Now, there is a series of personalised books that embrace the concept of “actions speak louder than words” –bringing hygge into people’s love lives.
Danish hygge is spreading around the world as people seek out ways to live happier lives. Hygge, however, is about more than simple “coziness”. It’s about finding joy in the simple things and enjoying the wonders of life that are right in front of you. Most Danes would not say ‘I have a boring life,’ because hygge is a powerful thing; it embraces the art of doing nothing and still having a good time. You don’t have to go out on a spa day, dine at a restaurant, or jump out of an airplane to feel enjoyment. This is why the love tickets by Story No. 9 consist of small ‘hyggelige’ things.
The 3 Danish words: “jeg elsker dig” meaning “I love you” are not a simple thing, like in English-speaking movies, on television, and in songs. We often hear people expressing their love for one another… but in reality, it can be difficult. Expressing love openly can be a hurdle for some, one that is difficult to overcome, when the words won’t fall out of your mouth, no matter how deeply you believe and feel them.
Growing up, Story No. 9’s creator, Nhi Do, never felt comfortable saying these three words: “jeg elsker dig” (I love you). In her twenties, when love came around, she was eager to express her love through small actions and thoughtful gift-giving. Since she wasn’t good with words, she started her search for personalised books that could help express her feelings deeply but, she came across a few problems…
Most personalised books are made for children. She was surprised by the limited options for adults – after all, adults also have love to give and to receive. But even those she could find weren’t quite what she wanted.
Photo and storybooks can be lovely and personal, but they can be incredibly time-consuming because we need to come up with the story or captions. Even if we do have the time to be creative, not everyone does.
And then, of course, there’s the cost… These types of gifts can be expensive, making them less than ideal for someone who wants to show their love through action.
But these problems paled in comparison to the vision she had in mind. A passion to create beautiful books with amazing illustrations that would suit just about any personal style. She wanted them to be chock-full of love and joy – and to be convenient and affordable, too!
That is where the idea for Story No. 9 came from.
Nhi teamed up with Nataly Tsiapalo, Ming Luke, and Hamza Aytac Dalgalidere. For the last few years, they have worked tirelessly together, connecting across the world to create love tickets. They had one common mission: to spread love and celebrate the little things.
For the Story team, that meant developing a book of 9 cozy actions. This fits in so well with Nhi’s Danish upbringing of hygge – making a delicious home-cooked meal and enjoying it together; watching a sunset together; taking the time to enjoy ice cream together – these are all everyday things that can be transformed into powerful acts of love.
Today, Story No. 9 offers personalised love books for him, her, or a friend. Each book is beautifully illustrated in different art styles, with the added personal touch of two names and a message, and comes filled with 9 love tickets that can be redeemed for simple acts. The loved ones can easily ask for a home-cooked meal, or share simple pleasures that cost nothing more than quality time, effort… and love, of course!
The mission is to spread love and hygge around the world. Learn more about storynine.gift and follow on Facebook.
