Greetings, my whimsical and word-loving friends!

Every year, I pick a word to encapsulate what the year will be about. I’ve chosen the words “joy” and “whimsy” in the past. And, those were great words. The thing is that the word “joy” can take many forms. So, I decided to look into the joy concept a bit more. And, that took me the Finland and the world survey on joy and happiness.

Ah, Finland, the land of the Northern Lights, stunning landscapes, and, of course, being ranked as the happiest country on Earth for six years running. Wow. Sign me up. Now, you might expect that in such a paradise, the secret to their joy would be something whimsical, like “daydreamer.” But no, instead, the Finns give us “sisu.”

Now, let’s dissect this enigmatic term, “sisu.” Roughly translated, it means “grim determination in the face of hardships.” Well, doesn’t that sound like a barrel of laughs? It’s like saying, “Hey, we’re happy, but only because we’re so determined not to be unhappy!” It doesn’t exactly scream “carefree.” I’m left a bit perplexed. How do I formulate next year’s joy based on trying to not be unhappy?

Picture this: A Finn wakes up in the icy Finnish wilderness, looks outside, and says, “Ah, another day of sisu ahead of me!” This is not the stuff of whimsy; it’s the stuff of survival.

Now, I can’t help but wonder why the Finns didn’t opt for a word like “daydreamer” to encapsulate their happiness. Imagine it: “Finland, the land of daydreamers in stunning landscapes.” It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? But alas, they went with sisu.

Perhaps they’re onto something here. After all, life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, and sometimes you need that “grim determination” to keep going. But I can’t help but wonder if they secretly envy the countries with happier-sounding words.

But let’s not be too quick to judge. I don’t like being judgmental, and I may be missing cultural nuance. There’s a certain whimsy hidden within “sisu.” It’s the kind of determination that keeps you going even when the odds are stacked against you, and that’s rather remarkable and shows of great resilience. And, resilience is a concept I get. It’s my label.

So, maybe, just maybe, there’s a whimsical undertone to this Finnish happiness after all. It’s like they’ve turned determination into an art form, a dance of the human spirit against the backdrop of their stunning natural landscapes.

In the end, while the term “sisu” might not sound like the happiest word on the surface, it’s a reminder that happiness can take many forms. Sometimes, it’s not about escaping hardships but confronting them head-on with an unyielding spirit.

So, here’s to Finland and their “sisu.” And who knows, maybe one day they’ll embrace a word like “daydreamer” too, just for a dash of whimsy. After all, a little silliness never hurt anyone, right?

Stay whimsical for there’s whimsy in nearly everything.