Finland the happiest country for the seventh year running.
Yet some argue that the real reason is that the Finns sweat out their negative thoughts. Finland has roughly 3.5m saunas, more than one per two Finns.
I enjoy sauna and it is notable that it is extremely meditative, which we know has benefits, and notably you phones and mobile devices don’t even work in them. Coincidence or part of the benefit? 🤔
Tammy and I saw The Ballad of Wallis Island tonight at Edina 4. The movie was delightful. Tim Key was particularly good in a very restrained way. Great story.
“Blogging is small-p political again, today. It’s come back round. It’s a statement to put your words in a place where they are not subject to someone else’s algorithm telling you what success looks like; when you blog, your words are not a vote for the values of someone else’s platform.” — Matt Webb, Interview for People and Blogs, as quoted by Simon Willison.
Florence with Barry Hess
One of the ways that a blog can be a gift is to give others the option to go on journeys with you to locations far away. In 2023 our family took a trip to Switzerland & Italy, and we spent four wonderful days in Florence (day 14, 15, 16, and 17). It was a great (if not hot!) time.
Since we had been there just two years ago it piqued my interest when I saw fellow blogger Barry Hess was going there with his family to visit their daughter that is there for school. And what a gift Barry gave to himself and us with these wonderful daily recaps of their trip. It was fun to remember our own trip, and to see what they explored over a longer stay in Florence.
Here is each of his posts by day with great overviews and photos.
- Florence: Arrivo (Mar 27)
- Florence: Rimpinzati di Cibo (Mar 28)
- Florence: Arti e Musica (Mar 29)
- Florence: Arti II e Calcio (Mar 30)
- Florence: Giornata Libera (Mar 31)
- Florence: Davide, Le Chiese e i Dottori (Apr 1)
- Florence: Sonno e Regalità (Apr 2)
- Florence: A Cortona (Apr 3)
- Cortona: Riposo (Apr 4)
- Cortona: Esplorare (Apr 5)
- Cortona: A Florence (Apr 6)
- Florence: Finale (Apr 7)
Reading along made me want to go back. 🇮🇹
Lake Harriet. 📍
Finished 3.97 mile walk in 79.1 minutes (19.92 min/mile). Such a great evening to be outside. 🚶♂️
Finished 3.97 mile walk in 78.2 minutes (19.7 min/mile). Whole family took a lap around Lake Harriet. Ran into Darin from NorthUp Saunas.🚶♂️
“the loss of the ability to contemplate — which, among other things, leads to the absolutization of vita activa — is also responsible for the hysteria and nervousness of modern society.”
Byung-Chul Han, The Burnout Society