Fred Darling - Page 2 of 2 - Life in lust and hygge

Hygge new york city dog rescue healthy lifestyle Fred Darling story

Hyggelig

My favorite date place?

The library.

With myself, with a girlfriend, with anyone who gets as excited about hardcovers as I do. And perhaps she’s to blame.

If I ever have a whole day off, I like to hop on the train and walk to a bookstore or library. Whichever one is still standing unfortunately. There’s nothing sweeter than grabbing a coffee drink and strolling along the many aisles of unread books while caffeinated. Piling the few that look good and then scoring a nook someplace warm to leaf through them. And if I go with someone, I like to leaf and share and then pry through theirs.

I’ve never really considered myself an extrovert and this probably proves it.

On one of my dates alone, I was particularly interested in the Danish way of living. I always wondered why they’re the happiest people. And so I piled on all of the books I could find on the matter and I discovered, while eating croissant, that there is a method to the happiness- hygge!

I won’t bore you over something you can google for more, but, in a nutpost, hygge is undefined but closely defined as “coziness of the soul.” And if that’s too aloof for you, a hug in English is the closest feeling.

Comfort, conviviality, simple indulgence and well being are hygge’s means of pleasure. Cooking with feel good foods from forest, field, farm, partaking in cake and buzzy drinks with friends, indulging in good kinship, maintaining a simply designed but efficient home to leave more time with dog, not cleaning up, spending time with nature and appreciating it even if from afar, these are some of the ways to hygge. And now my favorite means to happy.

May 11, 2017 by Fred Darling

home, lifestyle

Sunshine Finally!

Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD for short, is a real thing. I know it because I feel it and so do about 5% of the U.S. population.

For the rest of you lucky ones, you should know that SAD feels like low energy levels, mood swings, cravings for sweets and starches and not really desiring to see the non existing light of day. A total recipe for depression/disaster and/or menopause, but really SAD in this case.

What I didn’t know is that the trigger for all the above is less direct exposure to light and not the winter drop in temperature. In other words, you can experience SAD anytime of the year.

The best way to get a grip on life and reclaim your happy back then? More Vitamin D and psychotherapy. OR, good old simple sunshine finally! Which you can fake with light therapy or soak in as much as you can starting now.

With Spring here, what better way, and least expensive, to rid your blues than by stepping outside as much as you can to enjoy the longer and brighter days the season brings.

But you’re cooped up?

Try wherever you can. Opt out of ordering lunch and walk to get food instead. Or, take a hike on weekends instead of hitting the mill. If you have the luxury of an outdoor mall, ditch the AC and shop outside.

Do what you can but do go forth and relish in the beams with all the rest of the animals. I know I will.

April 9, 2017 by Fred Darling