"Many walk around with faces like the Lewis Chessmen—ancient, unmoving, locked in a sort of permanent despair."
I woke this morning with the feeling that the Vikings had just raided. The latest study shows that Britain is at the bottom of the class when it comes to joy—and the world’s press, from the Arab world to India and the West, seem to gloat in our misery.
But did we really need a study to tell us what we already feel? Thick gloom hangs over the land. Many walk around with faces like the Lewis Chessmen—ancient, unmoving, locked in a sort of permanent despair.
So how do we console ourselves?
Here’s my answer: grab your backpack and head for something exciting—like a long walk. Try the West Highland Way or the Pennine Way or follow any trail near you. Meet the world out on the footpaths and rediscover the joy that’s quietly waiting in nature. It’s not about money or status. It’s about connection.
Look at the Philippines and Indonesia—both top of the global joy charts. Having travelled to the Philippines, I can tell you what their secret is: social connection and spirituality. But I tell you, the gloom will only deepen if we stay in that cycle of social media and the cyber hive. It’s time for a radical shift. Go out there and see why many from around the world visit our nature.
Step outside. Breathe. Talk to a stranger. Meet the many tourists who come to our shores to experience our landscapes. We have something special here.
But there’s something even deeper behind the joy factor: spirituality. Many of the happiest countries in the study are places where belief and hope still live at the heart of the culture. There’s a quiet revival happening—especially among the young. More and more are returning to churches, particularly young men. Figures like Jordan Peterson and various online thinkers are sparking something—a light in the gloom.
If you've never opened a Bible, why not give it a try? Start with the Gospel of Matthew. You might be surprised by how much it speaks into our modern fog.
In the end, joy isn’t something the world hands you. It’s something you choose to seek. Sometimes, it begins with lacing up your boots, turning off your phone, and walking out into something bigger than yourself.