In a world that feels heavy, I thought I would focus on a few glimmers. Sometimes, when things feel negative and polarized, glimmers, or little shimmers of hope, keep me going. How about you? Have you seen some glimmers lately? Here are a few for me: 

1. Taylor Swift released a new album into the world. If you don’t enjoy her music, you’re in the minority. If you do, yay! I’d love to know your favorite new song. Millions of Swifties waited in line, downloaded songs, and danced in public venues. Little moments of collective joy remind me that we are all connected in small, sweet ways. 

2. Montana. I went to Billings this past week to present at a conference for Montana Pediatricians. The Montana AAP welcomed me with open arms. Montana is such a beautiful state, full of kind, brilliant, thoughtful pediatricians making a difference in the lives of children. We spent the day discussing Autism Spectrum Disorders, Vaccines, and my favorite, RELATIONAL HEALTH AND CONNECTION! Plus, my husband and I enjoyed a beautiful daytrip to Red Lodge, MT and found the cutest shops. 

3. Chamoy chips by Late July. Oh, my goodness! I love the sweet and savory kick of these crunched into a salad or scooping up beans and salsa. It’s made my summer feel like it lasted just a bit longer. 

4. Decorating for Halloween. While I’m a summer-lover, getting out pumpkins has made my heart happy. It means the days will begin to chill, folks will bundle up, fires will get toasty, and…my birthday will arrive by month’s end. Here’s to October!

5. Robots on the OSU campus. For some reason, I see them like cute little animals canvassing the campus, searching for hungry students. They yield to traffic, keep food warm, and thoroughly entertain folks watching them pass. 

If you’ve reviewed my list, you can see that the things that tickle me and make me feel happy are pretty vast and often tiny moments of joy. I didn’t mention people, other than T.S., because that’s for another time. But I hope you enjoy these sweet, simple glimmers that keep me grounded and content amidst some of the chaos we’re enduring. 

What are your glimmers?

If you haven’t registered yet for our fall conference, there’s still time – this is the last week for a discounted lodging rate, fyi. See you in a few weeks!