How to love the cold winter: The secret of Norwegians
Inspiration / / December 26, 2019
Before the winter just a couple of weeks, and many are already tuned in to complain about the snow, wind and almost around the clock darkness. But Leibowitz Kari (Kari Leibowitz), a graduate student at Stanford University, offers a look at it from the other side. She spent almost a year in the north of Norway, in order to understand how to manage local experience long winters. You know, we have something to learn from the Norwegians!
Winter is coming, which means that it is time almost around the clock darkness, cold and depression. You already feel this endless grumbling under his breath with or without? The next few months we will be complaining about the bad weather, freezing and put on a ton of clothes. All this leads to the question: how do you cope with the winter blues?
It turns out that it is not in season, but in ourselves. Such conclusion was a graduate student at Stanford University Cary Leibowitz, who in August 2014 by June 2015 the first study conducted in Tromsø - a city in the north of Norway, far above the Arctic Circle. So far, from November to January, the sun does not rise above the horizon!
Leibovitz studied the psychological state of the local residents, who, in theory, should have become discouraged (still would not see the sun for three months). But, as it turned out, the extent of winter depression they were far below the world average.
Kari asked local: "Why do not you fall into depression?". After all, so do people in other countries in the northern hemisphere (the Russians too). What has received the answer: "Why do this to us?". Kari knew that such a question in these parts it sounds inappropriate. In northern Norway people perceive as the winter presentInstead of endless torment.
Lessons Far North
An important factor in this perception of winter - the local community. They are very rallied, have strong social ties that enriches the lives of everyone. You can draw an analogy with the small peoples of the North in Russia: Chukchi, Evenki, Khanty, Mansi - are social ties as strong. But it's not all Norwegian secret.
Firstly, the Norwegians say almost all of their winter holidays. Leibowitz says that the local could not wait for the start of the ski season. For them, there is no concept of "bad weather", only inappropriate clothing.
Our situation is similar to the holidays. New Year, Christmas, Valentine's Day, the Day of Defender of the Fatherland - they all come just for the winter.
Norwegians have a word koseligWhich designates the feeling of comfort. People like to get together, light candles, drink warm drinks and bask under the blankets. In Tromsø spend a lot of festivals and events that give everyone a sense of community and active pastime.
Finally, people are literally enchanted by the beauty of winter landscapes. From November to January, when the sun does not rise above the horizon, you can catch the amazing footage, says Leibowitz.
change the setting
Most of us, of course, do not live in Tromsø, and not everyone has a fireplace in the house for spiritual gatherings, but there are things that we are quite capable of change. "In the States, we grumble a lot in the winter, and it is difficult to be in a good mood, when all around are complaining," - Kari said.
Instead of cursing because of the frost and wind, get in the winter possibilities for enjoying life. This skiing and ice hockey, and snowmen and snow removal (this occupation like very much), and a pleasant feeling to return to a warm house after a cold. Spend time with friends: one boring at any time of year, even in summer.
"This is not a super task. Walk up to it and consciously change their usual adverse winter installation positive"- advises Leibovitz.
This is especially true for us, the inhabitants of Russia. As much as we loved the summer and heat, we must not forget that Russia - is predominantly a northern country. And instead of counting the days until the beginning of summer, we should just enjoy the wonderful moments of winter.