10/9/2024 Book Reflection

Book Name:

The Year of Living Danishly

Today is Tuesday, another office day, and for two days in a row, I’ve been late. I missed my alarm, and by the time I woke up, it was already 9 a.m. I’m finding it harder and harder to get up in the mornings, and it’s not just because the UK is getting colder. I feel resistant to the idea of going to work. The office is in an old building that’s always cold in the winter and too warm in the summer. The network connection is so bad that it’s hard to even use my phone. But the worst part is the lack of communication between people. I can’t remember when it started, but my colleagues have become so tense and withdrawn that no one talks to each other anymore.

This book caught my attention because Denmark is known as the happiest country in the world, even though the weather is similar to the UK, or even colder in winter. The taxes and living costs are high, just like in London, but people there still seem happy. Interestingly, the couple in the book are originally British and decided to move to Denmark—what a coincidence.

I’ve just started reading it, and I feel a deep connection with the writer. When she first moved to Denmark, she felt bored in such a small place with no one to talk to. People finish work early and spend time with their families, and it’s hard to find anyone outside, especially since she arrived in December when it’s cold. She missed her life in the UK, where at least she had friends to talk to, and she still FaceTimed them to complain about how boring the new place was. She was stuck in the house with her husband.

At the same time, I can sense changes happening inside the writer as she begins to question the work-life balance. She starts to appreciate the concept of "hygge" and the focus on interior design, which seems to be in every Dane’s blood. Denmark has so many famous designers, and people there spend a lot of money decorating their homes. It makes sense, though—when you live in a place where you spend most of your time at home, creating a cosy, comfortable space naturally increases your happiness. I can picture it: looking at the snow outside while sitting on a fluffy cushion, holding a glass of nice wine from a beautifully crafted wooden table. That sounds like happiness to me.

So how to live Danishly, I am keen to find the answer from the book!