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Hanne Posted Tue 19 Feb, 2008 7:36 AM |
At least I live in a country which has the happiest population in the world, according to a study.
Happiness
:o) |
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bara Posted Tue 19 Feb, 2008 12:01 PM |
| ^^ good to live in a happy country, isnt it! |
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Hanne Posted Tue 19 Feb, 2008 12:08 PM |
| Yes! I haven't really seen the clips, but apparantly it's all about expectations. If you don't have too high expectations, you don't get disappointed lol |
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Turtleneck Posted Tue 19 Feb, 2008 2:39 PM |
Very interesting. I watched all the clips. A friend of mine wrote a blog article on this topic, so I sent her the link. Not having so many financial worries would be a big relief for many people. (Which makes me want to write a long essay about the leadership of the US and where our money goes, but I won't.) I also think materialism is a biggie. "Stuff" isn't going to make you happy.
This has nothing to do with the happiness part, but I thought it was interesting that Danish would rather rattle their bags to give a clue they want to get off a train, rather than just say, "Excuse me." Is that true? That's more how I am. I was in a store the other day and a lady was blocking the whole aisle with her cart. I just kind of stood there and looked at some stuff on the shelf, hoping she would move. A guy behind me yelled, "Hey lady! You're blocking the aisle!" I can't imagine being so bold. I don't know where he was from, but he spoke with an accent. He wouldn't last long in Denmark. |
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Hanne Posted Tue 19 Feb, 2008 2:49 PM |
Turtleneck wrote: Very interesting. I watched all the clips. A friend of mine wrote a blog article on this topic, so I sent her the link. Not having so many financial worries would be a big relief for many people. (Which makes me want to write a long essay about the leadership of the US and where our money goes, but I won't.) I also think materialism is a biggie. "Stuff" isn't going to make you happy.
This has nothing to do with the happiness part, but I thought it was interesting that Danish would rather rattle their bags to give a clue they want to get off a train, rather than just say, "Excuse me." Is that true? That's more how I am. I was in a store the other day and a lady was blocking the whole aisle with her cart. I just kind of stood there and looked at some stuff on the shelf, hoping she would move. A guy behind me yelled, "Hey lady! You're blocking the aisle!" I can't imagine being so bold. I don't know where he was from, but he spoke with an accent. He wouldn't last long in Denmark.
It's indeed true. We have a tendency to cough or clear the throat to make other people aware of our presence, rather than just ask if they could please take a small step to the side. Not that we never ask, but it's not the first choice for most people. Being rude like that man would certainly raise some eyebrows and cause a few glares lol
I don't know why it's like this, but maybe it's related to the Jantelov. Dunno if it's mentioned in the clips, but it's a huge part of our mentality. The basic rule of this 'law' is "don't think you're better than anyone else". For instance, if someone wins an olympic medal or something like that, the whole nation goes bananas. However, if they say something like I deserved it, instead of I'm overwhelmed and honoured, their popularity would plummet. For some reason, it's important to be humble even if you don't mean it, or have any reason to be humble. |
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Edel Posted Tue 19 Feb, 2008 2:54 PM |
| I think I visited the board at the wrong time ARRGHHHHH |
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Hanne Posted Tue 19 Feb, 2008 2:55 PM |
Edel wrote: I think I visited the board at the wrong time ARRGHHHHH
Huh?
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Turtleneck Posted Tue 19 Feb, 2008 3:23 PM |
Edel wrote: I think I visited the board at the wrong time ARRGHHHHH
Are you unhappy, despite the fact that you live in Denmark? |
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la femme qui Posted Tue 19 Feb, 2008 3:38 PM |
Hanne wrote: It's indeed true. We have a tendency to cough or clear the throat to make other people aware of our presence, rather than just ask if they could please take a small step to the side.
Interesting how cultures differ even in such tiny aspects... in this part of India, people hiss or whistle to get someone's attention. Makes me feel like a dog :S |
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Hanne Posted Tue 19 Feb, 2008 3:44 PM |
la femme qui wrote:
Interesting how cultures differ even in such tiny aspects... in this part of India, people hiss or whistle to get someone's attention. Makes me feel like a dog :S
Oh dear :oS
If you almost bump into someone in Britain, you say sorry... in this country, you just give each other a tiny smile and a nod. Really odd. |
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Monica Posted Tue 19 Feb, 2008 3:51 PM |
I think we (Spanish people :p) are a happy country XD
But it depends on the person. Not every Spanish is happy, of course ^__^ |
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Scottish Dubliner Posted Tue 19 Feb, 2008 4:15 PM |
I don't know why this is in my head it may be an ad from my childhood or something like that...
Happiness, Happiness
The greatest gift that I possess.
I thank the Lord that I’ve been blessed
With more than my share of happiness.
To me this world is a wonderful place
I’m the luckiest human in the human race
I’ve got no silver and I’ve got no gold
But I’ve got happiness in my soul
Happiness to me is an ocean tide
A sunset fading on a mountain side
A big old heaven full of stars above
When I’m in the arms of the one I love
Happiness, Happiness
The greatest gift that I possess.
I thank the Lord that I’ve been blessed
With more than my share of happiness.
Happiness is a field of grain
Turning its face to the falling rain
I see it in the sunshine, breathe it in the air
Happiness, happiness everywhere
A wise old man told me one time
Happiness is a frame of mind
When you get to measuring a man’s success
Don’t count money, count happiness.
Happiness, Happiness
The greatest gift that I possess.
I thank the Lord that I’ve been blessed
With more than my share of happiness
Dubz
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Turtleneck Posted Tue 19 Feb, 2008 4:28 PM |
This runs along the same lines. I just watched a video explaining why Americans are afraid to take vacation time from work. The US is the only major country in the world that does not have government mandated vacation time. France has a month of vacation each year plus holidays??!!!
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4308346&affil=wls
Honestly, things are set up wrong in the US. A lot of stuff. We like to think we've got it right, but it is obvious that it isn't true for a lot of things.
Something as simple as business hours. When my mom was living in Germany we were surprised to find out that most stores close at 5 or 6PM and were totally closed on Sunday. There was even enforced "quiet time" in her neighborhood in the afternoon. It sort of forces people to take some time out. If you can't conduct business or mow your lawn, etc. what do you do? RELAX! (We did wonder, though, how couples who both work managed to get their grocery shopping done.)
One of my husband's fondest memories of our vacation in Europe was the time we spent in the backyard in a hammock reading a book. Something we never do at home because there is always other stuff to do.
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DAKOTA Posted Tue 19 Feb, 2008 4:42 PM |
Weird, I just happened to watch both those segments (on Sunday, and last night...because My dad likes 60 minutes and Charlie G. is on right before Jeopardy)
Anyway, yeah, I think people work too long and too hard around here for not much payoff. I mean why do you work? So you can have the money to do/buy stuff you want? Pish, if I want to spend two weeks off bumming around Cincinnati with the fam then I'm going to do it, and if it means I have to take unpaid vacation and go without cable or Starbucks for a month or something, then so be it, I don't get paid that much anyway, just enough to pay the bills and have some pocket change, but it keeps me happy. I know, I realize I don't have anybody but myself to worry about and my job is pretty cool about things like that so I'm lucky, but...
I mean, There are people in my family that are workaholics, and I just don't get it. Workin' 80 hours a week in a demanding job that you don't really enjoy only to turn it around and do it again next week Never taking a vacation or any time for yourself or family and then behaving taciturn and miserable all the time.......I don't get it.
I'm going to go take a nap now. |
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Ursina Posted Tue 19 Feb, 2008 4:42 PM |
Edel wrote: I think I visited the board at the wrong time ARRGHHHHH
hahahahaha do you feel 'alienated' ?? :-D |
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