“Hei” my friend!
By the way, that’s Finnish for “hello.” Why in the salmiakki am I speaking to you as such? Listen, my friends, and you shall hear!
For the sixth year in a row, Finland has been declared the happiest nation in the world, according to the UN’s annual happiness report. Where sits the USA? At number 15. How depressing. It makes me wonder, Have I ever met an unhappy Finlander?
I read an interesting article about this on my newsfeed by Katie Rosseinsky of “Stylist” magazine. You can read it here. Or you can just read my synopsis with my added comments.
I thought it would behoove us not-as-happy Americans to look at what makes those Finlanders so darn happy. And then, perhaps, take a lesson from them.
Here’s what makes them happy.
1.) Spending time in nature. OK, that works for me. Maybe we should look at our own kids in this area. Don’t little kids all want to “go outside and play”? Maybe we grownups need to heed that advice ourselves. Yeah, yeah, yeah, there’s work and all that jazz, but perhaps some fresh air every day would do a body (and a mind) good!
2.) “Sisu.” That’s a weird word the Finlanders like to say. It apparently doesn’t translate precisely but basically refers to “strength of will or persevering against the odds.” The Stylist article says: “That means heading out to brace the elements instead of waiting for the perfect sunny day or not being afraid to try a cold water swim.” Dang it. I think I’m fresh out of Sisu, myself.
3.) Trusting others: There was a study in which 12 wallets were “dropped” in Finland’s capital, Helsinki. Of those 12 wallets, 11 were returned to their owners! Whaaaaat? Can you imagine a place where “doing the right thing” wasn’t a pleasant surprise but the norm? I’d be happy, too, if I lived there!
4.) Be more open about how you’re feeling. How often do we say? “Fine, thanks,” to “How are you?” even when we’re not fine. Apparently, when you ask a Finlander how they’re doing, you will get the truth even if it isn’t “just fine, thanks.” There’s an interesting way to live! No stiff upper lips over there!
5.) Don’t humblebrag. Man, oh man, this one has given me fuel for pondering! There is a phrase by Finnish poet, Eino Leino that says, “Kell’ onni on, se onnen kätkeklöö.” It means, “The one who has happiness should hide it.” It intimates that one should be less likely to post about all the great things one has or experiences, and just enjoy them! I’d never heard of “humblebragging” before, but it’s an accurate word! And with social media, we can humblebrag and make ourselves look good, or we can read others’ humblebrags and, as a result, feel like a loser. (I’m pretty good at both, I’m sad to say.)
6.) Aim for contentment. One more Finnish saying (because they’re so much fun to try to say!) “Onni ei tule etsien, vaan eläen.” “Happiness is not found by searching, but by living.” It basically means that we should be content with what we have, and we don’t always have to be “reaching for the stars” and then, when we don’t reach that ideal, feel like a failure. I do think we are told in this country to “dream big,” “reach for the stars,” “give it all you’ve got,” etc. (Which reminds me of a saying that I loathe: “Leave it all on the floor.” Really? All on the floor? My intestines? My bodily fluids? No, just—no.)
When Kevin and I lived in suburban Minneapolis, when our kids were little, there was a church near us called the Laestadian Congregation. I’d never heard of that denomination before, but as it happened, it was primarily a Finnish congregation. They’d have a bake sale at the church a few times a year. These were the days before posting on Facebook or the like, so we’d hear about these bake sales via a flyer in our mailbox or a poster at the grocery store. We would set our alarm clock on the Saturday mornings of those bake sales.
You wanted to get there early to get their pasties. Now, pasties aren’t necessarily Finnish. In fact, I think they are British. But the Finns did an excellent job with them. But perhaps “meidän suosikkimme” (my favorite) was the chocolate cake roll. It was a chocolate sheet cake slathered with delicious creamy frosting and rolled into a “log.” It’s still, to this day, one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.
Maybe that’s why Finnish people are so happy! Chocolate cake rolls! It sure worked for me!
Whatever you do this week, may you find contentment and happiness, even where you least expect it. That’s the best place sometimes!
Rakkaudella kirjoitettu – – – – Patti XOXO
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow
with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13