I only know Iceland from 2 visits and what I read on RUV (being native German). I love the Icelandic forward looking spirit. And yes, this is something I miss most here in Germany. German "Angst" is still a reality, people think of what can go wrong...really sad, I think, you miss all your opportunities.
having lived both in Iceland and Germany (in Iceland unfortunately only very briefly), I can't agree more with this post. In Germany, people are always dubious about a plan and start by thinking of 10 reasons why it won't work. The weather might be bad, there will be traffic...by the time you set out, you feel negative about it already. Germans think of this habit as "being well prepared," and don't seem to see that it comes across as negative or burdensome to others. Also, if anything goes wrong, it is your fault for not being well prepared.
Icelanders, on the other hand: always up for an adventure, spontaneous, wanting to try something new. This brings energy and optimism to new projects, which often then succeed because of this energy and optimism. The only problem is, the energy can be short lived, and if you are away for a bit, by the time you come back, everyone is already doing a different project. It is really hard to Icelanders to keep their attention focused on a single project to completion, because there are so many exciting other things to do. It is like an entire nation of people with ADHD ;)
That “just go for it”spirit is something that I feel I innately. I see it in my family and remember it in my community as a child. I call it the “just say yes muscle”. We are always making connections between people and opportunities. I find myself always interested in why I have the internal drive to say “yes” or how I immediately jump to “how” when I contrast against people in my workplace that start with “no”. My takeaway from your post that my tendency comes from growing up Icelandic in Manitoba.
I relate so much with this "just going for it" energy; it's something I noticed right away after moving to Iceland and one of the things I love about being here. Thanks for reminding me! I didn't know that I could use kæruleysi to describe this - I will now though. Google translates it as "recklessness" - which as you noted can happen :D
It was the landscape that first caught me, but I am sure I have caught the scent of kæruleysi. I think it is this feeling of opportunity that keeps me going back to Iceland. Things feel possible there that I just cant allow myself to dream of in other places. Some might call it magic.
Seems like kæruleysi would be semantically closer to carefree than careless. But carefree to me connotes just hanging loose, hitching across the country for the hell of it (or if it's Iceland, maybe hitching around the country), unencumbered by plans and projects. So that's different too.
I only know Iceland from 2 visits and what I read on RUV (being native German). I love the Icelandic forward looking spirit. And yes, this is something I miss most here in Germany. German "Angst" is still a reality, people think of what can go wrong...really sad, I think, you miss all your opportunities.
I love your letter! ❤️
having lived both in Iceland and Germany (in Iceland unfortunately only very briefly), I can't agree more with this post. In Germany, people are always dubious about a plan and start by thinking of 10 reasons why it won't work. The weather might be bad, there will be traffic...by the time you set out, you feel negative about it already. Germans think of this habit as "being well prepared," and don't seem to see that it comes across as negative or burdensome to others. Also, if anything goes wrong, it is your fault for not being well prepared.
Icelanders, on the other hand: always up for an adventure, spontaneous, wanting to try something new. This brings energy and optimism to new projects, which often then succeed because of this energy and optimism. The only problem is, the energy can be short lived, and if you are away for a bit, by the time you come back, everyone is already doing a different project. It is really hard to Icelanders to keep their attention focused on a single project to completion, because there are so many exciting other things to do. It is like an entire nation of people with ADHD ;)
Well said, and spot on!
Kæruleysi seems to pair nicely with þetta reddast.
That “just go for it”spirit is something that I feel I innately. I see it in my family and remember it in my community as a child. I call it the “just say yes muscle”. We are always making connections between people and opportunities. I find myself always interested in why I have the internal drive to say “yes” or how I immediately jump to “how” when I contrast against people in my workplace that start with “no”. My takeaway from your post that my tendency comes from growing up Icelandic in Manitoba.
I relate so much with this "just going for it" energy; it's something I noticed right away after moving to Iceland and one of the things I love about being here. Thanks for reminding me! I didn't know that I could use kæruleysi to describe this - I will now though. Google translates it as "recklessness" - which as you noted can happen :D
It was the landscape that first caught me, but I am sure I have caught the scent of kæruleysi. I think it is this feeling of opportunity that keeps me going back to Iceland. Things feel possible there that I just cant allow myself to dream of in other places. Some might call it magic.
It's an energy that I have never found anywhere else
Seems like kæruleysi would be semantically closer to carefree than careless. But carefree to me connotes just hanging loose, hitching across the country for the hell of it (or if it's Iceland, maybe hitching around the country), unencumbered by plans and projects. So that's different too.
Yes, I agree, that is probably much closer in meaning