Tiffany Painter

In case you are living under a rock, it’s cold outside. Very, very, very cold. There is no point in discussing the outside weather. Even a baby can figure that out. Since we are all inside this weekend, unless you are like my husband and out skiing because fresh powder is calling, let’s discuss how warm it is inside. For me, happiness can be found inside on these frigid days. Fireplace turned on (yes, I make fire with a switch), extra cups of warm tea (coffee if you prefer), stacks of books ready to be read (the kindle is charged, too), and a few shows ready to be watched (or those movies being nominated for everything that you haven’t seen yet). The Danish have a word for just this kind of weekend: hygge (hoo-gah). Since they spend most of their winters living with these frigid temperatures, the Danish had to create a way to be happy. Hygge basically means getting cozy and enjoying the good things in life. Mark Wiking even wrote “The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well” and shared the ten principles of the hygge manifesto: atmosphere, presence, pleasure, equality, gratitude, harmony, comfort, truce, togetherness, and shelter. Since the Danish are often ranked as the happiest people in the world, I think I will be enjoying some hygge this weekend.

1/7

starting from my chair
with cup of tea and new book
perfect adventure

1/8

hiding from the cold
perfect place to curl up
chair fit for a king

1/9

I know it’s cold out
and too dark to play ball
ready with plan B

1/10

place for lost things found
hidden treasures brought back home
just waiting to play

1/11

blustery outside
created tranquility
content in my space

1/13

dancing in the cold
wind blown hair leading the way
laughing with my friends