The forces in our lives are constantly colliding—sometimes in ways that work out well and sometimes in ways that don’t. This interview series is an exploration of what it can look like to work with the collisions, rather than against them. By digging into how humans and nature interact–from our relationships with other humans, to those with our non-human neighbors, to our relationship with ourselves to our relationship with the landbase–we can uncover how to best step fully into our role in the story of the world.
I first became acquainted with Linda Åkeson McGurk’s work around nature connection thanks to the We Are Wildness book club—one of my earlier books, Woodland Maintou came out around the same time as There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather, and they were both featured books for the group. I read Linda’s book back then and have been a fan ever since. Our lives have some interesting parallels: We both lived for a time in Indiana. We both enjoy exploring the outdoors with our daughters. Linda now lives in Sweden, I make my home in what’s known as “America’s Little Sweden” due to all the Swedish folks who came here in the 1800s.
So, folks, meet Linda Åkeson McGurk.
She is a Swedish American writer and author of There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life (which comes out TODAY!). She is a passionate advocate for the Nordic outdoor tradition friluftsliv and runs the blog Rain or Shine Mamma, where she shares tips and inspiration for outdoor play every day, regardless of the weather. When she is not working, she is usually found sauntering around the pine forests near her home in southwestern Sweden.
Heidi: Linda, t hanks for being here with us today. I, too, love a good saunter in a pine forest near my home! To start, I always ask the same question: What are two forces that are colliding in your life right now (or that have in the not too distant past)?
Linda: I’ve had a couple of ongoing and partly overlapping collisions in my life for the better part of ten years now. That’s when I first started to publicly advocate for children’s right to play outside and connect with nature, which eventually led to the publication of my first book, There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather. I’m a bit of an extroverted introvert and my advocacy is constantly causing those two sides of me to collide. The introverted part of me wants nothing but to live a quiet life surrounded by a small circle of close family and friends, far from the public spotlight and social media frenzy. The extroverted part is passionate about getting my message out in the world, which requires me to be very active online and engaged with a global audience.
The other collision is between my longing for the outdoors versus the reality of me working long hours indoors. Richard Louv, another nature play advocate and author that I greatly admire, likes to say “I’d rather hike than write” and I can relate to that one hundred percent. At the same time, I know that the writing is an inseparable part of me, one that I’ll probably always feel compelled to keep doing. Plus, I still haven’t found a way to make hiking pay the bills…
Heidi: I relate to that so much—my spouse says I’m the most introverted person he knows, but I also have something to say…. which means putting myself out there into the public eye on a regular basis. It can be a tricky balance. (If only hiking would pay the bills! If you figure it out, I’m all ears.)
How are you navigating the conditions this collisions creates? How does the dissonance created impact your choices?
Linda: I always gravitate towards some sort of equilibrium and nature plays a huge part in smoothing out my internal collisions. By going for a walk in the woods or sitting by the water for a while after being interviewed on a podcast or spending the entire day in front of my computer, my extroverted, work-oriented self can get a break. Among the pine trees, I can withdraw into my introverted self and focus my attention on things that bring me peace of mind. That’s why I’m very intentional about going outside every day and making nature a part of my rhythm.
Heidi: Ensuring nature is a part of my rhythm—so important to me too. What has this collision taught you about yourself? The world?
Linda: I’ve learned that there are days when I literally have to drag myself outside, but I do it anyway because I know I’m far worse off if I don’t. I think we all have an evolutionary need for nature and that a lot of people are suffering from burnout and mental issues like anxiety and depression today because we live our lives in a way that isn’t sustainable to ourselves or the planet. I live in a place where nature is always very tangible, right next to a lake and with the forest basically in my backyard, so getting that restoration is fortunately easy for me. But most people live in cities today and I think we could do a better job as a society to ensure that everybody, regardless of income, ethnicity or social class, has access to parks and urban trails. By rewilding our cities I think we could avoid a lot of the collisions that are so detrimental to our physical and mental health.
Heidi: Isn’t that the truth? Sometimes when I’m feeling crabby, my spouse says, “have you been outside yet today?” And then I go out and never regret doing so.
Will you tell us about a collision you explore in your latest book?
Linda: In my latest book, The Open-Air Life, I’m balancing my desire to inspire people to enjoy the outdoors with the realization that some of the more popular nature areas are on the verge of being loved to death. The popularity of Instagram has been a game changer for some destinations, with visitor numbers increasing hundredfold or even thousandfold since the platform was launched. One of the things that I wanted to show with the book, which focuses on the Nordic outdoor tradition friluftsliv, is that it's possible to find nature everywhere and that spending time outdoors in our local communities will strengthen not only our nature connection, but also our sense of place.
Heidi: I was just looking for some page numbers in my next book, and realized that most of the places I describe when I’m writing about being outside are within a few miles of my house—so I appreciate the friluftsliv message very much.
What else would you like to share about what’s your currently working on?
Linda: I’ve been itching to write The Open-Air Life ever since the publication of my first book and I’m excited to finally bring it into the world. I’ll be offering virtual author visits as well as webinars on different topics from the book, so I’m hoping to connect with my readers that way. I always encourage people to sign up for my newsletter on my blog rainorshinemamma.com to stay up to date on upcoming events.
Heidi: I had the chance to read an early copy of The Open-Air Life, and it’s a gem. Here’s what I think:
“Reading the prose of Linda Åkeson McGurk is always a reminder to be intentional about connecting with what I know deep in my bones: that going outside is going home. The Open-Air Life is an invitation to claim a way of being in the world that deems time outside as essential as breathing or drinking clean water. Full of practical tips and inspiring stories, this book is an essential guide for anyone who wants to further embrace life in the open air.”
Order your copy, and then go outside.
Have a collision you’d like to explore in this space? Send me an email at heidi@heidibarr.com.