what makes a happy country: iceland’s version of ‘no worries’
in 2021 iceland was named the second happiest country in the world, missing out on the top spot to finland. that's quite an impressive achievement for the small and beautiful country, hosting a population of less than 400,000 people. It obviously makes one wonder how Iceland was crowned such a high spot on the ranks. there are concrete examples, like the country's low crime rate, poverty rate, spectacular beauty and healthy lifestyle, but all countries are subject to hard times at one point or another. in iceland’s rugged landscape, there’s always the chance of harsh weather, like wild storms or even a volcano eruption, and Iceland was hit very hard in the financial crisis of 2008. perhaps what keeps it all together is the icelandic outlook on life, with a persistent focus on the idea of “þetta reddast”. so, what is it? how is it useful? and how can we use it to benefit our own lives?
It Means No Worries
the loose translation of þetta reddast, pronounced ‘thetta reddast’, is “don’t worry, everything will be alright.” it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where its roots lie, as some sources suggest it originally came from denmark, but wasn’t properly adopted until after denmark's influence on the Icelandic language had disappeared. some say it was adopted in the distant past, as ancestors learned to navigate treacherous environments. regardless, the saying continues to be incredibly popular amongst locals and travellers alike, and can be thought of as the icelandic ‘hakuna matata’. if you ever get the chance to travel to this stunning county, you’ll no doubt come across it somewhere. no worries? sounds pretty simple, at least at first glance. one might take it as a carefree approach to life, or at worst a shirking of responsibility; but the icelandic perspective can be more nuanced, presenting a depth to this philosophy beyond the words on the surface.
How to use it
