We all deserve to be as happy as a Finn.
But how easy could it possibly be to find total happiness just by booking a flight?
I set off to spend five days and four nights in Finland’s Lakeland region to find out.
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Before leaving, I self-assessed.
Am I unhappy enough to learn how to find my inner Finn?
I graduated from therapy three years ago.
Courtesy of Kuru Resort
What complaints could I have?
What if I’mtoohappy to learn anything about mastering happiness?
Could I be happier?
Melissa Peterson/Travel + Leisure
Lesson 1: Arrive at the bridge before you cross it.
My suitcase was a ridiculous size.
It’s the largest size that airlines allow you to check without extra fees.
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I was the first of our group to meet our host, Sergei Shkurov, for Happiness Week.
“We haven’t seen the others' suitcases,” he replied.
“So we do not know.”
Melissa Peterson/Travel + Leisure
My first Finnish secret to happiness learned:Cross bridges when you arrive at them, not before.
My suitcase was the largest.
Thus, no bridge to cross.
Lesson 2: Find happiness in the contrasts.
Its amenities included a personal sauna, a standalone tub, and a glass-enclosed terrace.
My villa, tucked within a pine forest, overlooked pristine Lake Saimaa, Finland’s largest lake.
It was an easy place to be happy in.
I felt embraced by the free-floating chair I sat in.
Lesson 3: Going out in nature doesn’t have to be intimidating.
“Going out in nature doesn’t have to be extravagant.
“you could just go out for a cup of coffee in the woods.”
Enjoying coffee in the yard will indeed have the same effect.
Lesson 4: Relax and remember the good times.
We were there to try dry suit floating and to sauna (of course).
My last ski run was a decade ago.
Now, she’s an adult with a daughter of her own.
Choose what to hold onto and what to let go.
Lesson 5: Embrace challenges.
AtHealth Resort Krunnupuistoin Punkharju’s pine forests, instructorTanja Lajunentaught us happiness-seekersSUP Yoga.
Lajunen called it her SUP yoga studio.
As the class progressed, my confidence increased.
But this time, I went for it.
By the end of class, having embraced its challenges, my smile felt too big for my face.
One night, back at Kuru Resort, I had a choice to make.
Sauna lakeside with my happiness-seeking companions, or relax on my own.
During the SUP experience, I wore quick-drying pants.
The lakeside sauna experience involved jumping into a frigid lake and then dashing into a warm sauna.
It required a swimsuit (or less).
If I relaxed alone, I could keep my over-developed calves and varicose vein-laced legs covered.
But if I was here to master happiness like a Finn, I knew the right choice.
On went my bikini and cover-up.
A shocked curse left my lips when I surfaced.
As I climbed out, my smile stretched beyond its normal limits.
I was 12 years old the last time I’d felt so secure in my body.
My fifth Finnish secret to happiness learned:Choose the challenges over easy outs.
Lesson 6: Manage expectations.
He said Finns tend to be content but not happy-go-lucky, satisfied but not joyful.
“There isn’t an idiom for pursuing happiness,” according to Auvinen.
Instead, Finns are cautioned that “Happiness ends in tears.”
While touring the archipelago on aSavonlinna Cruise, Meeri LaRinen shared a typical Finnish exchange.
When someone asks, “How are you?”
A standard response is, “Nothing more than misery.”
“It’s the meaningfulness.”
She told us this while leading us in a craft project and teaching us about Finnish design.
Her words caught my attention as I threaded the string of a sunshiney yellow pom-pom through a needle.
Finland is full of people doing what they love for the benefit of others.
Lesson 8: Put yourself in a supportive environment.
We broke bread, drank wine, and had great conversations.
There was an ease to it that felt like home and a feeling I’ll bring with me everywhere.
My eighth Finnish secret to happiness learned:Rely on those around you.
They’re happy to be there.
At the very least, the Finns are here to support your happiness journey too.
