Written in June 2023
 

A while ago I saved an image created by @h.e.l.e.n.m.a.r.i.e about glimmers – which you'll see on the side of this post. The image text reads:

A little guide to glimmers

• glimmers are the opposite of triggers.
• they are tiny moments of awe.
• they spark joy & evoke inner calm.
• they have a positive effect on our mental health.
• they are micro-moments causing tiny mood shifts.
• they send cues of safety to our nervous system.
• they bring feelings of ease and contentment.
• our body response with positive energy.
• they allow us to feel hope when lost.
• our nervous system is strengthened by them.
• they can help increase our well-being.
• once we start embracing them it can become a beautiful way to see the world around you.

I really loved the idea of glimmers. I think for autistic people our glimmers are often related to our passions and interests, and to some extent related to seeing justice enacted. I know I certainly feel a sense of inner calm and balance when imbalances are addressed, and mistreatments corrected. I definitely feel a sense of inner unrest, and feel adrift in the world when I see injustice and mistreatment happening. I can fixate and ruminate on these things; on examples of discrimination and on unfairness when I see it.

Glimmers are the antidote to negative input, whether that's uncomfortable sensory experiences, the demands of others or societal pressure to conform, sudden change or just those days when I feel like I'm not allowed to exist.

My glimmers are:

• correctly identifying a new plant
• smelling the roses (quite literally, I will smell roses on any rose bush I walk past)
• posts on Facebook from someone who makes adorable miniatures for their dollshouse, and who posts pictures of the bunny family interacting with the items
• posts on Facebook from someone who forages for fibres and weaves the most exquisite tiny baskets
• posts on Facebook from people who have achieved something meaningful to them
• yoga
• making a difference in the world in any way, large or small (all positive actions are significant)
• creating something with aesthetic value
• making something from things I have foraged
• playing with my gang – often taking pictures of George (the squirrel) in cool places
• walking in the woods
• watching a familiar TV show

Helen's post about glimmers made me look at the things which are my glimmers. Some of these I already knew were self-care strategies that helped balance my mood and calm a dysregulated nervous system, while others were just “nice things”.  Some of these are things I can seek out, while others happen serendipitously.

It's been helpful to have a label for this set of things because they can become a more well stocked set of tools I can access when I need them.