10/25/25 Weekend Grif.Net – Hygge Manifesto

I am =
proudly NOT Scandinavian and felt only mild sympathy for the Anderson&#8217=
;s, Jensen’s, and Oleson’s of my Minnesota youth. Always heard =
that you can tell a Norwegian, but you can’t tell them much. I’=
m not sure I ever met a full-blooded Dane in my life, but the scale reveals=
that I have met more than my share of scrumptious cream cheese Danish at t=
he coffee shop. The only Dane I can remember from high school literature cl=
ass was this sad kid named Hamlet.

That =
said, I am greatly enjoying a writers’ workshop time with a full-to-o=
verflowing Danish stock teacher. We meet to learn, share, write, encourage =
(no red pencils allowed), and hone our craft. Now at 77 with a lifetime of =
writing sermons, textbooks, and college lecture notes, I needed to “l=
oosen up” my creative side. Our first gathering helped me set the sta=
ge for this “course correction” as I was introduced to the Dani=
sh lifestyle of “hygge”. And once you meet “hygge”,=
nothing is the same anymore.

She taught=
that “hygge” (pronounced “hoo-ga”) is from Denmark=
and that Danes are the happiest, most contented, mellow, and relaxed popul=
ation in the world. There is no English equivalence; it is a blend of &#822=
0;coziness”, “harmony”, “contentment”, and &#=
8220;peace” in life.  A “hominess” for the soul, or =
as one writer said, “cocoa by candlelight”.

=
 

So, instead of word-smithing my first biographical foray, I=
decided to discover “hygge” for myself, unpack my cluttered br=
ain, and slow down my remaining years to a distant drumbeat I’ve neve=
r heard. I found the “Hygge Manifesto” and share it with you.&n=
bsp; Ten Words (this is NOT a sermon, so more than three points is allowed)=
, all 100% Danish. With a short explanation phrase attached.

=
 

Atmosphere: Turn Down the Lights.

Presence: Be Here Now.