The Simple Joy Of A Winter Campfire

As a kid, campfires were not a part of my life. 

My sister and I were dancers and baton twirlers on many nights, and weekends were spent practicing routines or traveling to competitions.  While I enjoyed all the hoopla for the most part, sometimes I craved a simpler childhood. I yearned to stay home and play in the yard or relax on a Saturday with a good book.

When I became a mom, I wanted my children to have more downtime in their lives. I wanted my boys to grow up and become men who appreciated timeless pleasures like a campfire. 

Sitting around a fire creates a shared focus and intentional time to talk and reflect, all things lacking in modern society. Since my sons were toddlers, they’ve been around campfires. They know how to collect starter sticks, stoke a fire, and appreciate the burn. 

While fire pits and fire rings have been a staple in our lives for a long time, 2020 brought our campfire journey to a new level. When the world shut down last March and everyone was sheltering in place, campfires became a saving grace. We enjoyed multiple fires each week. With everything canceled, from sports to trips, there wasn’t much else to do. 

Before COVID-19, I viewed campfires as a seasonal activity. Once it turned chilly in October, we typically stacked the wood for the following spring. That all changed during the pandemic. As one long month blurred into another, campfires continued to provide healing reprieve. 

When the weather cooled and fall turned to winter, we continued to acquire wood, collect sticks and ensure we had a continual supply of s’mores ingredients in the pantry. 

I’ve learned that I enjoy winter campfires even more than spring or summer campfires. Sure, it requires more layers of clothing and perhaps a hat and gloves, but the warmth of a fire is even more soothing when it’s a physical necessity. 

I once read that enjoying a campfire can lower your blood pressure and boost your mood. Perhaps it’s the relaxing sensory stimulation or the connection to other humans, both in the moment and ancestrally. Today’s world is over stimulating and ever changing. The unpredictability of the future is something we’re struggling with collectively. Though we don’t have control over a lot, we have control over small things. 

Do you and your loved ones a favor over the next few weeks by enjoying the beautiful glow and crackling sounds of a winter campfire. It’s a small thing, but I promise it will make a big difference.