C'mon, Get Happy

The University of Michigan recently conducted a groundbreaking study to determine which countries on Earth are the happiest. Oh, this has grand sport written all over it.

The final tally reveals that Denmark is the happiest nation and Zimbabwe the most glum. (Gee, it couldn't have something to do with Mugabe's re-election, could it?). The United States ranks 16th.

Wow, we actually placed 16th! I think you have to thank our Midwestern friends for that victory. They must have salvaged it. Midwesterners are easy going, good natured people who seem grateful for the gentle pleasures of their lives. Southerners rank a close second--they deeply value their families and seem grateful for the bounty they enjoy. At least it seems that way to me. Californians can't always accept the rewards of their lives because, well, their neighbors have more. And New Yorkers have to kvetch for a living--it seems to be their intrinsic nature. So what if things are going well? Find a piece of wood to knock on for tomorrow all the goodwill you appreciated 15 minutes ago will go to hell.

I wonder why the Danish are so happy. I'm part Danish and by nature, I'm pretty happy. Perhaps elves originated in Denmark and in order to keep up the elf tradition, the Danes pledged to be perpetually cheerful. Hans Christian Andersen was Danish and he wrote some rather joyous fairy tales (although in real life, the man was terrified of being buried alive and insisted on having his wrists slit after he died to ensure that he was really and truly dead before going into the ground). Danes appreciate their food, integrating solid choices into their Morgenmad,Frokost and Aftensmad. Sausage, cheeses, spiced meat and herring are popular choices. Why shouldn't they be happy? I'd certainly be.

And consider the simplicity of this submission from a Danish University trying to lure American students to study abroad: Danes usually meet their social needs within a narrow circle of family, colleagues and close friends. Danes are great home-lovers and put a lot of effort and money into making their homes comfortable and "hyggelige" (cosy). "Hygge" is a key part of the Danish way of life; it means focusing on forgetting daily problems and enjoying the simple things in life. Young people like to meet their friends in one of the many cafés for a cup of coffee or a beer. Kumbaya, people!!

And let's not forget that the sun doesn't bother to set till its really, really late. It seems to declare that it's so happy, it doesn't want to leave. It's appealing!

So a shout out to the Danes for their bliss. They deserve this victory.