Hi Dear Folk,
I think we have all heard the Danish word Hygge pronounced "hoo-ga" a momentary bliss and cosines, but aims for contentment at specific moments. If with a friend or friends you actually might say "we're having a hygge moment." There is much more to this word and that's why recently there have been an abundance of books published on this.
But a less known Scandinavian word which I ran across is Lagom pronounced "laaaw-gum." The basic definition is not too much, not too little. Lagom derives from the old Norse word for law and also team. Culturally the word goes back to Viking times, when they gathered around the fire passed around the horns filled with mead and a honey fermented beverage. Everyone was expected to sip just their fair share, so others would have enough to drink as well, this "laget-om" "sitting around the team" has been shortened to "lagom" over the centuries.
In Scandinavian countries percentage wise they have larger middle class populations than many other western countries, the thought of not too rich, not too poor, put into action on a social bases.
Lagom in its most powerful form means that whatever contextual decision you make is the very best one for you or for the group you find yourself in.
You could say the Goldilocks principal, not too much and not too little. But also to be considered would be papa and mama bears consideration of what is lagom, optimal for them.
It could mean 'appropriate' in social settings, 'moderation' in food, 'less is more' in interior decor, 'mindfulness' in well being, 'sustainability' in lifestyle choices and 'logic' in business dealings. All these carry a connotation of 'optimal' decision-making.
Rather than just being a median blasé state it actually lends itself to an optimum more holistic view of choices we make in life.
"Lagom teaches us how to avoid both excess and extreme limitation, allowing us to better understand what makes us happy and what works for our own, unique, mental well being," Eek said. "By adopting a lagoon mindset, we teach ourselves to avoid extremes of mood or feeling."
I do like this word and want to put it into practice in so very many aspects of my life. Not too much and not too little.
So when someone asks me how much milk in my coffee I will say" Lagom."
Christine
I think we have all heard the Danish word Hygge pronounced "hoo-ga" a momentary bliss and cosines, but aims for contentment at specific moments. If with a friend or friends you actually might say "we're having a hygge moment." There is much more to this word and that's why recently there have been an abundance of books published on this.
But a less known Scandinavian word which I ran across is Lagom pronounced "laaaw-gum." The basic definition is not too much, not too little. Lagom derives from the old Norse word for law and also team. Culturally the word goes back to Viking times, when they gathered around the fire passed around the horns filled with mead and a honey fermented beverage. Everyone was expected to sip just their fair share, so others would have enough to drink as well, this "laget-om" "sitting around the team" has been shortened to "lagom" over the centuries.
In Scandinavian countries percentage wise they have larger middle class populations than many other western countries, the thought of not too rich, not too poor, put into action on a social bases.
Lagom in its most powerful form means that whatever contextual decision you make is the very best one for you or for the group you find yourself in.
You could say the Goldilocks principal, not too much and not too little. But also to be considered would be papa and mama bears consideration of what is lagom, optimal for them.
It could mean 'appropriate' in social settings, 'moderation' in food, 'less is more' in interior decor, 'mindfulness' in well being, 'sustainability' in lifestyle choices and 'logic' in business dealings. All these carry a connotation of 'optimal' decision-making.
Rather than just being a median blasé state it actually lends itself to an optimum more holistic view of choices we make in life.
"Lagom teaches us how to avoid both excess and extreme limitation, allowing us to better understand what makes us happy and what works for our own, unique, mental well being," Eek said. "By adopting a lagoon mindset, we teach ourselves to avoid extremes of mood or feeling."
I do like this word and want to put it into practice in so very many aspects of my life. Not too much and not too little.
So when someone asks me how much milk in my coffee I will say" Lagom."
Christine
This is just fantastic. I love it. Thank you. I'd not heard of it before.
ReplyDeleteYes I too so enjoyed learning about this word. I think it will be my 2019 word of the year.
DeleteThat's so interesting. Or a my mum used to say - a LITTLE of what you fancy does you good and everything in moderation!
ReplyDeleteYour mum was such a wise person.
DeleteSuch a great word "Lagom" it will be nice to learn a little more about it.
ReplyDelete