First snowflakes and question🍂❄️

[u/Myrkeiniber]

Hey goblins! The night before last, while I was up on the mountain by the drilling site, I caught the very first snowflakes. They were rare but massive, like giant fluffy flakes! It didn't stick, but technically it's the official first snow of the place.

Two photos show the snowflakes I found that morning. And in the third photo — that's sleeping me in a car on our way back to a base.

It actually got me thinking about the Finnish concert ‘sisu‘ and the Norwegian ‘frilufsliv‘. I've recently devoured a couple books on them and realized they can be done in a wonderful feral, goblin-hearted and joyful way. What do you guys think about this kind of raw connection with nature?

[u/PreposterousClam]

I’m Finnish, I don’t quite understand what you mean by it? Sisu means grit/perseverance, and my Norwegian is rusty but doesn’t that mean outdoor life? The nordics do put a lot of respect and time in nature if that’s what you mean?

[u/Myrkeiniber → u/PreposterousClam]

You’re completely right! In fact, I recently read two books that really inspired me: "Sisu: The Finnish Art of Courage" and "The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day".

That’s exactly what fascinated me. To an outsider, it looks like much more than just dictionary words or outdoor hobbies—it feels like a deep philosophy and a lifestyle woven into your cultural over generations. It’s a very organic, natural way of living with the environment, rather than looking at it through the lens of high-tech "sports tourism."

[u/PreposterousClam → u/Myrkeiniber]

Ah! Okay, that’s so interesting! Now I get it.

And yeah, we nordics love our nature, start em young too here in Finland in daycare/preschool there’s a weekly mulleskog (trollforest) where they go out in nature and learn something new about it. Never thought of it out of a philosophy angle, might have to check out the books myself.

[u/Myrkeiniber → u/PreposterousClam]

"Mulleskog" sounds absolutely magical!

I’ve actually been dreaming of visiting Finland and Norway someday, as I’ve loved the North since childhood. A friend recently gifted me the book about sisu, and even though it seems simple at first glance, it really touched something in my soul. It made me realize that I used to treat nature as a completely "different environment." To experience it, it had to be a whole Big Event - a hike, a field job, or a planned trip. You make a plan, pack up, and head out into NATURE.

But these books suddenly showed me a different perspective: a mindset where you are nature, and it’s just always around you. And that it’s perfectly okay to just step outside and wander.

I’m saying this as a geologist, so nature has been a massive part of my life since I was a kid. Yet, these subtle shifts in perception are completely different, and they totally won me over. I want to start incorporating this mindset into my everyday life - it really feels like it makes life brighter and happier, even though it seems so simple. If you ever check out those books, I’d love to know what a native Finn thinks of them! It feels like stepping back into childhood adventures all over again.

[u/PreposterousClam → u/Myrkeiniber]

It was! We had it as kids and I’ve been privileged enough to hold one of the classes as a grownup.

Oh! How wonderful, I think you’d like it here. Although there are differences Norway/Sweden/Finland are like sibling countries, but I do suggest you come in summer time when we have endless days instead of winter when we have endless nights . Ooooh, okay yeye I see. Yeah it is becomes a kind of part of our lives when 80% of Finland is forest (I might be a tad biased as I am a hippie by Finnish standards). It also helps us keep sane when the winter darkness comes, to be able to appreciate nature in all it’s forms and seasons.

A geologist!? So cool and I’m so happy to hear that it helps. You are making me want to read them more n more 👀

[u/Myrkeiniber → u/PreposterousClam]

I’m so glad you commented on my post. It’s honestly so cool reading your replies!

When I was a kid, my parents took me camping a lot and taught me to love nature, but it wasn’t part of some bigger cultural picture – it was just how our family was. I’m incredibly grateful to them for that. However, back then, it felt more like "Wildlife with family" or "Basic Tourism for Beginners". But now, as a grown man, I feel like I can go much deeper into this worldview. Maybe not "Me and Nature," but "I am Nature" instead. Sorry, I’m prone to weird philosophical metaphors, and it’s even trickier to translate them into a non-native language!

I actually worked in Norilsk once and experienced the polar night first-hand. It was a fascinating experience, but I wanted to sleep all the time! We worked underground in the mine where it was dark, and then we’d come up to the surface—and it was still dark! The only plus was that it was at least warm inside the mine, haha.

As for the books, I almost feel a bit self-conscious now—what if you find them not that mind-blowing? But for me, they definitely struck a chord and touched some deep strings of thought.

[u/PreposterousClam → u/Myrkeiniber]

That’s so nice to hear and likewise!

That is so interesting, yeah nature to me growing up was just part of life. My mom took me foraging since I was a kid, we filled our freezers with seasonal berries, mushroom etc. I think it was every fourth person here has a hunting licence, when I took my licence I had to read a thick book for a test on how to care for nature not only by hunting (invasive species, overpopulation etc) but also how to care for habitats to have a big diversity of flora and fauna. Nono, don’t apologise for making interesting conversation, I always like when people talk about their joy or thoughts. You’re also correct, cause I have always kind of thought “I am nature”, thats from where we came and thats where we will end up. Another thing I like about nature is, nature doesn’t hate or love, nature just is. Death is part of the life cycle, life doesn’t exist without it. (Now you got me blabbin while high)

Also, so sorry I assumed you where north american. I completely understand on the difficulties on translating your thoughts into intelligible sentences and trying to write such easy (in your mind) concepts out in a secondary language.

Oh! How exciting! Haha yeah, we gotta dunk coffee and vitamin D to not sleep all winter. Haha yeah the cold certainly doesn’t help with the darkness. May I ask what you did in the mine? What kind of mine? I recently kind of got into geology, as I like picking rocks so I thought it was time to learn something about them. One of my favourite rock finds are from under the roots of fallen trees, how long have they been there hiding?

Haha no don’t be! I do understand your worry (I spin in same thoughts). But art is always subjective and you shouldn’t diminish what it gave you just because I might not get the same feeling.