As the holidays are approaching I've been thinking about the past year... and some of the past years of my life during the holiday season. This time of year has always been one of my favorite times of the year because I love the decorations, and music and the special food and treats... but mostly because most people (at least the people I know) try a little harder to be kind and embrace the spirit of the holidays of giving and sharing and hospitality and celebrating.
I've spent the majority of my winter holidays in Hawaii but I've also spent some lovely times skiing in December and January and those experiences are what introduced the coziness of time with friends in front of a crackling fire, drinking wine, talking and laughing and what I have come to love about winter is the tactile and emotional sense of being cozy and warm.
There is a special word in Denmark ... Hygee is the idea that helps Denmark regularly rate as one of the happiest countries in the world --- Danes have regularly been some of the most joyful in the world for over 40 years that the U.S. has been studying them — despite long, dark winters. Loosely translated at "togetherness," and "coziness," though it's not a physical state, it's a mental one. According to VisitDenmark (the country's official tourism site): "The warm glow of candlelight is hygge. Friends and family... that’s hygge too. And let’s not forget the eating and drinking... preferably sitting around the table for hours on end discussing the big and small things in life." Hygge's high season is winter, and Christmas lights, candles galore, and other manifestations of warmth and light, including warm alcoholic beverages, are key to the concept. (One of my favorites is a cup of Keoke Coffee) it's also a good substitute for dessert following a heavy meal...
You need freshly brewed coffee, a shot of brandy, a shot of Kahlua and top with coffee in a tall cup or glass and top with whipped cream... I dirzzle little Grand Marnier on top.
Still a little confused and wondering how you could cultivate hygge in your life? Hygge is a deep sense of cozy that can originate from many different sources. Here is a good example: a cloudy winter weekend morning at a ski resort, a low fire burning and several candles lit to dispel the gloom. family and friends around the table wearing warm snuggly clothing and hands clasped around mugs of hot chocolate.
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| Skiing Waiters |
A full day ahead of skiing back for a hot lunch, reading, music, more snuggling, etc. This is a very hyggligt day... I think whatever we can do in our day to day lives to make the winter warmer and brighter would qualify. Gemütlichkeit is a German word that means almost the same thing as hygge... A soft chair in a coffee shop might be considered ‘cozy’. But sit in that chair surrounded by close friends and a hot cup of coffee, while soft music plays in the background, and that sort of scene is what you’d call gemütlich. No matter what you want to call it... do whatever you can to make your life brighter and more cozy not just during the holidays but all year long.
This time of year I think it's important to think about all the things and people we have in our life that we are thankful for. I read something recently that if we have a roof over our heads and have food to eat then we have much more than some and should be thankful and grateful... I know I am.
If we have all of this and we have our health and love in our life... well then we have won the lottery!... Wherever the world takes us it's always nice to go back to a place where we are remembered and loved and revered... if such a place no longer exists for you make that place your home for yourself and others.
See you next week... Start planning a wonderful holiday season.
