I have traveled to several countries across the world. Rich, poor and middle income. And I noticed that happiness has a low correlation with how rich the country is or how much the government provides for its citizens. It seems to be much more nuanced than that.
For example Nordic countries rank among the happiest in the world. Yet, anyone who has lived through a cold dark nordic winter will tell you a different story. Similarly, you visit a poor African village and you see people who are somehow genuinely happy and content.
I’ve lived through my fair share of tropical non-winters and cold dark winters
I’m convinced the latter being a time of brooding is just an urban legend. I’ve met a small handful of people who look at winter this way, and every single of one of them switched their mindset if you addressed the actual issue (loneliness itself)
When I do encounter that sentiment. It often seems that person:
1.) lives in a fractured and isolating suburban community, doesn’t know their neighbors, doesn’t leave their house much
2.) grew up in a sunny tropical climate, and is still adjusting to winters
A huge amount of folks in group 2 eventually grow out of it
Folks in group 1 are often unhappy in most places. It feels to me the problem there is moreso their location and lack of community vs the winter. Because they cheer right up when they find a community to enjoy winter with
Growing up in the suburbs of the US South. Huge swathes of people I knew were unhappy with not a single cold breeze flowing by. Have a strong suspicion their unhappiness was the lack of community in their life and not the season
Cold is manageable. But darkness... I mean if I had no other choice, I'm sure I'd manage just fine. But that is like saying if I make an effort and earn enough money I can afford great healthcare anywhere in the world.
> Yet, anyone who has lived through a cold dark nordic winter will tell you a different story.
Anecdotal, but if you're taking Vitamin D, skiing in the forests, enjoying hot chocolate, and alternating between working hard and playing (video games?) hard, the winter can actually be very enjoyable.
I remember before I felt this way, but I think a lot of winter complaints come from people who aren’t adjusted/aware of the rhythm of the year and its associated opportunities.
True. But one has to make an effort and in my experience most people get depressed. And I don't blame them. A few weeks of snow is amazing. But after the third month of snow and shoveling the driveway, most people break.
I noticed about the same in my travels. The happiest people were among the poorest. The difference seemed to be the people - a person surrounded with 10 friends and family members telling stories and jokes doesn't need much. A lonely person making 300k a year can buy it all, but always needs something.
100% agree. It seems money can't buy happiness. And neither can socialized benefits. There is a lot more to life and happiness than what these polls seem to care about.
Come on over. I'll host you in California next winter. Or perhaps we could travel to Sydney in Jan. My sister has a huge house there so the stay would be free. If you still prefer dark/cold winters, I'll buy you a beer. Otherwise you will owe me a beer. Deal?
I'm not saying that summers are bad, I'm saying that winters are fine. Sure, there's SAD which affects some portion of the population, and some things do wind down and we live in different ways at different times of the year. Personally I don't like scorching heat, but I do enjoy the long nights - a definite benefit of being up north!
But you were implying somehow that we're lying on these rankings or what? That winter is so bad it somehow cancels out the fact that we are, a lot of us, largely in freedom from fear and want, to quote your Roosevelt, in a way that is fairly unique in this world? I promise you that it is real.
I don't know what winters in CA look like exactly as I've never been there (probably depends where in CA too, it's a big place), but I lived in the tropics for a few years and I kind of missed European winters. Being too cold isn't brilliant, but being too hot isn't either. I like the alternation between things – kinda breaks stuff up.
Also some food or drinks somehow never taste quite the same in hot temperatures. Red wine is a good example.
I’ve lived for a long time in both Nordic climates (born in Russia, raised in Canada) and southern climates (Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico). I don’t feel absolute temperature affects my happiness levels long term at all.
When it’s a gloomy rainy day, ya I might feel a bit down. But my wife loves those days. She feels cozy. So it’s really subjective.
But long term the baseline changes quickly and I don’t care if it’s winter or summer. I feel equally happy in both conditions.
My experience also. I'd put the weather, cuisine, and the beauty of the environment (either natural or man-made) very very high on this list; health care and education are great I guess but I really don't know how "happy" this makes people on a day-to-day basis.
I've lived through two such cold dark winters, one of which was spent partially above the Arctic circle (24h darkness). I loved it! I wish it could be that way year round. Looking forward to many, many more.
For example Nordic countries rank among the happiest in the world. Yet, anyone who has lived through a cold dark nordic winter will tell you a different story. Similarly, you visit a poor African village and you see people who are somehow genuinely happy and content.
Something about these rankings seems very broken.