This year I am finding myself very excited by holiday decorations. It has always been something I enjoyed. Especially since it was a tradition, I did not participate in growing up celebrating Hannukah. While I never felt deprived, Christmas decorations were a perk that came with marriage.
This year, however, I have allowed myself to indulge in some extras. I finally bought two small trees for my foyer, which I have wanted for years. The indulgence is not just about Christmas. It’s about needing and relishing the sense of comfort they bring to my home. I need out with “the pandemic blues” and “in with the winter coziness.”
I was telling my sister about my need this year and she introduced me to the word “hygge.” Hygge is a Danish word used when acknowledging a feeling or moment, whether alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary as cozy, charming or special.
I love the sound of this, so I did a little more reading.
It appears that the Danish created Hygge in order to tolerate the cold, dark days of boredom and sameness. They were seeking ways to celebrate small moments to both acknowledge and break up the humdrum and harsh. They wanted to allow simple rituals to become an art form rather than a drudgery to escape from. Most importantly, they wanted to incorporate hygge into their daily lives in an effortless manner, so it becomes a natural flow rather than a forced, stress-inducing event.
Anyone else think the Danes are on to something we could all use this winter? Especially as we continue to trudge through the pandemic.
The Hygge idea that the simple act of lighting a candle and enjoying a cup of coffee makes a huge difference to our mood and spirit resonates strongly with me. In fact, I am currently burning a sugar cookie candle and sipping my afternoon mug of coffee. My daughter is also hanging LED lights and decorating her room for a cozy feel. While it is gloomy outside, there is an air of contentment inside.
One reason hygge appeals to me is its consistency with the DBT concept of increasing distress tolerance through soothing the senses. DBT recognizes that self soothe skills will not cancel out hardships like the drudgery of a winter pandemic. However, they will soothe our spirit in a way that helps us manage distress. My holiday decorations, particularly when lit in the evening and early morning, create a tranquility for my eyes. My candle and coffee create peace for my senses of smell and taste (as well as providing some much-needed caffeine).
As hygge suggests, none of these tasks requires extra time, or energy. In fact, they are so much a part of many of our lives that we have grown numb to the natural comfort they bring. This is why we need to slow down enough to be fully present in the moment of savoring these simple pleasures. It is the mindfulness of them that converts these acts from “tasks to be done” to hygge.
So, whether it is because I am using my DBT skills, or because I really like saying “hygge,” (pronounced hoo-gah), I plan to indulge heavily in holiday decorations and all else that evokes a sense of coziness and contentment in these dark times.
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