I first encountered the concept of fika on Karie Westermann's blog (which is an excellent read, by the way!) in the release post for her Fika shawl design. I've encountered the concept a surprising number of times since then - which actually makes some sense, considering that the neighborhood of Seattle where I live is heavily Scandinavian! In reality, I think fika has been around me this whole time, and it's just now that I'm noticing its presence.
And I've found that the more I learn about it, the more it resonates. Maybe because it gives a name to the quiet coffee-and-pastry breaks that I started taking in the late afternoon while I was working on my ballgown, and which I've continued in my everyday life since then, especially when I work from home. There's something that feels slow and nurturing about sitting down with a cup of coffee and staring out my picture window for a few minutes, giving myself the time and space to work through the questions of the day. As I've learned over time, taking a break can often be incredibly productive - especially when you've been fighting a problem that turns out to require a shift in thinking. And I like that fika gives a name to that moment.
Happy Wednesday, friends.
<3
Cory
