Cats and Hygge

As we said farewell to 2016 and now look ahead at the possibilities for this year, we began to ponder the question…with the chaotic and hectic schedules that so many of us struggle with, how can we reignite a sense of comfort and enjoyment into our lives?  So we stayed up all night long thinking and waiting for the sun to rise and then it dawned on us!  >^..^<

The Danish figured it out ages ago, so why not take a cue from them.

There’s a word in Danish called Hygge (pronounced hue-gah) which is best described as a feeling or mood that comes from taking genuine pleasure in making ordinary, every day moments more meaningful, beautiful or special. Hygge is not easy to translate, but the Danish to English dictionary describes it as “cosiness, comfortable, cheerful atmosphere, a pleasant time“.

Hygge is so much more and always involves creating a nice, warm atmosphere and is about enjoying the good things in life with friends and family around you.  And how could a true Hygge lifestyle be complete without our beloved feline friends!

In fact, we think that cats invented Hygge!

Whether it’s playing with your kitty, making coffee and then lingering over a cup to a cozy evening in with friends, or the simple act of lighting a candle with every meal. Hygge is about being present and appreciating life’s good moments.

[clickToTweet tweet=”What do cats and a Hygge lifestyle have in common?” quote=”What do cats and a Hygge lifestyle have in common?”]

By creating simple rituals without effort {such as brewing real tea with a little china cup every evening to stopping at the flower shop every week} the Danes see both the domestic and personal life as an art form and not every drudgery to get away from. They incorporate Hygge into their daily life so it becomes a natural extension rather than a forced and stressful event.

We came across this clever infographic {below} from UK based company called Harvey (they make water softeners). They created a series of articles entitled The Great British Hygge, in which they celebrate the pets that bring happiness, love and comfort into our homes – all essential parts of a British Hygge.

We say let’s extend the Hygge philosophy across the planet and learn from our cats (the true masters of Hygge) to appreciate the simple pleasures of life.

May your year be filled with Happiness, Hope and Hygge!