Say Hi to Hygge

I have been so stupidly, deeply, head over heels in love for years with something I couldn’t figure it out what to call and I just found out it’s because there isn’t an English word for it.

It’s called hygge (hue-gah) and it is the Danish word for taking pleasure in the small things that are often overlooked or mundane.

“Some refer to hygge as an “art of creating intimacy” (either with yourself, friends and your home). While there’s no one English word to describe hygge, several can be used interchangeably to describe the idea of hygge such as cosiness, charm, happiness, security, familiarity, comfort, reassurance, kinship, and simpleness” (Beauchamp).

In my own words though, it’s basically acknowledging small moments in your life that are - excuse my language- really f*cking awesome.

“Cool, cool, but… what does that have to do with writing?”

GLAD YOU ASKED.

For me, my favorite form way of experiencing hygge is the reading descriptive language that makes the simplest things sound extraordinarily beautiful.

Practicing hygge has given me so much fulfillment in my life. Its how I view love and manage find the beauty in literally everything- even the unpleasant. I think anything can be written or experienced in a way that turns it from ordinary to extraordinary.

“The word stems from Old Norse, the language of the Vikings, and, according to Marie, hygge was the feeling of finding shelter after a long day of being outside in the freezing cold” (Commons).

We might not be vikings, but Montclair is pretty damn cold so that’s close enough for me.

Honestly, I’m just excited that I finally have a word to describe it so I stop sounding like an utter dingus by babbling, trying to explain something that my language doesn’t acknowledge. If you’re interested in this, take a few minutes to read “Hygge House” because I’m literally obsessed. Stay blessed and SUBSCRIBE!