Do you know which country is the happiest country in the world? (according to a recent study)
Denmark.
You know who is scarily close to the bottom of the list?
Us
This just got me thinking why this is.
I am reading a book by Donald Miller called A Million Miles in A Thousand Years, and it actually mentions this fact. I had heard this from my friend, Carrie a while ago because she has been living there for a few years playing professional soccer. I actually had the great pleasure of meeting up with her and Jess at Starbucks last weekend. We hadn't seen her in over two years and it was LONG overdue. We were able to catch up and just be together, which was so great. She is one of those friends that though life keeps you from seeing each other but once every few years, you can pick right up, like you had spoken the day before.
We got on the subject of Denmark and she told us about how the country just seemed content with being simple. The homes were simple, even the wealthier ones, the way they decorated was modest, and she said people just didn't have 'stuff' to have 'stuff'. Materialism wasn't a huge problem there. She said even the kids she coached in soccer were simple. No one wants to 'stand out' even as a super star. They are content being simple and not having to have tons of attention. Sounds quite different from our culture.
Donald Miller, in his book says the '60 minutes' special he watched, said that not only did the British university find out who was the happiest country but they even found out why. 'They ruled out financial status, physical health, and even social freedom, and they landed on a single characteristic of the Danes that allowed them such contentment. The reason Danes are so happy is this: They have low expectations.'
'There is something in Denmark's culture that allows them to look at life realistically. They don't expect products to fulfill them or relationships to end all of their problems.'
Donald Miller thinks that maybe we are so low on the happy scale because our culture screams at us that we need this and that, and if you only had 'this' THEN you would be happy. 'THIS' will make you 'whole'. This spouse, this job, these 'things' will finally get you there. And so we buy it, or trade in our spouse for a younger one, or we make more money, only to come to the realization that it didn't work.
Could it be possible that WE aren't doing it right and someone else might be able to teach this great nation something?
Something to think about.
3 comments:
I've been to Denmark. The people are GORGEOUS and the country is beautiful and w/o much pollution. BUT! But most of the people are lost. And those that know Jesus are very "secularized." THAT is sad and is NOT happy.And they have low expectations partly b/c of the way the govt is set up. The govt takes OVER 50% of all earnings. There are some bright spots, though! Like one of my very dearest friends, Eva and her lovely family!
First of all, seeing the MVPs over the Christmas holidays was one of the best highlights of being home!! :D I just wish it could have been for longer.
as for the comment that was written above.... What does that say about America which is a "Christian" country and many Christians are living completely unhappy and unfulfilled lives? Maybe the Danes are more "Christian" than us Americans because they truly love one another and value their relationships over things. The Danes really appreciate God's Creation. Now, I do believe that Denmark needs a major Christian revolution, but then again, so does the USA.
And yes, the gov't takes over 50% of their earnings, but, then again, no one here is complaining because their lives aren't centered around money and possessions. Plus, they get free health care and university, the poor virtually don't exist, and everyone is taken care of when they get old. Now that's quality of life!
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