Be mindful how you set your sails

I realize very well that there is nothing that can replace our actual experience in Denmark.  This blog has probably been much more meaningful to me because I have memories.  Shared memories is something I have talked about on several days.  We can have great memories of a place or time, and we can have terrible memories.  The truth lies for most of us probably somewhere in between.  There are always good things about a place and there are always bad things.  I have found that the key to happiness is to decide what you look for, what you want to cultivate.  


Denmark is not utopia and there are lot of things I do not like about Denmark. In fact, it has taken me many years to deal with some things that drove me as far away as possible.  But I cannot run from who I am. I am part Danish and part Scottish.  I am a Viking and a Highlander, two cool-blooded and hot-headed people.  And that makes sense, considering our shared history.


So, while there may be bad things, there are also good things. I have learned to value the good things and deal with the less favorable things. Life is about balance, not extremes, but balanced life takes maturity and strength. As I mentioned in class once, perfection is not the absence of faults or mistakes, it is the ability to thrive with imperfection.


My path to happiness stems from my Viking history and lessons learned in life:

1.       Create memories. Places and things are just bricks, roads, and “stuff”, but shared memories are what makes “bricks and stuff” special. Places and people are also not responsible for your happiness. Denmark is not responsible for making anybody happy.  It just provides the ingredients, but it is up to each of us to make use of them in a productive manner.

2.       “Bound is the boatless man”: Success and happiness is connected to mobility. Feeling “stuck” is a highway to unhappiness and depression.  Take charge of your course, invest in what you need to get there, and be agile. Viking innovation and superior boat building skills allowed them to construct boats that were strong enough to withstand the stress from the winds and seas, but also so featherlight that they could lift them up and walk across land. Nothing stood in their way.

3.       Being level-headed and passionate can work to your advantage.

Be level-headed when you make strategic decisions, prepare, and plan. Be passionate when you execute. Invest in skills, innovation, and be strategic with your choices. Take charge of your course.  And when you set your sails, give it everything you have.

Also, recognize when something is worth getting all worked up about.  Most things are not 😊

4.       Be prepared to put some effort into it and leverage the strengths you have. Vikings used muscle force to row across the seas, but when winds prevailed in the right direction, they raised their sails and leveraged the strength of innovation (sails).

5.       Never be afraid!  Bravery is not the absence of fear, it is doing something in spite of fear. There is healthy fear that protects us from real danger. There is also unhealthy fear that shackles us to our own shadows of insecurity and paranoia.  Life is not going to be sunshine and roses all the time. There will be pain and discomfort along our journeys. However, we sometimes fear pain so much that we end up hiding in a large, bubble-wrapped ball. And as time goes on, we allow that ball to become smaller and smaller just to avoid any collision with something that might be uncomfortable.  Don’t get me wrong, I am not the one advocating foolishness! Fools are not brave, they are just fools.  It is wise to make smart decision and avoid unnecessary injuries. Just be careful you do not let fear of discomfort paralyze you. Push through the tough times and recognize the gold nuggets in life.

I hope you will continue your journey toward happiness, and please remember that happiness is not the fantasy on the other side of the ocean.  Happiness is like hygge, not limited to where you are at or what you have. It is within you and with a few mindful choices, you can create your happiness advantage.