have until they are taken from us. There is so much beauty in the natural world. Thank you for describing Svalbard and the VanKeulen Fjord, which most of us will never see, but which lives and breathes for us all on your blog. xo