It is Autumn break here in Finland this week, and the rain is drizzling down onto the last of the fall leaves and into the already saturated ground. Despite the grey, at least there is still that splash of colour in the trees to remind that it isn't all completely bleak yet. Once those leaves fall though, it is considered the "dark time" and when the light is absorbed further into the void. It isn't until there is snow on the ground that sight is possible again.
As a birthday present a few months ago, Smallsteps received a night in the country with her aunty and family and I drove her there a little while ago and even she said how beautiful it looked and how there were bands of colour, with the yellow of the cut fields, the strips of green fir trees, intermingled with more yellow of birth and some red from maple and rowan trees. Even at this late stage of autumn and with a dreary sky, it is still looking good.
It is so different to where I grew up in Australia, where it was very dry around where I was born, and then tropical in the region I went to university. Here, there really are four distinct seasons and the I think it has an effect on my mind, more so than in Australia. I reckon it is because there is more variability, and the periods are shorter and quite different, so the brain is having to adjust often. Not only that, each season has clear differentiation in tasks, where for instance the spring is filled with gardening, the summer with swimming, the autumn with preparation for winter and the winter, is more about hibernating. Different tasks, different clothes, different energy levels.
I have a "theory" that the average personality or culture of a country is heavily dictated by nature. Where for example, a tropical country where it is generally warm, the trees are more wild, less structured, as are the animals. And the people also don't have to be as prepared as they would in an environment that gets very cold. Those in the far northern hemisphere have to plan for the winter, otherwise, they will literally die of cold and starvation. It means that preparations have to start early, harvests have to be saved, and rationing needs to take place, because much of the year, there isn't very much available to eat, and finding shelter is impossible.
It could also be part of the reason that some immigrants are less able to integrate comfortably into a society, because they could come in too "unstructured" for the common culture. However, someone that comes in "too structured" faces less issues in a low-structure culture, because the structure will allow them to operate, even if they find it stressful to be surrounded by people who are messier than themselves.
In Finland, it is pretty easy to upset someone's frame of mind, all you need to do is change the schedule, be a little late, or a little early, shift the plan. They are a culture of planners and things tend to work, but when the schedule changes, they are a bit like ants with a stick across their walking path. But, there is a cost to be the one to disrupt the path too, as the unstructured person, the flaky person, is seen as unreliable, and can't be fully trusted.
I am now somewhere between, as I am unstructured by nature, but trying to be a more structured planner, as that is more valued, more useful, more trusted, than someone who can't look after even the simplest tasks with order and consistency. Society is set up for structures, whether it be the timetables of school or work, or the monthly bills for electricity and water. But, being too structured kills some creativity also, which means that there has to be a balance somewhere.
For me, I see this as a space for automation to take care of the low-value tasks, but I want control of the high-value activities. It is not about the outcome, it is about the process, because if I do not value the process of what I do, even if the results are good, what kind of experience is it and does it feed my wellbeing? Wellbeing has a cost, no matter which aspect you want to look at.
Wellbeing is never free.
There is always an investment of some kind and depending on which facet of wellbeing we want to look at, it is much like the seasons of nature. Different tasks, different clothes, different energy levels. If we aren't investing ourselves into the right activities in the right way, at the right time, we aren't able to do what is necessary to do in that facet.
The weather changes and doesn't always fit with our plans, but no matter the weather, there is always opportunity to grow, or to prepare to grow, or to rest, as the case may require. There is a saying they use in Finland often.
There is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes.
If we can't change the conditions, we have to change ourselves.
Taraz
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The Finns are right about this. I, too, find anyone who changes plans untrustworthy unless there's a life-threatening emergency. Selfish, irresponsible people harm those around them in the long run. There are those who simply can't even communicate a change of plan, and I can't think of anything to say about them anyway. It's tantamount to a small-scale scam.
The photos look amazing. You're taking more impressive photos every day. Autumn, in particular, offers wonderful poses. Don't miss out :)
The thing is though, it takes all types. Quite often, the unstructured, messy, late people - are also the ones that create the most beauty in the world. The artists and the musicians and the like. We have an interesting dynamic as humans, as our nature can be quite different, but still adds value to the whole.
It is true that the culture of a country is changing by nature. However, we are in the southern hemisphere, that is, our country is a temperate zone. However, here too, sometimes we have to face various difficulties due to nature. Because although our country is currently a temperate country, the seasons are changing here due to climatic conditions, such as sometimes being delayed or advanced. For example, although we are currently in autumn, it is very hot during the day but feels cold at night. Even though we have a distinct season here, it is also getting lost due to the change of seasons. However, the leaves of the trees that are seen in your photography are really extraordinary and these colorful leaves and trees and the surrounding scenery are really extraordinary.
I wonder if the climate changes significantly in a short time, does the culture of people adjust fast enough, or will they feel out of place, even though they are in their home country?
I think our colors here are going to be pretty crappy this year. We had a lot of dry weather through the summer and they are saying the leaves are just going to drop versus changing and then dropping. It'd kind of a bummer.
Not as much red this year and yeah, the leaves dropped faster than normal - though the colours also came a little later than normal. I was inside with my legs up for the best time of it though.
You remind me that I have to research what makes the colours properly! :D
It's chlorophyll or something like that. If I remember right from my school days. I could be totally wrong though. I'm still hoping we get a small color run towards the end of the month here.
This is my perfect compromise to integrate AI into my life. So far I have done very little with AI. No automation, maybe a few AI searches instead of Google searches. Am I the boomer now? Am I turning away from technology? Yikes! I'm becoming my anti-tech parents.
As far as seasonality, your theories about structure make sense. I guess it is time I finally moved forward with those plans to go to Costa Rica. The warmer tropical climate will fit my unstructured lifestyle.
Your parents are probably happier than the young tech-heads. Does that count for something?
You already live in the jungle. :D
Only an urban jungle. No pineapple or mangosteen!
Their generation got retirement!
The ability to adapt is one of man's greatest strength. We can adapt well to almost any uncomfortable situation, no matter how hard. That what helps us to make progress whether in difficult weather or situations. But not all human beings are good at adapting. An adaptor will always see room for growth no matter how harsh the weather conditions or situations.
We are great at adapting, but also great at avoiding these days too. We seem to be able to find a thousand ways to not do the one thing we should do.
The cultural landscape in each region is undoubtedly interesting, as is the way it influences the development of people's personalities and social environments.
What you describe about the Finnish way of life is significant because it contrasts with the characteristics of warmer regions like Australia or Cuba, where I live. Here, we are more active by nature and more adaptable to environmental changes. But I understand how Finns and Nordic people in general have become this way.
I'm glad you've been able to adapt this way, but at the same time, don't lose sight of the importance of being a creative person and staying active from time to time with a change in routine.
I hope you have a happy day!
Big hugs of light!
I have a few Cuban friends here and yeah, they can adapt to a lot of difference - but they still hate the cold! :D But that is what dancing is for :)
I think a lot of us are actually unstructured at the beginning. Constant hammering of societies rules forces us to follow a defined pathway. Am not saying it's always a bad thing, but, like you said - Creativity is the cost
Yeah, I think most of us start off that way, though there does seem to be a personal/ genetic factor too. Some people are just more organised than others, even without training exposure. I like structured people when it comes to the things I need done, but I like unstructured people when it comes to conversations! :D
This is very true an fact of life, different environments shape how people plan, adapt, and it shapes their energy focus focus. The metaphor of weather and preparedness is really powerful. You might call it a theory but I do see the practicality in this, a good theory if you ask me
I think it is pretty practical at least. I am not sure if there are studies on it, but I reckon that culture is formed heavily by our environment.
I totally agree that seasonal changed can really affect our well-being! It is interesting to see how our surroundings impact our everyday lives and mental health. For instance, nowadays I feel tired as we have been going through autumn.
An interesting thing from Finland is that suicides normally happen in Spring. Apparently, people accept the sadness through autumn and winter as the "weather" but in the spring the sun comes out, and they are still sad.
Here we only have summer-winter in Ecuador, but it's not that different, so even with summer clothes you will live through the winter, of course wet and cold but it won't kill you :b we can wear the same clothes all year round, changing clothes, tastes, adaptations for each season must be tiring to do it every year I imagine.
It is similar in tropical Australia with "wet/ dry season. The wet is hotter and humid, the dry is still warm and sunny. Not a bad place to be homeless in comparison to Finland. At least in the tropics there are fruit trees and oysters! :D
Yes, cultures can affect the way people live their lives. Here in Africa we usually attach cultural and traditional practices to seasons so we could get the best moments out of it. You talked about people being too cultured, here we don't usually keep to time, we get started mostly we get the right amount of people to do the work. Different cultures, different beliefs I guess so.
Not keeping to time is fin in environments where it isn't necessary, but in some places/occupations, it is required. It makes it a challenge for everyone involved in those cases!
The leaves of the trees seen in your photograph are truly extraordinary; the photos look incredible.