Unexpected Lessons in Mindfulness
by Lauren Larsen
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” It’s a phrase I’ve become very familiar with after being married to a Norwegian for almost 24 years. It’s also a phrase I haven’t truly appreciated until now.
Our family had the opportunity to travel to Norway over the holidays to visit family for the first time since Covid. Upon arriving in Norway, I was quickly reminded how well they adapt to the weather. The children at the barnehage (nursery school) play outside every day - in the rain, snow, or sunshine, and dress appropriately, of course. They wear a full snowsuit (if it’s cold or snowy) or head to toe rain gear in the rain - but they play outside regardless of the weather.
Interestingly, they don’t really talk or complain much about the weather. It’s not a surprise or a disappointment or an unmet expectation. They just accept it, and control what they can… their clothing by dressing appropriately.
Sometimes the inclement weather leads to road closures in Norway in the winter. This isn’t a big surprise or a huge problem…. It’s an accepted way of life. You may have to add 4 or 5 hours to your trip by taking an alternate route. You could get angry and mad at the weather, but that doesn’t do much. So, they take the longer way or may postpone their trip if possible.
Somewhat related to the weather, is the darkness. While we were there, it was daylight from about 10am - 4pm. They don’t complain about this either. Instead, they light many candles and use lights in their windows. Why complain about the darkness when you can brighten it with light?
After visiting with family and enjoying lots of traditional Norwegian foods, we left for a three day stopover in Iceland, a small, isolated island about the size of Kentucky. What Iceland lacks in size, it makes up for in unpredictability in the form of extreme weather, volcanoes, and avalanches. These elements make Iceland an incredibly challenging place to live.
The harshness of weather and the uncertainty that surround it were palpable on this small island. Equally as palpable was the fact that they can’t control it, so why make themselves miserable attempting to?
One of the first things we did in Iceland was to participate on a walking tour where we learned Iceland’s unofficial national motto, “þetta reddast” pronounced “thet-ta re-dust.” It’s a phrase that exemplifies the mindset of the Icelandic people and it means “everything is going to be just fine.” Most Icelandic people fully embrace it. The idea is that it may not be what you wanted or planned for - but it’s going to work out in the end.
We had several opportunities to practice “þetta reddast” on our trip. When the taxi we called didn’t arrive after an hour of waiting, we walked two miles back to our hotel in heavy snow. (In appropriate clothing, of course!) When the bus from our day tour was waiting at the wrong location, it took an extra 4 hours to get back to our hotel at which time all of the restaurants were closed and we hadn’t eaten in 10 hours. “þetta reddast”
Some people argue the phrase “þetta reddast” takes away responsibility. I would suggest it brings peace. As a person who tends to worry and try to control things beyond my control, (including the weather!), the phrase þetta reddast brings me great peace. It provides me with the space when things aren’t going as planned, hoped, or expected… that everything is going to be ok.
Since I’ve been home, I’ve thought about both of these sayings a lot and the comfort they bring me in accepting what I can’t control. Our vacation turned into a tangible reminder of many things I’ve learned in Mindfulness and Meditation Mornings at the Innerwork Center over the years …. controlling what I can, acceptance of what I can’t control, and trusting that everything is going to be just fine even if it isn’t what I wanted or had hoped for.