I recently stayed at the cutest airbnb! This log cabin was filled with things of comfort, from cozy blankets and the reassuring glow of twinkle lights to delightful scents and thoughtful blackout windows. Sprinkled around the place were references to Hygge. As I did a little reading, I realized that this Danish word is similar to Kibun! You see, I’ve defined my social legacy as creating good Kibun, comfort for the spirit. Read on to learn about Hygge: The Danes’ take on comfort for the spirit.
Hygge is about intentionally creating a feeling of coziness and wellbeing. And what Jaesin taught me about Kibun is a mindfulness to details that allow everyone who enters our space to feel a deep comfort for the spirit. That’s what he felt living in our spare room, and it’s just what I felt at this little cabin.
How COZY is this?! I loved waking each morning and falling asleep each evening in the comfort and quiet of this special place. As I looked around at all the little touches in the cabin, the word, Hygge, caught my attention.
What is Hygge?
Pronounced “hoo-guh,” The New Yorker defines hygge as “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” I’m loving this! As the daughter of immigrants who bought the good quality furniture and promptly wrapped in plastic, I’ve opted to enjoy and use everything in the house. And sure, I love beautiful clothes, but my closet contains more than one pair of hyggebukser – those pants you’d never be caught dead wearing in public, but live in when you’re at home.
Is Hygge the secret to happiness?
Sure, life brings challenge, disruption, and frustration. No, things don’t always go the way we want, and heart relationships inevitably come with misunderstanding and hurt. But generally, I’m a truly happy person. More than happy… joyful. Why? I think it’s because I live in the cozy and delight in creating a space of comfort for those around me.
Maybe hygge is the thing we should curate and cherish. Perhaps as we intentionally focus on that feeling of contentment, we start to feel more content. And this may be just the thing that we should cling to in life, knowing how it feeds our souls, and those around us. The Danish seem to have figured it out; as Wiking says in his book The Little Book Of Hygge, “What freedom is to Americans. . . hygge is to Danes.”
Perhaps being able to deeply appreciate the small, hygge pleasures in life is exactly the secret to happiness.
For related articles, check out:
- And the people stayed home – written in 2020 right at the beginning of COVID pandemic
- Sizzles & Pops – how when we create a space of open engagement, nurture passion, and encourage innovation, the room lights up!
To book this airbnb in Utah, go find the amazing Pepper and her cabin here!