Every year, when Finland is named the happiest country in the world, I smile to myself—not because life here is perfect, but because I understand what that happiness means.
It’s not the kind that sparkles or shouts. It’s not loud or particularly showy. Finnish happiness is quiet. It’s steady. It’s the kind that comes from being able to walk into any forest, pick a handful of wild blueberries, and listen to the silence. We have a right to do that here—it’s called jokamiehen oikeudet, or everyman’s rights. We can swim in any lake, wander any woods. Nature isn’t something to be bought or reserved. It belongs to everyone.
That closeness to nature is one reason people feel well here. But there’s more. There’s a deep respect for time, for privacy, and for enoughness. In Finland, no one expects you to perform or entertain. We can spend hours in comfortable silence, together but quiet, and that’s more than enough.
I live here now, and that spirit shapes everything we create at Mimihali. Our kits are small reminders that joy doesn't need to be fast or complicated. They are a way of inviting you to slow down, to use your hands, to sit with your children or yourself and make something—something you can touch and finish, something that’s yours.
I have a small tattoo on my hand. It says sisu. It’s a Finnish word that doesn’t translate neatly, but it means something like inner strength—grit, perseverance, the kind of courage you need when life gets hard. I got it during a difficult time in my life, when I needed a daily reminder that I could keep going. For many Finns, sisu isn’t something we talk about much, but we all carry it. It’s in how we face long winters. It’s in how we take care of each other. It’s in the quiet doing.
Hobbies are part of everyday life here. People sew, knit, fish, carve, grow things, build saunas. Not because it's trendy or productive, but because making things with your hands is grounding. It keeps you close to what matters.
When we started Mimihali, it was never just about felt or thread. It was about sharing something I’ve known deeply my whole life—this idea that simple things, done slowly and with care, can make you feel whole.
So when people ask why Finland is the happiest country again, I think of all this. The stillness. The wild berries. The quiet companionship. The deep breath before the sauna door closes. The trust. The freedom. The knowing that you already have enough.
That’s what we try to share in our work. A little piece of Finnish peace, stitched into every kit.
Sirpa Cowell
co-founder of mimihali
