What Hygge Means to Me: Fighting Winter Blues

“Hygge is definitely important in fighting the winter blues. Candlelight is such an integral part. The winters can be long and dark so to fight that we use hygge and millions and millions of candles that go with that atmosphere. It helps to brighten things up and make the most of those dark nights,” says Lind Gustavussen in
Hygge: How the Cosy Danish Concept Could Help You Beat the Winter Blues

Is winter difficult for you?

It has been for me for most of my adult life. And after decades of it, I got so used to it that I kind of gave up on trying to avoid or lessen it. Instead, I'd just dread it every year and hope somehow it wouldn't be as bad as it was the year before.

But I remember trying things in the past that worked. Maybe not well enough at the time, but I could tell that they made a difference.

And when I began to read about Hygge, it reminded me of every thing I had ever tried. And it validated my tea-drinking, homebody, bookworm ways. It said, "right on!" to cozying up to a good book or a good movie while drinking a big steaming mug of tea.

But the best news was it's validation of all those things I tried here and there but never all at once. I polled a bunch of friends on Facebook and realized that all their suggestions were things that the Danish do to survive winter.

They have gone beyond that, though. Their practice of hygge has become a part of who they are, of how they live day in and out, and it makes them who they are not just individually but as a community. And they are the happiest people on earth.

They don't just give up as sunshine seems to go underground. They give themselves everything they need to be happy, anyway. And it works!!!

Isn't that both inspiring & encouraging?

And now, having read everything I could get my hands on, I am going all the way in with this. As I begin to try it, I feel it working already. I can't tell you how much hope that brings.

Which makes me want to pass on everything I can to you. Because if you also suffer during the winter, then I know what that's like. The way you lose yourself just a surely as we lose the sun.

How nothing feels quite right. How there's just not enough sun.

But join me here so you can use hygge to kick some winter butt! You with me?

Stay tuned!! I'm in the middle of a blogging challenge this month but next month will be dedicated to defeating winter blues.

Love, Jeanine