Maybe you’re lost in the woods where the trees are towering overhead dark and looming, clouding the path ahead. Or perhaps you’re lost in the desert where you’re tired and thirsty and just want to turn back but you’re so lost you don’t even know where to turn back to. Or a meadow or even out at sea with the waves pounding incessantly and you struggle to swim so your head is barely above water or even starting to sink. It’s okay to feel a little lost.

Hygge isn’t just about coziness. While coziness is a huge factor, it isn’t the only one. This is why hygge can’t be directly translated from Danish to English as “cozy.” For me, hygge in the summer is a lot lot more about the relational aspects of hygge.

I took a photo of my morning face every single day of 2020 to show that all of us wake up the same with beautiful, messy morning faces. This project was quite the journey for me. I hope, by watching it, you are reminded that authenticity is important on social media and are encouraged to post your own bits of reality in the midst of an atmosphere of comparison and fake perfection on social media platforms.

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. It was less about the day itself and more about the atmosphere and nostalgia surrounding the holiday for me. I didn’t have a name for the simple joy and comfort of Christmas back when I was little, but now I know those things can be summed up with hygge. Christmas combines intentional generosity, togetherness, and hospitality to create a holiday of peace and joy.

Balance, margin, whatever you want to call it, everyone needs it. Everyone needs a little space to breathe. We live in a culture that encourages life being so busy and crazy we don’t always have time for appreciating beauty, simplicity, or even quality time with others. Hygge provides a way to find joy in the little things and relax in the midst of a busy life.