I have been reading The Little Book of Hygge (Danish Secrets to Happy Living) by Meik Wiking. The Danish word hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) translates as a sense of comfort, togetherness, and well-being. Joy is found in simple pleasures. It literally is a little book, 226 pages long, and just 7-1/4” high by 5-3/8” wide.
On page 96 Mr. Wiking says:
“The one thing that every home needs is a hyggekrog, which translates roughly as ‘a nook.’ It is the place in the room where you love to snuggle up in a blanket, with a book and a cup of tea. Mine is by the kitchen window.”
On pages 30 and 31 he states a ten-point Hygge Manifesto:
ATMOSPHERE
Turn down the lights.
PRESENCE
Be here now. Turn off the phones.
PLEASURE
Coffee, chocolate, cookies, cakes, candy. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
GRATITUDE
Take it in. This might be as good as it gets.
HARMONY
It’s not a competition. We already like you. There is no need to brag about your achievements.
COMFORT
Get comfy. Take a break. It’s all about relaxation.
TRUCE
No drama. Let’s discuss politics another day.
TOGETHERNESS
Build relationships and narratives. “Do you remember the time we…?”
SHELTER
This is your tribe. This is a place of peace and security.
Starting on page 156 he describes a hygge safari through Copenhagen. One stop is for smørrebrød (open sandwiches), usually served with beer and schnapps.
You can watch a 17-minute TedX INSEAD Singapore talk by Malene Rydahl on Planting Seeds of Happiness the Danish Way. Meek Wiking has a 19-1/2 minute TedX Copenhagen talk on The Dark Side of Happiness.
The 1910 image shows physicist Niels Bohr and his fiancé.
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