sometime in december, the three of us became swedish citizens. this makes me laugh out loud since we never expected to be here as long as we have... when asked we'd say we planned to return to canada in a year or two. it's been six in a half years now. and, we don't speak swedish! we get by, some of us better than others but i don't take hours at the supermarket anymore, i get the gist of an article i am reading in a design magazine, and when a preschooler is asking me to throw back his ball, i can understand that too :)
i do love sweden and its capital, it's taught me six things:
 |
| image from here |
1. two single-sized duvets are the best: you probably thought that every couple sleeps under one duvet, right? not in scandinavia. at first, it looked a bit funny, this two-duvet system. but it's been amazing. i get my heavy thermal one and stefan, a warm sleeper, has his flimsy one. no one pulls the cover, win-win. now only if i could solve his snoring problem!
 |
| my own image |
2. having a positive winter mind-set: embracing winter is the hallmark of scandinavian family life. kids play outside at school, wearing light-reflecting vests over their snowsuits, even when it's dark in the daytime and snowing. the swedes like to say that there is no such thing as bad weather only bad clothing. so, we dress appropriately and go outside. sometimes, it's the last thing you want to do, to go outside when it's cold and dark, but inevitably, it's always better than i thought it would. you feel refreshed and healthy, taking in the wind, the air, the smell of winter. i never regret having gone outdoors, even for a quick walk in the woods.
 |
| image from here |
3. "lagom" is the perfect amount: attention to details and life itself... interiors, beauty, nature, traditions, architecture. lagom is about living a balanced, slower, fuss-free life. taking the time to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. for example, i love candlelight which i never thought about before. now, stefan lights candles in the evening and it makes the whole place cozy, just perfect. we've accumulated quite the collection of candleholders since our arrival in sweden. and another feature of lagom is the fika paus (break with coffee and a little treat). it can be informal catch-up with colleagues or friends once or twice a day. or, it can be a or a more formal, scheduled one in the calendar. when we first arrived, some shops and places of business would be closed for their fika paus, it was unbelievable yet pretty awesome that the swedes take the time.
 |
| image unknown |
4. adopting the morgondopp (the morning dip): the swedes love to bathe and the one type of alfresco bathing that stands out is the morning dip. it is usually enjoyed between may and september when the temperature is above 10°C but there are the hardy types that go year round. wearing their robe, they bike or walk down to the local bathing deck and take a dip. depending on the temperature, they may linger a bit.
while i haven't adopted this ritual per se, i have definitely acclimated to the cold waters around here. at first i was hesitant to swim in the cold waters but now, almost 7 years of living here, i no longer hesitate. As soon as i hit the water, i feel completely alive and while my instinct is to get out (so cold!), i stay in. it's an incredibly humbling experience and so relaxing to feel the warm sun and cool breeze on my body afterwards. if i am not by an ocean, i have been ending my showers with a cold-water blast and while it may not be as empowering as a saltwater swim, i certainly wake up!
 |
| my own image |
5. celebrating the sun: good weather here is short-lived and we know it. when there is a ray of sun, swedes will be fill up terraces and park with their faces towards the sun, eyes closed and enjoying the moment. they are outdoors meeting, eating, reading, sunbathing, resting... just celebrating the sun, regardless of the season. i can't help but smile whenever i see this sight, it makes me very happy to see such appreciation for the present moment because it could be gone the next day.
during the summer months the sun is visible for most of the day and into the night. many swedes take a four-week vacation in july, which is supported by their employers, to enjoy the daylight and nature. some businesses simply shut down in july which shows swedes deep appreciation for nature and light.
 |
| my own image |
while stefan didn't think he could last without his two-seater car, he has surprised himself. shifting from a driving commute to walking, he says he's happier. researchers found that one's happiness, going from driving to walking, increases as much as if they'd fallen in love! don't worry, he gets his driving fix when we vacation :)
No comments:
Post a Comment