Finnishness: Perseverance in Silence

Photo by Valdemaras D. on Unsplash

In my eyes Finland is all about perseverance, determination, peace and quiet.

When I think about being Finnish, the first thing that comes to mind is being an underdog. Throughout time Finland has been seen as a country with a small population that doesn’t stand a chance, but as history (and sometimes hockey…) has taught us, you shouldn’t underestimate your opponent. Back in the day Finland and its citizens needed a lot of perseverance and determination to overcome the battles that were ahead of them and now those traits have been passed down to us. Finnish people have faced wars, harsh winters and much more, but they didn’t give up and that is why we are here today. Thinking about that makes me feel a lot more courageous. If they were able to handle everything that was thrown at them, so can I.

Another thing that comes to mind is quietness. It is not uncommon to find people being in complete quietness even in small closed spaces like elevators. If you travel using public transportation, it is encouraged to not speak loudly to not disturb others. A lot of Finnish people enjoy nature and forests because they offer a moment of… you guessed it, peace and quiet. It is very usual to have a silent moment in Finland as people are not uncomfortable with silence.

 

Comments

Leave a Reply

Processing comments...

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *