One Glimmer a Day (Holiday Edition)

andreajthomas3
5 days ago
2 min read

When the world feels loud and heavy, small moments of safety can still find us. In nervous-system language, those moments are called glimmers, brief cues of calm, warmth, or connection that remind your body, “Right now, I’m okay.” Glimmers don’t erase pain or chaos. They give your system a gentle exhale so you can meet life with a little more steadiness.

What’s a “glimmer,” really?

If a trigger is a cue of danger, a glimmer is a cue of safety. It’s tiny and ordinary: sunlight on your floor, a favorite mug warming your hands, a text from someone who “gets” you, music that loosens your shoulders, the way your pet settles when you sit down. Not dramatic, just enough to soften your breath and lower the volume inside.

Why it helps (especially now)

Regulates the body: Noticing a glimmer signals your nervous system to downshift out of constant threat.
Interrupts negativity loops: Your brain has a bias toward danger; glimmers train it to register good, too.
Builds resilience: One settled moment makes the next skill (boundary, pause, brave conversation) more possible.

How to practice “A Glimmer a Day”

Set a cue: “Before noon, I’ll notice one glimmer.” Bonus if you catch a second in the evening.
Use your senses: Look, listen, feel, smell, taste. “What is kind to my senses right now?”
Name it out loud: “This is a glimmer.” Labeling helps it land.
Let it soak for 10 seconds: Slow breath in and out while you stay with the pleasant cue.
Save it: Snap a photo, jot one sentence, or drop a single word in a notes app. (Review on hard days.)

Holiday-specific glimmers

The empty chair & grief: Light a candle, play their song, cook their recipe—let love be present in a small, intentional way.
Crowded rooms: Find an anchor, cool glass in your hand, feet on the floor, a friendly face across the room.
Travel days: Warm drink, sunrise through the window, the moment your bag finally zips, count those micro-wins.
News & social media: Try “glimmer first, headlines second.” One cue of safety before you scroll.
Boundaries: Your nervous system can be your compass. If it tightens, step out for air; if it loosens, stay a little longer.

A 7-Day Starter Plan

Mon: Morning light on your skin (10 seconds, breathe).
Tue: Music that steadies you. One song, eyes closed.
Wed: Notice something green outside. Name the shade.
Thu: Warmth ritual, tea, shower steam, heated mug.
Fri: Share a kind text; let yourself receive the reply.
Sat: Texture check, soft blanket, cozy socks, grass under shoes.
Sun: Gratitude in one line: “I’m glad I noticed _____.”

Journal prompts

“Today’s glimmer was… and it felt like…”
“A small thing that reliably settles me is…”
“If I designed a holiday that fits my nervous system, it would include…”

You don’t have to feel joyful to practice glimmers. You only need a few honest seconds of “this helps.” One glimmer a day won’t fix the world, but it can gently change yours.

Andrea Thomas, LCSW