Hygge

~Alex Beauchamp, of Hygge House, describes "hygge" beautifully... 

Hygge (pronounced hue-guh not hoo-gah) is a Danish word used when acknowledging a feeling or moment, whether alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary as cozy, charming or special. 

Hygge (or to be “hyggeligt”) doesn’t require learning “how to”, adopting it as a lifestyle or buying anything. It’s not a thing and anyone telling you different either doesn’t understand it or is literally trying to sell you something that has nothing to do with the concept. You can’t buy a ‘hygge living room’ and there’s no ‘hygge foods’ to eat. 

Hygge literally only requires a conscious appreciation, a certain slowness, and the ability to not just be present – but recognize and enjoy the present. That’s why so many people distill ‘hygge’ down to being a ‘feeling’ – because if you don’t feel hygge, you probably aren’t using the word right.

My ancestral lineage—on my dad's side—includes Danes, so I find this concept to be connective. I had "hygge" in mind when I transformed my bedroom into a Kare-Lair (as in Karen), even replacing an expired 32-year-old mattress. Indeed, I have created a place to retreat, to be.

It's amazing how a major life event can knock routine out of its orbit. Since Barry's sudden passing on February 8, 2018, I have used projects as a tool of distraction. Projects have included major financial decisions, record changes, thank-you notes, paying off debt, cleaning, purging, reorganizing, and redecorating. I even had my gardener plant Day Lilies and a Malus Loyalty Crab Tree in my front yard.

In many respects, these activities have displaced ordinary pursuits such as Everlovin' Low-Carb, my Facebook Pages, and Instagram. Yet, it has been therapeutic. Navigating grief is an ongoing factor, but my life-flow is beginning to make a comeback. I am thankful for that.

How to pronounce hygge: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSXiH_0HgwI

Feel free to comment below. ⇓