A Collection of Glimmers

And the need to focus less on losing for a while

Dec 20, 2023

A white woman with short brown hair and glasses is wearing a navy sweater and a colorful scarf. She is looking at and sitting in front of a piece of cake covered in vanilla sauce and a cup of tea. There are plants visible in the background. — Short hair, but make it 10 years ago. (Photo credit: my brother)

An attempt at…something

Instead of a follow-up on last week’s “The Art of Losing” (which will happen), this week, I decided to focus on a few less painful parts of life. I am still in the long, and honestly never-ending, process of grief that comes with chronic illness.

Emily Bazalgette

explores that topic in her Substack GriefSick as well, putting into words what chronic illness grief encompasses.

For today, I want to share small glimmers from this past week and year that have been essential to keep me afloat.

Glimmer: a micro moment of joy, awe, hope, safety; opposite of trigger

An incomplete list of glimmers

Finding solace & moments of calm in nature ✨✨✨

The ground is covered with fallen leaves. Some of the leaves are covered by frost, which creates a display of differing colors and it highlights some of the structures of the leaves. — On my quasi-daily walk on Tuesday, I spotted this beautiful display of leaves that are partly covered by frost. Made me stop in my tracks.

A random compliment

At yet another doctor’s appointment last week, the receptionist complimented my thrifted, man’s coat.

Walking out the office after that compliment…

The new scratching post for Luna & her soon-to-be-living-with-us younger sibling is a hit.

On the left is a white woman with short brown hair and red earrings that look like small Christmas tree ornaments. She is smiling and pointing at a scratching post behind her that is visible in the picture. She is sitting on the couch with her cat, Luna, who is looking up at the woman. — Trust me, at this point, Luna is way more excited about the scratching post than me.

Anything by

Andrea Gibson

. Their words are part of my healing journey. Like them, I want…

“To live like I’m kissing the universe on her temple.”
from “A New Kind of Bucket List”.

Give it a listen! 🎙️💚

Things That Don't Suck

A New Kind of Bucket List

Throughout my life I’ve heard friends talk about their bucket lists. They want to kitesurf in Peru. Bungee Jump in Bali. Have coffee with Dolly Parton in a roadside diner in Tennessee. All of which sound amazing. But my personal bucket list has always been a bit different. For many years now my biggest dreams haven’t required passports or parachutes. As…

Listen now

2 years ago · 568 likes · 78 comments · Andrea Gibson

Music, like “Scott Street by Phoebe Bridgers. A 2023 favorite.

The Last of Us. It’s how I started my year and how I’m going to end it. Post-apocalyptic worlds have had a surprisingly soothing effect this year. Plus, fungi. 🍄