My February 2023 challenge is about incorporating the “Cozy” into your life.  It’s about enjoying the simple pleasures and not taking them for granted.  The Danish have a word for this concept, Hygge.  The definition from the Oxford dictionary states: “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality (which means the quality of being friendly and lively; friendliness) that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.”

Why do I need to “challenge” people to live cozy?  Because many people are driven by other things that do not involve “cozy”.  Cozy can translate as “fluff, waste of time, or I don’t have time for that!” to the driven soul.  It might be debt driving them to work a second job, poor choices that drive them to make amends and not being able to forgive themselves, or the illustrious search for “happiness” when contentment should be the focus.  Being driven is glorified, it can become all consuming without balance.

I feel as if I need to remind people to do something cozy.  I encourage you to DO things that make you feel cozy and bring joy, so that you intentionally add a bit of this to each day lived.  Even though their pursuits of paying bills, being responsible or making amends are admirable, we still need JOY in our lives.  When you add a bit of cozy, you remind your bodies of what rest, relaxation and simply being do for our mind, soul, and spirit.

Take some time and brainstorm everything that makes you feel cozy, is it a place, a thing, a person, a picture, a food, or a memory? Don’t think anything is too small or can’t be on your list…take time and think about what makes you feel safe, secure, content, warm and relaxed. Use whatever word stimulates your brain if cozy sounds a wee bit feminine or not your cup-o-warm-tea.

Once you have created your list, try, and do something each day to instill that feeling of joy. Take a break and regain your balance. Restore your breathing to a state of calm and fill your mind with stress reducing images to carry on with your day. Practice this and make it part of your lifestyle. It will restore your energy, balance, and build your resilience to handle life’s hard days.