Traveling Teacher: A Little Bit of Hygge

This past year, I had the pleasure of visiting Copenhagen for the first time.  It is  a quiet, yet vibrant city with so many things to experience.  One of the things that I noticed that was utmost importance was shared communal spaces.  There is no piped music in stores.  The airport is QUIET and everyone speaks in hushed tones.  There is a general respect for self and others while in public spaces.  

Before traveling to Denmark, I had heard of a term that captures this mentality called Hygge.  It's about finding coziness and contentment in your everyday life.  The Danish people truly live up to this ideal by setting the stage for internal and external happiness. 

One thing that captured my attention a couple years ago was this book by Meik Wiking, the director of the Happiness Institute.  Their entire mission to study and explore the causes and effects of happiness on humanity. 

As I read this little book of Hygge, I discovered several factors that I began to implement into my own life.  Here are my highlights.

• Most of the year is dark. There are only two months of light, so the Danish people have found ways to keep their spirits bright in the darkness.
• Lighting is important.  Even a university student will have proper ambient lighting in their home to create a mood of comfort and a sense of bonding with others.
• Candles are used everywhere.  The country uses the most candlewax per person in the world, including single men.  Most of the candles are unscented, because the focus is on cozines.
• Eat cake everyday.  There is no shame in indulging in sweets, because most people ride a bike to work.  With plenty of physical exercise, there is always room for a little dessert. 
• Textiles make the space.  All homes are decorated with comfortable and useable textiles that feel luxurious and cozy.  No cheap sets allowed from TKMaxx.

At the end of the day, it's about investing in yourself and your loved ones, so even during the dark times, there is a spark of light. 

After reading the book, I found a Ted talk of Meik Wiking about the Dark Side of Happiness, which made me pause an reflect on social pressures to be happy.  True happiness come from within and a little bit of Hygge just might help to make that happen. 

Any want to share a piece of cake with me?