Secretly hoping no one catches me if this is not the correct usage of the word (is it a noun? is it a verb?); yet here I am, so intrigued and so in love — with this word. With hygge.

I’m a self-confessed lover of all sorts of books around the self — self-help, self-improvement, self-discovery — you get the idea. I keep skimming through them, hoping to find new concepts, new explanations, new a-ha! moments (I can imagine you rolling your eyes at me).

Never has there been a year more unkind than the last, 2020. Life to me felt like a sine wave; moments that looked up, moments of sanity and maybe even a semblance of enthusiasm; and moments that were down, with loneliness, uncertainty and anxiety. Yet, all one could do was keep going, and so did I. In these moments, I turned to my safe place — books on self. Well, it is a rocky relationship with this genre — love it or despise it. So, I went through old books, bought new ones, borrowed some more; looking for that spark of inspiration, that part that would give me a sense of comfort and help me make peace with the world around me. Nothing got me too excited, until I chanced upon the concept of hygge, in a book gifted to me, written by Meik Wiking (The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living). You may scoff at the title, maybe even find it gimmicky; afterall, doesn’t every book promise to show us the path to that elusive happiness we seek?

Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) is a Danish concept, more so a feeling, often associated with warmth, coziness, being present in the moment (also, digitally disconnected), among others. It can arise from soft lighting, rich or sweet food, coffee, intimate gatherings, cozy comfortable seating etc. (yep, very close to that warm fuzzy feeling). I was particularly amazed by the fact that Danes are the happiest people in the world; despite spending most of their day, and their year, without sunlight — which is usually considered a key component to happiness. When we think happiness, we tend to think of sunny afternoons, beaches, mojitos, picnics, long drives — all associated with the day time. No wonder, candles are the favourite part of hygge for Danes. Another interesting thing to note is that all of these feelings and moments arise from being at home.

So, hygge reminded me of the joys of my own space! Maybe it was the year that seemed so dark, maybe we got so little sunlight being stuck inside our homes, or maybe it was just the feeling of hopelessness hanging in the air — that I became so drawn to it. To me, hygge felt like a celebration of solitary moments, or spending quality time with a close few, or becoming used to smaller gatherings at home and appreciating them. I started looking for hygge everywhere — the warmth and aroma from my morning cup of coffee, a cozy corner with lots of cushions and books, time spent on a deep meaningful conversation with a friend, or just enjoying good food. Moments of slowing down, reflecting and journaling also became hygge. Home has become a sanctuary, but it needn’t be a place of gloom. I became grateful for my own place, my home — I filled it with lamps, cushions, lots of coffee, plants, prints of my favourite photographs, my keepsakes — and it feels very warm.

I went ahead and shared this, hoping hygge touches someone somewhere, and becomes a source of happiness.

Be kind, 2021 :)