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Saturday on the Couch: Enjoying life’s simple pleasures

Mar 04, 2017

It must have been the quarter portion of Danish blood which I have inherited that drew me to this wonderful book. I love and am drawn to most things Danish, the architecture, the art, the films, the furniture, the design and of course, the writing from Danish authors.

When writer Charlotte Abrahams was drawn to all things Hygge, enveloping herself in the warmth of this lifestyle, she was able to write her findings in this delicious little book – and delicious it is with its sumptuous purple cover festooned with tiny birch trees in rose gold, velvet black or copper.

But what is hygge?

Well here goes. Pronounced “hoo gah” the word (or concept) is described by the author: “Though there are many ways to describe hygge, we see it simply as the Danish ritual of enjoying life’s simple pleasures. Friends. Family. Graciousness. Contentment. Good feelings. A warm glow. Certainly, hygge is intrinsic to the Danish lifestyle, but this feeling of well-being, so deeply satisfying and cozy, is something we all experience, each in our own way.”

So hygge, this funny and hard to say word simply means a way of embracing life in a simpler way, finding contentment in gentle pursuits, in enjoying cosy, cocoon-like surroundings. Obviously, with the higher ratio of dark and chillier nights in Denmark, curling up in a warm and quiet sanctuary with those you love is very appealing, but Charlotte Abrahams shares her attempts to bring the hygge philosophy into her own lifestyle. She discusses how go of certain self-imposed tasks, relationships and expectations allowed her to embrace a new sense of serenity and contentment.

However, Hygge is not just a feel good self-help book. Initially, the reader is introduced to the wonderful Danish styles of architecture and furniture design. The pictures are beautifully presented, and one can almost breathe the sense of calm and serenity from the pages. Simple but exquisitely designed chairs that embrace you and allow you to truly rest. Lighting design that is just so perfect in the amount of soft light it produces and therefore creating an atmosphere of quiet and contentment.

I know I loathe bright overhead lights. I feel like a bunny in the headlights and only have soft lamps at home. Then there are the soft slub wool blankets to curl up with. Shelves with simple displays of your household items. The way a table is placed by the window to capture the light. A group of candles placed together on a scrubbed table for maximum impact. It’s so simple, that is it quite complex.

When we move on from the furniture and design, Charlotte Abrahams takes us further into the world view of the Danish people. Although not exempt from the challenges we all face, they display the attitude of hygge in their relationships, focusing on time spent with families and friends as being a priority.letting

After the chapter on hygge by design, there are chapters on hygge in the family and in the community. With a focus on nourishing food, warmth and maintaining relationships, the chapter on hygge living is a revelation of simplicity and contentment.

Hygge for the soul finally takes us deeper into the challenges of celebrating the simple and focusing on the moment. I can almost feel myself breathing more slowly and deeply reading this chapter as the writer challenges us with the often self-imposed regulations and interruptions we allow to happen in our lives. We could all do with a little hygge in our lives, because it nurtures our happiness quotient, and who could not benefit with a little more happiness and contentment in their lives and relationships.

To say I loved this book would be an understatement. I adored this book.

I felt my soul dance with recognition of the state of hygge as I confronted my own busyness and self-imposed disconnection from others. This is a book to be read over and over until it is absorbed into your bloodstream so it can improve the whole fabric of your life.

Yes, Danish design and architecture, movies and books are wonderful, but having an understanding of this funny word which represents a way of life which embraces contentment, simplicity and sharing is one that could be life-changing if we allowed it. What I thought was going to be a book about Danish design is so much more. It’s a handbook for life. Read it, love it, absorb it and buy it for others.