Lessons from the Swedes - lagom, fika and enjoying the simple things in life

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It's fascinating to learn about other cultures. It's a pleasant surprise if you see some similarities with your own but a greater surprise if you discover something unique.

Take for example the Swedish word lagom which I learned from the book Lagom: Not Too Little, Not Too Much: The Swedish Art of Living a Balanced, Happy Life by Niki Brantmark.   In the Filipino language, we have a similar term called "sakto" but I don't think it has ever been used to describe a balanced life. I guess because sakto refers more to achieving the minimum level required rather than a certain level of satisfaction. But then again, I am not a language expert so I could be wrong.🙊      

In Swedish, lagom is often loosely translated as everything moderation or finding a balance that works for you.   Guess where it originated?  From the Vikings.  According to the book, lagom is rooted in the term laget om (around the team). It is said a bowl or horn of mead (alcoholic beverage created by fermenting honey with water) would be passed in a circle, and it was important that everyone only sipped their ‘fair share’ so there was enough to go round.  So lagom is also closely linked to working together for the collective good, fairness and equality.   Such a nice concept, right?

You can use lagom to describe anything that seems right for you. You can refer to water as lagom water if the temperature of the water is right for you.  You can refer to your pants as lagom pants if they fit you well.  So it's lagom <any thing> so long it's "just right".

What other interesting things did I learn about the Swedish culture from the book?

The author shared that living in Sweden reminded her that one doesn’t have to spend a lot to have a magical holiday because Swedish summer holiday is about taking time out and going back to basics to enjoy the simple things in life – whether that’s simply hanging out at home or heading to a small, basic summer cottage by the sea or deep in the heart of the countryside, to enjoy reading, baking, bathing, board games, crafting or simply hanging out with friends and family and drinking in as much sunlight as possible before the autumn leaves start to fall.

I hang out at home most of the time, I enjoy the simple things in life everyday and I read everyday - not a lot of people don't understand why I enjoy all of these so much but good to know that somewhere across the globe, such activities are treasured.  I am officially on a magical holiday year-round! 😂

Lastly, I also like the Swedish concept of fika - taking time for coffee, treats and conversations.  The author said fika could be casual catch-up with a friend or a more formal one at work with colleagues.  Whether it's formal or informal, the author said it’s about taking time to switch off for a few minutes and giving yourself a breather. 

I love breathers and they don't even have to include coffee, treats or conversation.  Walking alone is a perfect breather for me. 😎