Have you ever been in a situation where everything is going to pot, there’s not a blind thing you can do about it, and you might as well just accept the case? The grace that you accept that with, and the smoothness with which you face your fate is serenity. It is “the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.”

Now, in my youth, serenity was a state I very rarely achieved. I was always cross, or angry, or wanting, or crying or generally striving for something or against something. I don’t know whether serenity comes with age, experience or finally realising that fighting everything is more painful for you than the everything you’re fighting against, but in my 30s I found out how to be serene, some of the time at least. Looking back now, I wonder if it wasn’t connected to becoming a parent, needing to sit and relax to feed a baby, and realising that I was happy, so I didn’t need to be stressed.

It’s the serenity I see in most classic paintings of Mary, the crib scenes where she sits watching adoring magi and crowding shepherds look at her baby and doesn’t appear perplexed. Was she always serene? Surely not, not if she was riding a donkey, heavily pregnant, with a husband who had taken her on depsite the fact she wasn’t carrying his child, and heading off to his family who, if they were anything like families today, would have a thing or two to say about That Woman. But, in theglow of the afterbirth, the relief of a safe delivery, and the recognition of a beautiful baby, I think serenity is a good emotion. Job well done, Mary. Now you can relax for a bit.

I hope I’m a pretty serene person now. I hope most problems roll off my back, and that I can face them with calmness, and peace. I know I’m pretty relaxed about life, because my children tell me so. For a busy household, we try to cultivate a serene air, an atmosphere of chilled out relaxation. I’m hoping my children can carry that serenity with them throughout their lives.

I have a massive favour to ask….

I don’t monetise my blog. I don’t run adverts, take sponsorship for writing posts or use affiliate links. I want everything I do on this blog and in my hygge life outside to be truthful. If I promote a book it’s because I’ve read it and like it, if I  point out an item it’s because it’s impressed me on its own merits and not because the publicist has talked me into it. It does mean I don’t run giveaways and I’m not chasing followers, but the drawback is that I need to find a way to support myself.

That’s why I write books. My thoughts are that if I ask you to buy a book not only does it support me, and let me keep writing as an independent writer, but you get something back for your bucks. I’ve written several books, some on hygge, some on Christmas. If you like what you read here, or in the Hygge Nook, and you’d like to support a struggling writer, would you please consider buying a book? Ebooks give you the best value, since for 2 or 3 pounds you get the content of the book, but I’d be a pretty poor writer if I didn’t appreciate the beauty of a real book in the hand. If you buy just one book, it all adds up in the end to support me, and I’d be so grateful.

I have three Christmas books,

Have Yourself a Happy Hygge Christmas was released in September 2017 and is available again in paperback and ebook version. It looks at keeping the Christmas season warm and cosy, with ideas for activities and routines to keep Christmas happy.

A (Hygge) Christmas Carol is my look at Dickens’ immortal classic and the many lessons we still learn from it today. It contains the full text of the book as well as hyggely thoughts on the story.

Enjoying a Self Care Christmas is only available in ebook version. It’s about keeping Christmas simple enough and healthy enough to keep you sane in the process.

My other books are hygge related, 50 Ways to Hygge the British Way  was my first book, and is available in Paperback and Kindle version. It’s a simple look at ways to feel more hyggely in life and at home even though we’re not Danish and don’t have it in our DNA.

How to Hygge Your Summer, in Paperback and Kindle form, has lots of good ideas for the summer months. I strongly believe that hygge is so much more than throws and warm drinks.

Happier is my fourth book. It’s about how I boost my own happiness levels. It’s full of hints, tips and ideas for you to use and adapt to suit your own situation. It is available in ebook and paperback version from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.

If you buy any of the books through the links on this page, I get a couple of extra pence per copy, in Amazon vouchers which go towards buying more books to review for the blog. I’d really love it if you’d support me monetarily, but I quite understand that cash is tight for many people, and I just love having your support via reading and commenting as well.