Hygge - or the Art of Enjoying the Dark Days of Winter
Paperwork! I didn't realize that there would be as much as there is, but I am so grateful that we are not the mission couple. They are drowning in paper work and details.
We left early this morning to go to Reading to inspect missionary apartments. Four young elders, all of whom were delightful. One flat that was beautifully clean and tidy and the other - not so much. I wonder a little bit if it has anything to do with the flat itself. This was our second go round with inspecting these same apartments, and one of the elders who is in the very clean apartment was transferred from the other less-than-happy flat.
The clean one is well-lit, has beautiful wood floors, white tiled bathroom and streamlined cabinets in the kitchen. It just looks like it would not take a lot of effort to keep it clean. The other is older, has less storage space in the kitchen, and the floors and cabinets are dark and worn. Perhaps it isn't as fun to finish cleaning and then survey how "nice" it looks, because it will never look that nice. Plus we are moving towards the shortest day of the year. Even almost a month away, our days are pretty short, and I know that is demoralizing to a lot of people.
I think my experience in Denmark helped me to love these short days when it is so lovely to be indoors with soft lighting, the heater on, and enjoying the companionship of one another. It is a time for coming in breathlessly out of the cold to a warm inviting flat, for Christmas decorations, sparkling candles reflecting on shiny windows, the smell of popcorn or other delicious edibles inviting you through the door. For sitting around a dinner table long after the meal is over, for talking of good things. For warm soup or hot chocolate, for sitting by a heater - or even better - a warm glowing fire.
You don't a need a crowd. You can have hygge all by yourself, although its nice to have a companion to share it with. I think tonight will be an evening for hygge, even if I have to sit at the computer and do paperwork first.
We left early this morning to go to Reading to inspect missionary apartments. Four young elders, all of whom were delightful. One flat that was beautifully clean and tidy and the other - not so much. I wonder a little bit if it has anything to do with the flat itself. This was our second go round with inspecting these same apartments, and one of the elders who is in the very clean apartment was transferred from the other less-than-happy flat.
The clean one is well-lit, has beautiful wood floors, white tiled bathroom and streamlined cabinets in the kitchen. It just looks like it would not take a lot of effort to keep it clean. The other is older, has less storage space in the kitchen, and the floors and cabinets are dark and worn. Perhaps it isn't as fun to finish cleaning and then survey how "nice" it looks, because it will never look that nice. Plus we are moving towards the shortest day of the year. Even almost a month away, our days are pretty short, and I know that is demoralizing to a lot of people.
I think my experience in Denmark helped me to love these short days when it is so lovely to be indoors with soft lighting, the heater on, and enjoying the companionship of one another. It is a time for coming in breathlessly out of the cold to a warm inviting flat, for Christmas decorations, sparkling candles reflecting on shiny windows, the smell of popcorn or other delicious edibles inviting you through the door. For sitting around a dinner table long after the meal is over, for talking of good things. For warm soup or hot chocolate, for sitting by a heater - or even better - a warm glowing fire.
You don't a need a crowd. You can have hygge all by yourself, although its nice to have a companion to share it with. I think tonight will be an evening for hygge, even if I have to sit at the computer and do paperwork first.
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Happy Thanksgiving!