I just spent about an hour trying to match found cats from one cat group with missing cats from a different cat group. I actually meant to get started on this post, but I thought I’d first go check today’s news on Facebook, and that’s how I got stuck. So, that’s one.
Of course, I also lose track of time when reading an engaging story, gardening, gossiping shooting the breeze with my mom and my sister, and vegging out with my cats. I tend to just relish these cozy moments (yes, even back-breaking garden work is cozy for me – I get to encounter mushrooms, creepy-crawlies, bugs, birds, and so many other delightful things amidst my plants) and ignore other tasks that have my name on them.
I’ve always loved cozy things. My temperament and energy have always suited them better, and now I make an effort to consciously pursue coziness to warm and soothe my psyche.
I do live in the tropics, where it’s typically sweltering on top of muggy. Most people would forget about chasing their cozy intentions to favor taking cold showers, devouring obnoxiously iced desserts (which come with a thought cloud cussing out and flipping off the weather), and spoiling for a fight, thanks to the intense heat diddling with everybody’s sanity.
Despite the challenge of my climate, I’ve learned to invoke coziness. Fireplace moments and fuzzy sweaters may not figure in our days (unless you work or live in a building that tries to mimic arctic conditions), but there are other ways to get all hygge along the equator (and for that matter, yes, we still eat hot soup and sip hot beverages in infernal weather).
In fact, coziness isn’t limited to a season or a hemisphere. Here are some ideas to enjoy coziness no matter the temperature, no matter the geographic location.
- Have a pet to stroke and cuddle with. If allergic, a stuffie or a pillow will do.
- Use natural light in the daytime and warm lighting in the evening.
- Fill your space with plants for a calming and nurturing ambience (added perk of purifying your indoor air).
- Promote slow living: siestas, homemade food, long mealtimes, and quiet, relaxed moments in cool/warm spots – any weather encourages it anyway (the heat makes you reluctant to move and sweat, while the cold makes you want to hibernate in a cozy den).
- Wear soft and natural fabrics – breathable ones on a hot day and insulating ones in chilly temps.
- Relish the rain, the after-rain, the morning dew, the evening mist… Feel the damp and enjoy that warm cup of whatever better.
- Surround yourself with pleasing visuals. Decorate according to your fancy. Have a phone lock screen/wallpaper that fills your heart with tenderness. Accessorize with charms, clips, buttons, etc. that reflect your interests.
- Watch the breaking of the morning and acknowledge the miracle of it all. Feel free to segue into a birding session.
- Watch the play of colors at sunset and let the descending dusk usher in the time for relaxation and recovery.
- Install enchanting lights – twinkly ones, softly glowing lanterns, candles with dancing flames (even the fake kind)…
- Snuggle in bed with a heartwarming book or movie.
- Create things from scratch. You’ll feel a deeper sense of accomplishment, and you’ll feel connected to the generations that came before yours.
- Pen letters or mere notes – cozier than any message you send digitally.
That’s all for now. I might update this, or maybe just come up with a part two. Have a cozy one!
This Small Life 