Embracing Hygge-Part I

I can officially say that my new home (since last week, actually) is the lovely Scandinavian city of Copenhagen. Capital to Denmark, the city sits on the coastal islands of Zealand and Amager.

Aside from the ultra-brief geography lesson you just read above, this is what I have discovered and learnt so far:

If you read my last blog post, you know that my grandpa passed two weeks ago. Truth be told, haven’t felt completely like me since then.

Reading has always been a form of sadness management for me. It is quite odd, but I have come to realize that I tend to read way more when I am sad. I guess it could be described as a form of escape, but to me it’s more a form of comfort, more like medicine, than anything else.

In my search for comfort, for the past 2 weeks I have been reading a lot about Hygge (huːɡə/ HOO-gə). If you search the word in Wikipedia, it reads, Danish word for a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment.

I instantly loved the concept, what’s not to love about it? (I cannot pronounce it, but I love it) It speaks about well-being, comfort, joy and togetherness. Some sources even speculate that the word comes from “hug”. The concept of hygge involves not only feelings but everyday elements that help evoke those feelings.

I am no expert and don’t expect to be, but in the spirit of hygge I have been trying to focus in my well-being. Right now, to me “well-being” means finding my routine in the new city and in my writing.

I will be experimenting with some routines this week and sharing about them.

Hope you read Part II,

M.

If you are interested in the Hygge theory, this book is lovely: The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking.

If you are interested in a hyggy-novel, this story is charming and a fast, cozy-fall read: The Little Café in Copenhagen by Julie Caplin.