A Finn Knows

What is "Sisu"?
Sisu is a unique Finnish concept. It stands for the philosophy that what must be done will be done, regardless of what it takes. Sisu is a special strength and persistent determination and resolve to continue and overcome in the moment of adversity…an almost magical quality, a combination of stamina, perseverance, courage, and determination held in reserve for hard times.

In the past Finns were obliged to struggle against nature and against foreign intruders. Despite all of the drawbacks along the way, the struggle gave a lot of strength. The early settlers found inspiration in the Finnish landscape, sky and in mythological heroes who taught them that it was possible to overcome obstacles. In more recent times the same sources have been the basic source of inspiration for athletes, artists, designers and architects who have made Finland known to the world.

When she was alive, my mother reminded me of sisu with pride and regularity. As a kid, I learned early on that to go on an impromtu picnic with my parents took a fair amount of sisu. They would go at the drop of a hat, at the change of the weather, at a need for another look at thier Earth; and with an artist father one looked at the Earth a lot.

But back to sisu and thier idea of a picnic; they would slice some homemade flat bread, pack a tin of sardines, fill the thermos with coffee and off we went to some place or other to look at the Earth. Not liking sardines a whole lot was where the sisu came in for me. Everything else about it was "a picnic." I do eat a sardine occasionally and it always reminds me of a windswept Dakota prairie picnic.