2: Happiness for Tourist? : Payten Jackson

 Suanas and Chasing Happiness

    

    Suanas have been used for hundreds of years, including Nordeney, which has been a Spa Island since the 1700s. Sweat baths have been in existence since prehistoric times, with the Fins officially giving it the name "Suana", which means to cleanse the body and spirit. Suana usage has been associated with emotional and physical therapy, and there has been limited research to prove its effectiveness in improving the physical state of an individual, but emotional treatment is harder to prove. Chasing the idea of happiness through various activities does not lead to genuine happiness, and instead ends with comparison.

    After reading the article from The New York Times (31 March 2025), it can be concluded that chasing happiness does not lead to the actual feeling. The author of the article was constantly in the mindset of "well, if it works for them, it will work for me," which is an unproductive approach. Yes, Finland has been awarded as one of the happiest countries on the planet, but more factors contribute to that than the author addressed. The author of the article would ask others for advice on what she could do to be happy, but she never asked herself what made her happy. She was constantly looking outward for an answer instead of looking inward. Going to saunas or talking to nature is not going to suddenly cure loneliness or sadness, when the next idea is to compare. 

    The common phrase "comparison is the thief of joy" is threaded throughout this article. The author compares the residents, the governments, and the cultures, but fails to recognize the beauty in these differences. I agree that the United States has multiple ways it can improve to help its citizens feel more appreciated and valued, but as society continues to change, it is necessary to seek value in oneself first. The author only ever felt happy when she stopped comparing and copying exactly what the Fins do, but instead modified it to fit her daily life. Walking with her dog and releasing her feelings into nature made her content once she realized that her situation was not the same. Her journey shows that things like saunas and forests cannot bring happiness until the idea of what happiness should look like is no longer chased.

    When I went to the Bade-House in Nordeney, I was excited to experience my first sauna and the other amenities. The first obstacle was that nakedness was required within the sauna, which is not common in the United States. As I undressed to get into the sauna, I started to get a little nervous, but I knew it would be worth it. Once I got in and sat down, and conversed with the other girls, I enjoyed how peaceful it was. The sound of the rocks shrinking and expanding under the heat and the smell of the wood made me relax. Dr. Wasser had taught us that sweating would increase and become faster the more often the sauna was used. After washing off with cold water, then going to the next sauna, I did notice I would start sweating faster, which made the sauna more comfortable. 

    When it was time to leave the Bade-House, my skin was supple and rejuvenated, and after a week of biking, my muscles finally felt relaxed. Of course, my experience will be much different than the person next to me, and I understand that. I enjoyed the suanas and the different pools, but other people may not have had a good experience. This is why it is good to not compare what you find happiness in to what another person might not. Even if I did not enjoy the saunas, I would not go "I did everything like the Germans, I should be happy now." This line of logic will leave one chasing instead of being grounded. When the author finally stopped trying to be like other people, she found what brought her joy.

    Emotions are a fluid idea, constantly changing and not at a set point. This is why it is important not to base contentment on others. People find joy in many ways, whether it be partying, reading, exercising, or going to saunas. Stepping away from comparison is the biggest step forward toward individuality.

Payten