Photo taken in Haukilahti, Finland
Common Vices
One of the most surprising things I discovered after moving to Europe was the tradition of picking mushrooms in the forest. In Prague, many Czechs fondly shared childhood memories of mushroom season with their families.
It sounded incredibly sentimental. They would plan everything in advance for the perfect weekend—when the soil was still moist in the autumn—for the annual mushroom hunt.
I listened curiously, fascinated by their stories about identifying edible versus poisonous mushrooms and how their moms would turn them into omelets or soups. Some Czechs found my interest amusing, unsure why a foreigner would find it so novel.
One of them eventually asked if we did the same in my home country. I replied no, at least not from what I knew. Where I grew up in California, mushroom foraging wasn’t something people typically did.
What drew me in was how this tradition reminded me of our ancestors—millions of hunter-gatherers who lived vastly different lives, often under harsh conditions. These early foragers were the original adventurers, shaping their daily lives out of necessity.
Their pursuit of freedom and self-sufficiency was literally a matter of survival. They moved constantly, thoughtfully shaping every habit and strategy.
They adapted to whatever freedom and safety they could find, despite the daily fear and risk. Compared to modern living, it almost feels unimaginable.
I often wondered what someone with such grit would think of how many of us live today. At that time in my own life, I wasn’t exactly thriving.
Instead, I regularly indulged in junk food, smoked often, ordered too much takeout, and drank wine nearly every evening. Laziness and distraction had become routine vices.
I underestimated how much these habits impacted me, leading to lower energy, poor health, and eventually, a period of depression—rooted mainly in my failure to prioritize my well-being.
The Foragers
For millions of years before agriculture, foragers lived in constant motion—searching for food and shelter across vast terrain.
They were physically active and ate a varied, nutrient-rich diet as they trekked long distances. Their survival depended on the success of each day’s efforts.
They also needed to stay highly alert—any moment could bring danger from predators. Thankfully, our world has changed dramatically.
Today, we enjoy an abundance of food and modern conveniences. We don’t have to walk for miles—cars, trains, and planes take us wherever we want.
And with the click of a button, we can have food, clothes, and anything else delivered to our doorstep. Yet, despite these comforts, it’s worth asking: what ancient skills have we lost?
In Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Yuval Noah Harari writes:
“Foragers mastered not only the surrounding world of animals, plants and objects, but also the internal world of their own bodies and senses. They listened to the slightest movement in the grass to the foliage of trees in order to discover fruits, beehives and bird nests. They moved with minimum effort and noise, and knew how to sit, walk and run in the most agile and efficient manner. Varied and constant use of their bodies made them as fit as marathon runners. They had the physical dexterity that people today are unable to achieve even after years of practicing yoga or tai chi.”
The Finnish Approach
Naturally, some old ways fade over time. With so much change, not everything can—or should—be preserved. But to my surprise, I found that some traditions are alive and well.
After moving to Finland, I noticed how deeply rooted many customs are in nature and health. Simplicity and function guide many daily practices here.
You might sweat in a wooden smoke sauna, whipping yourself with birch branches to stimulate circulation. Or plunge into icy lakes for a dose of cold therapy.
Maybe you’ll walk through forests for mental clarity or eat antioxidant-rich berries to reduce stress. These aren’t just wellness fads—they’re time-tested practices with real benefits.
They promote muscle relaxation, improve blood pressure, relieve fatigue, and boost energy. These traditions reflect how a culture can retain valuable practices that support long-term health.
The Value of Sisu
A deeply valued concept in Finland is sisu. From what I’ve learned, sisu represents inner strength, courage, perseverance, and the will to push through adversity.
It’s a mindset used in every aspect of life—from sports and outdoor challenges to everyday struggles. It’s almost like a personal mantra to summon strength when you need it most.
It is a personality trait that you can practice in sports, in performance, in dealing with the weather, and in anything that you must go through in life. Based on what I have learned so far, it almost seems like a mantra you would say to yourself when in need of a boost of empowerment and self-confidence.
It’s easy to see sisu in action when Finns embrace physical challenges—cycling, skiing, or jumping into icy lakes. It’s not about showing off—it’s about building resilience.
In Finding Sisu, journalist Katja Pantzar writes:
“It’s a courageous mindset that embraces challenges, both small and big; it’s the ability to act in the face of adversity; it’s an approach to life that is open to trying new things, experiences, and going beyond what we think our limits might be – whether physical, mental, or emotional; it’s also about looking for practical solutions and ways to move forward, to build up fortitude and resilience.”
The Ice Man
One insight that shocked me recently is the idea that many people no longer breathe properly. Health experts and meditation coaches say we’ve lost touch with this basic function.
Given how far we’ve drifted from nature, maybe it’s not surprising that we’ve lost ancient wellness skills. But breathing?
It seems impossible that we could forget something so vital. Yet many breathwork specialists say otherwise.
One such expert is Wim Hof—“The Iceman”—who’s known for record-breaking feats like swimming in ice, running barefoot in snow, and full-body ice immersion.
In his book The Wim Hof Method: Activate Your Full Human Potential, he shares how breathing, cold exposure, and mindfulness can unlock hidden strengths. His app offers breathing exercises, tutorials, and tools to reconnect with our physical capabilities. In his book, he writes:
“It starts with the breath and controlling the life-force through breathing. Without the breath, we are nothing, but by controlling it, we are able to access the neurology of our consciousness, our perception.”
Choosing Life Itself
Looking back at the history of our ancestors and the evolution of our civilization, it’s hard not to feel perplexed by all the contradictions that come with our progress as a species. It’s worth asking how much our drive for advancement and innovation has truly supported our well-being.
With more choices to make each day, it becomes harder to know which ones truly serve our personal needs. Do we go for a walk or binge another show?
Should we pick up a new book or keep scrolling on our phones? Should we explore nature or go shopping again?
Sometimes, the sheer number of options can overwhelm us. And when we feel paralyzed by indecision, we may choose nothing at all. That’s exactly where I found myself years ago.
It’s difficult to admit, but I was trapped in my own mind—full of anxiety, fear, and despair. I couldn’t see past my struggles. I refused to fight the self-loathing that consumed me. Most days, I cried. I turned to anything that could numb the pain. I spent countless hours lying on the bathroom floor, feeling hopeless.
If someone had told me then that I’d one day be walking through Nordic forests, practicing cold water therapy, doing deep-breathing exercises, and enjoying Finnish saunas, I wouldn’t have believed them. Back then, I had lost all regard for my mental, emotional, and physical health.
That is until an integral part of me woke me up to reality and to the one choice we always knew how to make. No matter the climate, no matter the region, no matter the grueling conditions we must face, we always knew what any act of turning things around ultimately requires.
We knew how to see beyond a temporary moment and all of its possibilities; to know that with every tormenting tension lies the opportunity for real redemption – if and only when we find the strength to get back up, and with all of the courage the world can give, to choose ourselves and life itself.
