In the US, my childhood memories include our family trips to Costco, filling giant carts with bulk everything, from granola bars to rotisserie chickens to Squishmallows. Target runs often ended with impulse buys — those dollar items I didn't need but couldn't resist (my favorite was Icebreakers).
When I moved to Sweden, I learned about a different culture, which impacts not only Swedish traditions, but also everyday life. Here, I discovered a way of living that challenged everything I knew about what "enough" means. The Swedes have a concept called "lagom" that is woven into every part of their lives, from how they shop to how they spend their time. It is not about having it all or having nothing. Instead, it's about finding that sweet spot in the middle, where you have just what you need to be content.
As I learned about lagom through my Swedish friends and neighbors, I began to see how this tradition could transform the way we think about happiness, community, and our relationship with the world around us.
