Recently my friend Erik shared some Finnish wisdom: Onnelisuus on se paikka puuttuvaisuuden ja yltäkylläisyyden välillä.
What’s that, your Finno-Ugric language skills aren’t what they used to be? Roughly translated, that amazing string of chewy consonants and voluptuous vowels states: Happiness is a place between too little and too much.
What a beautiful thought. And even though we’re just three days into 2012, I do believe it’s an insight I will carry with me throughout the year and onward. Slow down. Life is not a race; the winner does not have the most toys. A bucket list is an empty pursuit if substituted for daily engagement. And while I don’t wish to be to preachy (oops, too late), I do think it does my soul good to recognize and honor what is good in my life before parceling out complaints about what is not. So may I embrace 2012 and my place between too little and too much, and always recognize that on a planet with many lives, wants, loves and losses, I am a fortunate man. Happy New Year friends.
What I was blogging about a year ago…Resolution One: Err on the Side of Kindness.
What a lovely sentiment. I’ll try to keep that in mind throughout 2012.
may your path through 2012 take you nearer to
the “too much” end of the spectrum. I think you may have had too much of too little the past couple of years
Oh Brion, that made me laugh. Thanks for the good thoughts.
Too little of spending time with you dear friend…let’s move more toward the too much this year! xo
Beautiful!
Frustrated with myself for not ordering Spanish Bluebell Bulbs a month ago. Broke my foot and forgot til now. Now I have to wait til next fall. Ugh. I so love those in your pic!! Happy New Year!!
Tom, you are an incredible writer !! Your words are always inspiring and poetic and hilarious ! So glad Tall Clver Farm found me over on the other side of the country … THANKS !
So very true…and something we would all do well to learn. “Things” will never make you happy in the long run. Happy New Year to you, Tom…I hope you have a good one 🙂
…a truly wonderful sentiment & philosophy, Tom. Thanks for reminding us that it’s often the journey not the final destination. Thanks for sharing & inspiring. Happy New Year.
I agree – a wonderful sentiment. Happy New Year to you as well! Glad I stumbled across your blog last year. 🙂 And looking forward to the upcoming year in the blogosphere!
So right about a bucket list. We are so lucky to live without the added pressure of completing a list of ‘must sees’. Did that in my real job. Not doin’ it now! Live in the present is another way of saying that jumble of consonants and vowels.
So true Tom! Words spoken with the utmost grace!
A perfect sentiment. If you don’t mind, I will steal it and use it as my resolution this year.
Totally agree with this sentiment. It reminds me of that statement, “I wish you enough.”
Shirley
Just found your blog while searching some ideas to make a branch fence here up north with the ground solid frozen.
We moved to the Yukon almost a year ago.
Beautiful land !
But I do enjoy all your pictures of your lush garden etc…..after all I am Dutch