Work hard, be happy

They say Finns are honest and hardworking. I would add gritty and resilient.

There are many definitions for work but probably the most common is this: to exert oneself physically or mentally especially in sustained effort for a purpose or under compulsion or necessity.

Some people say you should work “smart” rather than work hard. I totally agree with this, though there is a lot to be said for the special pleasure that comes from doing manual labor, which works both our bodies and our minds. No matter the goal or intent, exerting real effort and seeing a result is fulfilling. It is really what drives us in this life to get up every day.

Truthfulness and honesty are also greatly valued and respected by Finns. Perhaps that is tied to the fact that Finland was voted the “Happiest Country in the World” for the fifth year in a row in 2022. There is an established connection between improvement in mental and physical health and telling the truth. Life satisfaction also seems to depend greatly on how a country’s government and institutions take care of their people.

Girl Power Finnish emoji: Courtesy this is Finland (Finland Promotion Board).

Three quotes come to mind when I think of work. The first is from Thomas Jefferson, our 3rd U.S. President:

Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.

The second is from Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield:

Any work worth doing is worth doing well.

Lastly, are the wise words from famed actress Bette Davis:

To fulfill a dream, to be allowed to sweat over lonely labor, to be given a chance to create, is the meat and potatoes of life. The money is the gravy.

I am very much a Finn: helpful but not interfering, warm yet stoic, hardworking and with high standards, with a direct communication style. To me, hard work is good for the soul, not to mention the biceps.

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