Commonplace Book: Hot Toddy

I have been keeping commonplace books for years. At first, they were only reading journals—quotes, further books to read, thoughts on the books I read, words to define and words I loved. They have expanded to true commonplace books, including podcast research, writing research, occasional notes on dreams, and sketches. Going to start sharing them as well.

Book that helped and inspired me is Draw Your Day: An Inspiring Guide to Keeping a Sketch Journal by Samantha Dion Baker.

The book I am referring to is The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking. I had assumed this was a gimmicky book, but it is sweet and comforting and deep.

What inspired this was that compromised immunity caused me, like it does, to get sick because I went to the doctor. Waiting rooms were germ-bombs before Covid disinfections and forced spacing. The reason I wrote “stress put me to bed” was that I had physical therapy appointments, therapy appointments, medical appointments, I was wearing a heart monitor (the old-school kind with tentacles, so I had trouble getting comfortable), I was dealing with another denial from Social Security Disability (the last huge denial before I was awarded it), and the holidays. Not a good month. Writing and drawing helped. Still does.

The quote, in case you can’t read my cursive:

Hygge is about giving your responsible, stressed-out achiever adult a break. Relax. Just for a little while. It is about experiencing happiness in simple pleasures and knowing that everything is going to be okay.

It’s about living in the now while recognizing and appreciating all five senses and your tribe, the very special people in your life. And yourself. Time to reread, I think.