A Priceless Way to Celebrate the Valentine's Day

Photo taken during the holiday season last year.

Many people treat Valentine's Day as a special day for lovers and loved ones. There is a subtle expectation that something special - a grand gesture - must be given to one's partner to celebrate the day. Some book expensive restaurants in advance so the couple could enjoy a romantic dinner, others prepare and order bouquet of flowers along with a box of chocolates ready to be gifted to their significant other. In fact, modern display of affection now involves practicality. Interestingly, instead of flowers, a sack of rice is more yearned for, and instead of an expensive dinner date where the served food sometimes does not suffice, a bouquet of real paper bills is more preferred.

While each person has their own style of celebrating Valentine's Day, there is but one, underrated practice that only a few people do which is proven to give anyone larger amounts of returns in terms of emotional satisfaction and well-being: to hygge. 

I have learned to enjoy G7 Coffee (from Vietnam) despite its strong coffee essence. 
He likes drinking UCC Coffee. We often talk about random things while sipping a cup of coffee.

Hygge (pronounced as hyoo-guh), is a mood of coziness and comfort. It describes a feeling of contentment. It is also an awareness and acknowledgement of the simple moments that bring joy - like the feeling of snuggling under the blanket, the easing scent of a freshly cleaned bedsheet, or sipping a warm cup of good coffee. The word originated in Denmark, the happiest country in the world according to the 2016 World Happiness Report.

Currently re-reading: Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl.

Celebrating love clearly goes beyond the amount of money one spends. Being mindful in the little moments of comfort and creating an atmosphere to do so can be more meaningful and in some sense, even more practical. There is a saying from Bianca Sparacino that goes:

"Fall in love with someone who will take care of you - not in a materialistic way, but rather, fall in love with someone who will take care of your soul. Fall in love with someone who will take care of your heart. Fall in love with someone who will take care of even the most chaotic parts of who you are." 

Please remember that we have to be that "someone" for the other person too - we also have to take good care of the people we love and it is not just a one-sided thing.

Some of my favorite books and the Kindle Paperwhite I use to read recently.

Calligraphy practice book Alex gave me as a gift last year. Pairing it with a glass of red wine. Photo taken during the holiday season.

Here are some ideas to hygge:

1. At home, watch a random episode of a series your partner likes (or you both like).
2. Play a game together.
3. Don't hold back when you laugh.
4. Ask him or her to read you any random page from a book that you like.
5. Cook a meal and enjoy eating together.

One of his specialties - cooking monggos. Softened green beans with coconut milk.

Hygge to me is reading a book, writing down notes and enjoying the process.

Simply scribbling down and practicing my calligraphy gives me feelings of hygge.

Based on personal experience, Alex and I enjoy watching the show "How I Met Your Mother" (idea #1). Recently, he taught me how to play a card game (idea #2). After losing so many times and shuffled the deck of cards as a consequence, I finally beat him once! Because I was so happy, I laughed out loud, never held back, and randomly danced my celebratory moves - which looked silly, by the way - so he laughed out loud too. It's a win-win situation! (idea #3). He often reads to me a random page of a book that I like and it feels really comforting (idea #4). He thoroughly enjoys cooking. We both savour the tasty home-cooked meals together. To bring balance to the force, of course, I do the dishes (idea #5).

A photo of the tree from the house.

"How I Met Your Mother" marathon.

Hygge is exactly what we need to take care of each other's souls. There is enough loudness, enough chaos going on around us that it takes a moment of pause and appreciation of the ordinary moments that will help us regain our balance. In a special day like Valentine's Day, what better way to celebrate the occasion than being in the arms of your loved one - indulging in a cozy place to hygge?

This is a priceless way of celebrating.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love,
Mary Jedde




Sources:
https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2016/
https://www.self.com/story/practicing-hygge-danish-lifestyle
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20190217-what-to-do-when-hygge-no-longer-works