Learning To See | Because a Little Goes A Long Way

Have you heard of “glimmers”? I recently came across the term while scrolling on Instagram (I know…don’t say it) and wanted to know more. So of course, I asked the internet and here is what it told me:

“Trigger” has become a commonplace term in our cultural lexicon, but few people know about the opposite of triggers: glimmers. 

Coined by Deb Dana, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in complex trauma, in her 2018 book “The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy,” “glimmers” refers to small moments when our biology is in a place of connection or regulation, which cues our nervous system to feel safe or calm.

verywellmind.com

OK. I know what you’re thinking. What kind of woo-woo, pseudo-science is the internet asking me to buy into this time?

But here’s the thing…there is actual science to back this up the concept of glimmers. It has to do with our autonomic nervous system, and as I understand it, basically our autonomic nervous system is constantly ‘reading the room’ (so to speak) to determine if a situation is dangerous or not. Then, depending on those cues, the vagus nerve can either put us on high alert and trigger our flight-or-flight response, or it can promote feelings of safety and connection and openness (aka: glimmer).

While the term “glimmers” is new to me, the mental health benefits they bring about is not. Long before I knew anything about Polyvagal Theory, I have been sharing humble stories about finding joy and peace in little moments such as in this post from May 2020. It was during the height of the corona virus pandemic, and stumbling across this little pool of light on my evening was a bright spot in my day in every sense of the word.

I’m pretty sure that is the very definition of what a glimmer is. And I hope this post encourages you to seek out and find the little glimmers in your life. Your soul will thank you.

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It’s the littlest things that make me happy these days.

Like when I stumbled upon this small pool of light on my evening walk. I just stood there and smiled as I watched those teeny little bugs as they danced like tiny fairies in the golden glow of the setting sun.

It was a bright spot in my day in every sense of the word.

With life feeling so dark and so heavy, it’s easy to miss moments like this. It requires A LOT more effort on my part. Thankfully, my camera and years of photography practice help me ‘see’ magic moments like this. And for that, I am eternally grateful.

I thought about this as I walked home. How witnessing the littlest bit of sunshine transformed my whole day and lifted my spirits.

When the problems of the world feel so big and insurmountable, I have a tendency to get overwhelmed and retreat from life. Feeling like nothing I could offer would ever be enough to make a difference, I just want to throw my hands up in defeat.

In my overthinking (as well as my special talent for making things harder than they need to be), I forget that I don’t have to have all the answers or fix it all. Rather, all I really need to do is offer my heart and whatever it has to give at any given moment.

“From within or from behind, a light shines through us upon things, and makes us aware that we are nothing, but the light is all.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

And so today, I am here to share with you the magical moment from my walk. A little light and love in hopes that my photo and my words might encourage or comfort you wherever you are in this hurting world. It also comes with a little nudge to find a way to bring a little sunshine to someone else’s life. And don’t tell me that you don’t have anything to offer, because you do. And don’t worry if it doesn’t feel like enough, because it is.

A little light. A little hope. That’s all it takes. Because a little goes a long way.

Love, Kelly