Be the Happiest Writer in the World

What's the happiest country in the world? America? Sorry,  wrong. The correct answer is Denmark. Their citizens have five weeks paid vacation every year, twelve months paid maternity leave, free education and free medical care. They're known as the happiest people on earth, even though it's raining about half the time and they pay over 60% in taxes.

The key to their joy? Hygge. It's pronounced hu-guh, and is a Danish practice of enjoying the small pleasures in life.

VisitDenmark gives this definition:

Hygge is as Danish as pork roast and cold beer and it goes far in illuminating the Danish soul. In essence, hygge means creating a nice, warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people around you. The warm glow of candlelight is hygge. Friends and family—that’s hygge too. And let’s not forget the eating and drinking—preferably sitting around the table for hours on end discussing the big and small things in life. Perhaps the Danish idea of hygge explains why Danes are often considered the happiest people in the world?

Since I cannot move to Denmark in the foreseeable future, I need to find new sources of joy--as a writer--where I am right now. But what if  there's plenty of joy already around me, and I've been ignoring/overlooking it?

I never saw this quote until Cathy Hall shared it on a post. Sometimes I look at writers who have filled literally shelves of books in bookstores and I wonder, Why not me? Other times, I compare myself to another writer in my critique group, and wonder why I am not as prolific or am puzzled why I'm not published as frequently as they are. I should be happy for their success (I am, I truly am) and I should also be happy with the progress I'm making, instead of looking at it like it's a competition.

And to savor that joy that surrounds me, I'm going to celebrate things like:

• A great beginning. There are times when I share a piece at a writing critique meeting, and my fellow writers say things like, "That first paragraph really drew me in," or "You had so many rich images in your beginning, I felt like I was there." Hey! I crafted that opening. I should smile and bask in it for a moment. 

• Batting around ideas. When I get together with writing friends, invariably someone will mention something--a memory or an anecdote--which immediately causes me to think Oh! That reminds me of... I could write a piece about it. Ideas come to us when we least expect them. For example, a fellow writer mentioned her daughter's tattoos, which poked my muse in the arm. My muse reminded me, "Sioux, you could write a memoir piece about your son's ink." And I did...

• Getting back to a dusty WIP. After procrastinating and making excuses, diving back into a piece you love, a manuscript that keeps calling you--well, it's satisfying. It's almost like coming back to an old friend.

So, try to embrace your inner (and perhaps non-existent) Dane. Enjoy the simple pleasures that are all around you. It might make you more content as a writer.

What is a simple pleasure you enjoy? A wannabe-Dane wants to know. 

This is a selfie of Barry Lane--a writing guru for teachers-- and
me. I'm so technologically inept, Barry had to take the selfie.

Sioux Roslawski is a middle school teacher, a freelance writer, a rescuer of dogs, a mother and a grandmother. She's working on comparing herself less to other writers and searching more for the hidden joy in life. If your interest is piqued, check out her blog.