joy and the Finns

You look at your own people, the nation you know so intimately. The reserved, inhibited, closed-up Finns with a low collective self-esteem. I.e., yourself. And suddenly, something happens and they all change. Including yourself.

Suddenly, the national icehockey team wins the world championships and people are dancing in the streets. Smiling and talking to strangers. Hanging out of cars, beeping, going mad together, staging an impromptu carnival with thousands of spontaneous participants in the middle of an ordinary Sunday night. The key words are "spontaneous" and "together". Not Finnish words at all.

This is not Finland. Except that it is. I hang out of my car and wave madly at strangers. I am a Finn and I am for once not reserved, inhibited, closed-up.

Raising a nation's self-esteem can be as important as an individual's. This has done us all good. In a cold country, joy is in the air and it is healing us.

Just say yes, just say there's nothing holding you back...