Schopenhauer on the happiest beach in Finland

On one of the hottest days of summer I found myself amidst the dunes of Yyteri. There is no better place to make observations about human nature than the beach. I felt repulsed when the eternity of the sea stared at me with its salty eyes and I noticed that I was the only one trying to avoid its guilty stare. People at the beach – young and old, families and lovers, laughing children – were fools trying to enjoy their lives. Laughter, water sports, ice cream and cold beer.

The repulsion I felt was overwhelming when I was forced to witness this saddest form of escapism – people pretending that there is joy in their lives. Those fools will face existential crises with weepy eyes between the clean sheets of local accommodation services. Even the sunniest day is followed by a dark night.

Except in the summer time. Surf like there’s no tomorrow, play some golf as if your life is always at the last hole, and try to hang on from the ropes of the local climbing park like they’re the last threads connecting you to life. All joy eventually ends, and what remains is the human shame.

A. SCHOPENHAUER (1788–1860)
GERMAN PESSIMIST & PHILOSOPHER

PHILOSOPHER’S BEACH CHALLENGES

• Try to look grumpy while surfing.
• OTake a picture of a happy dog running on the beach.
• Find some activity from Yyteri that makes you smile.
• Take a selfie with your loved one.
• Think about life and get depressed.
• Forget about the previous task and try golf. Take a selfie.