Just living isn't enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." -Hans Christian Anderson

Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves for we shall never cease to be amused. -Proverb

In its aspect of comfort, hygge involves a sense of wellbeing which encourages relaxation and peacefulness. It excludes by definition a distracted or preoccupied state of mind: hygge is commitment par excellence to the present moment in its basics. In the words of Hartmann-Petersen, 'Hygge rushes in of itself as soon as one is carefree.' -Judith Friedman Hansen

Hygge offers space for both reverie and relatedness. The heat of an open fire draws us close. Its shadow gives us a place to hide and softens our gaze.

We don't hygge to be content, we find contentment in hygge. Hygge is... about pleasure, presence and participation. It's... the understanding that if we are to wholeheartedly participate in life, we are entitled to small islands of calm.

Hygge involves comfort, cosiness, a sense of wellbeing, and a relaxed frame of mind. -Judith Friedman Hansen

He who knows contentment is rich. -Lao Tzu

In paying attention to our wellbeing, we address the needs of our environment - the society that we live in and our planet. Sustainability depends on community - when we learn to be happily reliant on each other, we're less likely to turn to material consumption to meet our emotional needs.

To be in a situation characterised by hygge is to be in a state of pleasant wellbeing and security, with a relaxed frame of mind and an open enjoyment of the immediate situation in all its small pleasures - a state one achieves most often with close members of one's social network in a home-like setting. -Judith Friedman Hansen