Today’s Solutions: January 11, 2025

In the frozen embrace of Luleå, where daylight dwindles to mere hours, plunging into icy seawater becomes a ritual. For Katariina Yliperttula, a dip before work is about more than braving the cold—it’s an invigorating thrill. “It’s like a happiness rush afterwards,” she says, recounting her winter swims, a habit adopted amidst the dark months.

The loneliness freeze

While there are plenty of winter activities such as ice swimming, skiing, or strolling on frozen pathways to sustain many through the frigid season, the problem of loneliness persists. Pontus Wikström, chair of the winter bathing group Kallis Luleå, emphasizes the significance of a simple ‘hi’: “It means people who meet each other, don’t know each other, become a little happier.”

Saying ‘hi’ to happiness

Enter the “Säg hej! (say hello!)” campaign, a beacon of warmth in the city’s cold. This initiative nudges residents towards meaningful social interactions, advocating for a friendlier city through small but impactful gestures. As Åsa Koski from Luleå municipality notes, “Being greeted by strangers makes people feel more seen and a bit more like you belong.”

Chilling stats and warm intentions

Statistics unveil the pervasive nature of loneliness, particularly among the young, prompting awareness in a place acutely conscious of this societal affliction. Micael Dahlen from the Stockholm School of Economics underscores, “Loneliness and isolation are huge problems any time of the year almost anywhere in the world right now.”

Yet, amidst this push for friendliness, the city’s evolution brings both reserve and openness. Mee Young Yim, an American who moved to Luleå over two decades ago, notes that even though people in the city are “mostly friendly,” they don’t appear to be at first. “Everyone’s a bit reserved, but if you ask then people will help you.” 

As the pandemic took hold, an ironic observation emerged: Swedes, known for their reserve, seemed quite prepared for social distancing. Journalist Lisa Bjurwald noted this in a satirical way, citing the Swedes’ predilection for a “remarkably wide so-called interpersonal distance.” This standard, established in daily life—from navigating supermarket aisles to waiting at bus stops—seemed almost like a social script, faithfully obeyed.

The pandemic, of course, exacerbated this social estrangement, reflecting reduced greetings and heightened apprehension. Seyed Mohsen Hashemi, a student, observes the shift: “Before Covid, it was 50-50: some people said hi to each other. But after Covid people have become more scared to have contact with strangers.”

Bridging cultural differences

Hashemi, with roots in the Middle East, navigates cultural variances: “I come from the Middle East and people used to say hi to each other. It’s rude not to say hi to each other. But here if you say hi to strangers they will say: ‘He’s drunk’.”

For individuals like Hashemi, surviving winter involves more than social gestures. Vitamin D, hobbies, and a few white lights installed at home create pockets of warmth. Ronja Melin, an illustrator, highlights the “Säg hej!” campaign’s significance: “You live in your own bubble quite a lot. To notice people is always important.”

In Luleå, where darkness dominates, a simple ‘hello’ becomes a sign of belonging. The ‘Säg hej!’ campaign, like a flicker of light, seeks to thaw the chill of isolation and foster connections. Luleå champions community and human relationships with a simple gesture, a ‘hello’, offering warmth to thaw the winter freeze.

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

White-tailed eagles return to southern England after 240-year hiatus

For centuries, there's been an eagle-shaped hole in the skies over England where the majestic white-tailed eagle once soared. The enormous raptor — its ...

Read More

Study: Drinking the right amount of caffeine may lower diabetes risks

While too much caffeine from coffee may cause unpleasant side effects such as anxiety or insomnia, that doesn’t mean you should cut your caffeine ...

Read More

Transforming migrant rhetoric is key in preventing genocides

The recent outbreak of war in Ukraine has forced many refugees to seek safety in countries throughout Europe. They are one part of a ...

Read More

These microbes could help honey bees thrive

As we like to remind our readers a lot at The Optimist Daily, honeybees are essential for our planet's ecosystem. Humans rely on these ...

Read More