Denmark is prides itself on being one of the happiest places to live in the world. But I bet it’s a quiet pride that doesn’t disparage other people and their ways and I bet they celebrate it by being together, cozily, in their well-designed living spaces.
These are my bets because I just learned the word hygge, by way of a book called “The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country.”
Writes author Helen Russell, “Hygge seems to me to be about being kind to yourself – indulging, having a nice time, not punishing or denying yourself anything. There isn’t so much enforced deprivation in Denmark. Instead you’re kinder to yourselves and so each other.”
It’s seductive to think you could just move and be happier. But I guess people have always done this with mixed results: The Pilgrims, the Donners, me.
DIANE di COSTANZO 
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