During my recent trip through Europe, I was lucky enough to visit a few countries in Scandinavia — specifically Denmark and Norway. I’d always associated the region with the usual suspects: Vikings, ABBA, IKEA, and, of course, that quirky Danish town, Solvang, in my home state of California. (If you’ve been, you know what I mean — windmills and pastries galore.)

So yeah… I had certain expectations.

And speaking of expectations, there’s a song I kept thinking about while traveling — “Northern Attitude” by Noah Kahan (featuring Hozier). In it, he sings:

“Forgive my northern attitude, I was raised out in the cold... I was raised on little light.”

That lyric paints a familiar image of the far north: long, dark, freezing winters, and what's known in pop-psychology as seasonal depression. So naturally, you'd think Scandinavians might have a bit of a moody edge. But here's the twist…

They’re actually some of the happiest people on the planet.

According to the World Happiness Report, countries like Denmark and Norway consistently rank among the happiest in the world. This shocked me — until I got a closer look.

In Denmark, I was amazed to see so many people commuting by bike. Not just a few — but swarms of them, flowing through protected bike lanes like schools of fish. Fun fact, Copenhagen has five bikes for every one car! The city is literally built for biking.

And that’s not just amazing — it’s a happiness multiplier. Think about it:

All of which are linked to better mood, longer life expectancy, and greater daily satisfaction.

I was so inspired I had to join the fun myself — though not in Copenhagen (honestly, the bike traffic intimidated me a bit). I ended up renting a bike in Skagen, Denmark’s northernmost town. Quiet streets, beautiful coastlines, and the wind in my face — I genuinely felt lighter. Freer. Happier.

But what really blew my mind was discovering the Danish concept of “hygge.”

I first spotted it on a fridge magnet in a Copenhagen gift shop. It looked like a nonsense word — until the store clerk explained:
Hygge (pronounced hoo-guh) is a uniquely Danish word for that feeling of warmth, coziness, and comfort. Imagine being wrapped in a blanket, sipping something warm, surrounded by your favorite people — that’s hygge.

The Baader-Meinhof effect did its thing and I started seeing it everywhere. The Danes even create compound words with it:

It’s more than just a word — it’s a cultural value. A way of intentionally creating, recognizing and appreciating small moments of joy. Gratitude in action.

"Seek and you shall find." — Matthew 7:7

The more you notice hygge, the more of it you’ll experience.

In Oslo, Norway, another cultural gem caught my attention: Allemannsretten, or “the right to roam.” It’s a law that gives people the freedom to access any land, public or private, as long as they respect nature, the property itself, and the privacy of the landowners.

In the U.S., this would likely get you in serious trouble (or worse). But in Norway, it reflects a deep communal trust — not only between citizens, but between people and government. That trust even extends to taxes; some Norwegians pay up to 50%, and they’re glad to do so, because they believe in how that money is used.

It reminded me of my time in Japan — another high-trust society. There’s something deeply comforting about being in a place where people trust each other not to mess things up.

That kind of trust... reduces stress and adds freedom. That’s another layer of happiness most people don’t often think about.

Beyond Denmark and Norway, I also became fascinated by cultural philosophies from other Scandinavian countries. Two ideologies in particular stood out:

Fika might sound like just a coffee break — but it’s a sacred tradition in Sweden. It’s about pausing your day to connect with people, reflect, and enjoy something warm with a little snack. At its core, fika is about intention — slowing down in a fast-paced world.

Personally, this hits home. I’ve been guilty of treating life like a checklist. Fika reminded me: Slow down. Appreciate. Connect. Life isn’t just about what you do — it’s about how you do it.

Sisu is harder to define. It’s often translated as grit, resilience, or inner strength. But my favorite interpretation is this:

Sisu is what gets you to overcome the moment of hesitation that stops you from doing.

You feel it when you cold plunge into icy water — a tradition Finns have practiced for centuries. That rush of adrenaline, the mental wall, the moment you push through — that’s sisu. (And yes, they have more saunas than cars to balance it out.)

Sisu reminds us that discomfort can be a path to joy. It's the idea that doing hard things — not despite, but because they’re hard — makes your soul come alive.

There’s a simplicity to life in Scandinavia. A clarity. People seem more focused on what really matters — connection, health, trust, nature, community — and less caught up in the noise.

They’ve built systems and cultures that nudge people toward happiness, whether through a bike lane, a fika break, or a cultural mindset like hygge or sisu.

And maybe that’s the lesson:

Happiness isn’t a mystery. It’s a practice. A perspective. A choice.

Scandinavia shows us what’s possible when you design life — not just for productivity — but for meaning.

Maybe you can’t move to Scandinavia tomorrow - but you can bring a little more of it into your daily life.

Before going on my trip I was looking for solutions to keep me connected. Luckily I found Saily in my search. Saily is an esim service that has support for over 200 destinations! And if you’re planning to visit multiple countries like I did you can purchase their service for entire regions. So more likely than not, they got you covered! ;)

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Until next time,