The last few days have been relentless, haven’t they? The world is a sad place, and sometimes a news story catches the current and travels across the world.

Henry Nowak, 18, died last December having been stabbed by his assailant and not receiving emergency treatment in time, treatment that I admit may not have saved his life but which would have demonstrated that someone on the scene had looked at him and seen not a potential culprit but a human being. Isn’t that what every person deserves? Not to be criminalised and dismissed (“I don’t think so, mate”) but dealt with professionally and with respect?

Here is not a political space, so I will make no comment on any responses from those in charge. But it is a space full of humanity, and a love for people. Henry is not the first victim of knife crime and won’t be the last. Each life lost is a sadness. Every family who loses a loved one as either victim or perpetrator of knife crime deserves pity and sympathy. It’s not easy. Not every death gets the attention it deserves or needs: who knows why this one is? But it has, and is. I can only hope and pray that the response is one that benefits all, builds in compassion and fairness, and is based on respect for all people alongside control.

And so we move on. June here is dark and dankly wet so far. My office view (never the most inspirational) is made harder by the thousand distortions of rain on the window. We’ve had strong winds, too. And the office heater is on, fighting to raise the temperature above 20.

But I live in hopes that summer will return with at least a week of sun and moderate temperatures (please, from the 22nd and a week at a History Festival) and while I wait I’m going to stay joyful, if possible. So, for the month of June, I am posting one Joyful glimmer a day. One photo that makes me smile, or gives me a kick or just adds a moment of happiness even if the rest of the world is falling to pieces around me. Think of it as the dot of green of a new shoot in a demolition yard, the slim slither of sunlight piercing the crack in a cloud on an otherwise grey day, or the smile on a toddler as they see you pulling faces at them and respond in kind. Life is full of these moments, if we stop long enough to see them and recognise them as the joyful spots they are.

I’m posting on Instagram and on my personal Facebook as well as in The Hygge Nook. I’ll try to remember to put a digest here once a week, but time, eh? And I’m hashtagging #JoyfulJune so you can find me under that, too.

In a world where so much is made to sadden, to separate and to subdue us: smile. It’s the biggest revolutionary act ever.

How to Hygge the British Way is my gift to the world. I don’t get paid for writing it, I’m not in it for the kudos, financial rewards, to become an influencer, work with brands or otherwise make any money from the blog. That’s why there are no ads, and any products I mention and recommend have either been gifted to me or bought by me with my everyday wages or donations from supporters. Every book I review has been bought and read by me, unless stated otherwise.

I do get a couple of pennies each time someone buys from the Amazon links on my page, as an Amazon Affiliate, but otherwise if you’d like to support me, I like to give something back in return. That’s why I write books. It always feels good if you get a book back in return for some money. You can find a full list of my books at my Author’s Page on Amazon, but my non-Christmas books are:

Cosy Happy Hygge: Setting up a rhythm to life and rituals to enjoy it to make for a more balanced life that handles waves and storms better. The book has small and easy ways to make your life flow with grace and happiness, which lead to more hygge.

Happier: Probably my most personal book, it’s the story of how I used hygge and the little things in life to help boost my happiness. I still go back and reread to remind myself what I need to do to be a happy human. And it’s always the little things.

I’m currently working on two book projects: I have a hankering to rewrite 50 Ways to Hygge the British Way, so it’s not available at the moment, but even dearer to my heart and my next stated aim is to finish and publish my next book, Simple Plus Cosy = Hygge. It will be about homemaking and how the home we create shapes the hygge we have. Hopefully it will be finished by the end of Winter 2026.

If you’d like to support me, but don’t want to buy a book, I have a Paypal.Me account as Hygge Jem. Every little helps, so even a few pence goes towards the books, goods and courses I use and recommend on the site. I’m grateful for every little bit that brings me closer to my dream of full-time writing, and I know I couldn’t still be writing if it weren’t for the support of many readers and friends out there. Thank you all for every little bit of support, emotional, physical and financial, you give me.

If you’ve enjoyed this article, don’t forget to share it or save it so others can enjoy reading, thinking about and living hygge as well.

The photo between post and promotions is of the wisteria at my Dad’s house. It was looking particularly beautiful this year.