Turmeric Root and #HyggeLife

Yes! There’s a word out there for something I’ve always known exists but couldn’t put a word to. Actually, it’s a movement, and it’s growing.

The Danish ‘hygge’ (pronounce it ‘HEW-guh’) is all about that awesome Scandinavian, Copenhagen coziness that the Danes do so well. Go to Instagram and check out the hashtag ‘#hygge’ to see what I’m talking about right now, because there’s no literal translation from Danish to English, and I have a hard time explaining precisely what this thing is. Or check it out on YouTube, or just Google it.

I came across the word ‘hygge’ last weekend. Hygge is about warmth, closeness, coziness, honesty, friends, books, tea, fireplaces, lighting, discussion, and simple beauty and comfort not attached to consumption. Winter is its most popular platform, but it’s principles apply all year long.

Denmark is a cold-weather country with more hours of dark than light, and I don’t see myself ever living there. But the Danish philosophy of life has always attracted me. Danes live simply, give generously, tip well, ride bikes, walk a lot, tell the truth, and read and discuss. Honesty is important. Trust is a full-grown oak tree, not a 5-inch sapling.

They enjoy universal health care, free university, generous and guaranteed social security, compassionate eldercare, and other democratic rights that those of us in the U.S. can only dream about. The Danish government is in the business of promoting and protecting its people, not exploiting and robbing them. The main purpose of education is creativity, not creating the next generation of laborers. As a result, Danes choose work that corresponds to the persons they actually are.

Denmark consistently ranks number one in the annual U.N. World Happiness Report. Why? Danes are not driven by consumerism. Or ideology. They pay steep income taxes but trust that their money is working to benefit the country's welfare system (the word 'welfare' doesn't have the bad connotations in Denmark that it has in the U.S.). They are participants in their government. Most live in small apartments that are simply and comfortably furnished. They bike to work. Public transportation is widely used. Families come together for dinner each night. The elderly are not farmed away in wretched nursing homes. Animals are treated with respect.

Insanely cozy coffee shops, where people go to fellowship and discuss things, abound. A common thing in Denmark is the combination cozy coffee shop/laundromat. What? Yes, it sounds like an uncommon pairing, but it allows people to do the dull task of laundry while warming up over a mug of latte or a light brunch, or some cake (Danes love their sugar, but they’re quite healthy) in a warm, softly lit, welcoming environment. American laundromats, in contrast, are grim, cold, brightly lit, unpleasant places.

Winter in Denmark is long and dark. But the people there have adapted brilliantly. Hygge is so appealing to the rest of the world, that it’s become an actual thing. I’m drawn to it. Of course, I’ve told my husband that we’re going to Denmark to get some hygge as soon as possible.

Closer to home, I have to say I’m disappointed with my favorite health food store right now. It’s been my source for fresh turmeric root for a long time, with prices ranging from $19.99 to $23.99 a pound. But I’ve been seeing it cheaper elsewhere, and finally, last weekend, found it at Whole Foods for $7.99 a pound for some really fresh, fat, orange rhizomes.

So, I took a photo. This weekend, I’ll be on the shoreline and will stop by the health food store and ask them about the discrepancy. It’s disheartening when organic health food providers use people’s interest in whole, wholesome foods to take an unfair bite of their money. I get it: let the buyer beware. But please people, we’re all in this together, trying to feed ourselves and our families nourishing, cruelty-free food. It shouldn’t break anyone’s bank to get it. That's not the spirit of this movement.

Barbie xo