Hygge Defines Health
Hygge is a philosophy of life and grounded in principles of health and happiness. It isn't just a fun word to say (pronounced HOO-gAH) that makes you smile but is rooted in old Norske meaning "wellbeing" and later interpreted by the Danish as a "cozy contentment with the simplicity of life." In this day and age, everywhere you turn there is added stress and disease and we all need more warmth and joy to simply be present. The Norwegians (and even Danes) are among the happiest countries in the world and this simple philosophy of being present, focusing on gratitude and warmth like a hug (as it literally sounds) is the essence of health or as Norwegians have always defined it, wellbeing. I'm Emily Carle, a family nurse practitioner with a direct primary care in Maine. My practice has a mission of increasing access to authentic health care. I'm starting this blog to dive deeper into what health, wellbeing and authentic care really is. I believe health is m...