Norway has been one of the happiest countries in the world for years now. Makes perfectly sense, one could think. Plenty of green space, many Tesla's, lots of oil. Not too much stress, a low national debt and few traffic jams. In short, the Norwegians bathe in inexhaustible material wealth and
crystal clear fjords, which they share with only 5.3 million people.
But there is more to it. I think their gratitude, which they exercise on a daily basis, plays a key role in their happiness. I'm not talking about gratitude for the many items they buy. No, in that sense the Norwegian oil money rolls without much ado. The Norwegians are particularly grateful for experiences they share with others. These experiences are sometimes special, but usually quite ordinary.
For example: last weekend, you drank a coffee with someone in Oslo and you meet him/her again in the city by chance. This encounter will probably start with the greeting 'takk for sist', which literally means 'thanks for the last time'.
The first time I heard that, I didn't know what was happening. My wife and I met close couple friends for the second time that month. Henrik, the husband of my wife's best friend, held out his hand and said 'takk for sist'.
"Yeah yeah, sure," I thought to myself, gave him a sheepish half-smile and shook his hand.
"Takk, i like måte (thank you, likewise)," my wife replied and gave Henrik a hug.
We had some small talk for a couple of minutes, until we said goodbye. The
other couple had only left for five seconds when my wife snapped at me:
"Why were you not polite to Henrik?" He thanked you for last weekend's
coffee and you were just grinning like a fool".
"I thought he was laughing with my face, or that I had said something wrong last time," I stammered.
"Stop second-guessing people all the time. In Norway we are simply genuinely kind to each other," said my wife.
"Naive, you mean," I murmured.
But every time now I hear 'takk for sist', I actually see a small sparkle in the eyes of the grateful Norwegian. Like a star that illuminates the presumed unimportant past. "It was fun last time and I'm glad to see you again." That's what it actually means. Those who utter these three little words, provide priceless oxygen for the relationship of trust.
The Norwegians are getting drilled with this gratefulness from childhood. Nobody leaves the dining table without having said 'takk for maten' (thank you for the food). A day in the nursery always ends with 'takk for idag' (thank you for today). An exciting match on the tennis court? 'Takk for en fin kamp'.
So much gratitude ... Do the descendants of the Vikings really mean all of that? It is hard to believe for this cynical Fleming, who often wonders what the Norwegians are so grateful for. The half an hour of sunlight during a whole winter? The national football team that wins against Cyprus? A tepid beer for 9 euro?
Yes, the Norwegians are really grateful for nothing special. And that way everything becomes a bit more special again. Where gratitude is the people's exchange course, the Gross National Happiness goes sky-high. In such a country, everyone and everything has an added value.