“Gezellig”, such a quintessential Dutch word, that rolls off our tongues so easily. Gezellig is generally translated into English as “Cozy”, but it means much more than that in Dutch. Let me try to explain what “gezellig” means for me. For me it is the feeling you get when you’re with loved ones, enjoying good company and having a good time in a comfortable setting. It’s the warmth of friendship and shared happiness.
A client talks about her sister, who came to visit and repeatedly commented on how cosy she found it. Her sister also regularly invites her, saying: “Then come over to us, it’ll be cosy.” “Cosy? Cut the cosy talk! I can’t stand it anymore,” the client says. She doesn’t like this, because she lost her husband a few months ago. She is grieving and still sad, angry, and tired, and is not ready for any cosiness.
A few months later, two friends came over to visit. They ate together, had a glass of wine, reminisced, and talked about how things were for her now. They didn’t discuss how things would look in the future. When the friends were leaving, she said at the door: “Thank you, it was cosy.” She was shocked. Cosy? Did I really say that? Yes, she did, because it actually was cosy. She is surprised that her feelings have changed so much in a few months and that she was able to enjoy the evening after all.
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