Glimmers

Finding Moments Of Joy

by Mimi Matthews

I must tell you about something wonderful that recently happened!

On my porch where I sit every morning, watching the sun as it begins its climb, is a birdhouse. In that birdhouse for the last five years a Chickadee couple has made its home. It’s only about five feet from me and I just love watching their activity. I can tell when the chicks have hatched because Mister makes a whole lot more Door Dash deliveries each day.

One morning last week as I was pouring my first cup of coffee I heard a lot of chirping sounds outside that I hadn’t heard before. You may wonder how I could even know they were different, with all the sounds birds make in the morning. Well, I have been out to sit on my porch in the early morning almost every day since it warmed up enough to do so. I have heard crazy bird-mating sounds, House Finches and their babies, the Goldfinches and their babies, and numerous other squawks, chirps, songs, and peeps. But this high pitched incessant peeping was new.

As I quickly sat down to see what was happening, I realized that the baby Chickadees were out of their nest and in the bushes in the front flowerbed. They were so adorable! And not very good fliers at all. They’d flutter and flutter, finally attempting a wobbly landing on a shepherd’s hook, a branch, the birdbath edge, or even the vintage watering can next to their house (their dad’s favorite landing spot as a Door Dasher). For about ten minutes I delighted in watching their antics, and then they were gone. My heart was so full of gratitude! For you see, in all these years I had never been around when the babies left the nest. And I almost missed it this time!

After a crazy, busy week, I’d intended to sleep in a little bit that morning. I did not. In fact I was up ten minutes before my usual alarm time. And that ten minutes is what allowed me this delightful and precious moment with the Chickadees that I’d been talking to for over three weeks. Yes, they know me. We’ve been doing this for a while.

My heart was just so full of gladness and joy from this experience! Which leads me to the point of my story. That very same day I stumbled upon a word that I love because of its (new) meaning. Glimmer. In case you, like me, have not heard of this word, here’s its wonderful definition: tiny micro moments of joy—fleeting, everyday moments that elicit a rush of happiness, gratitude, calm, peace, safety, or goodwill.

Oh my! Is there anything more wonderful than receiving a glimmer? Now that I know what they are called—and I’ve received many—some of my own glimmers have been: “just happening” to catch a gorgeous sunset, feeling the sun on my face each morning as I sit on the porch, finding a heart-shaped rock or other item that just “appeared”, seeing 11:11 on the clock, having a favorite song (that I actually know all the words to) come on the radio so I can belt it out as I sing along, spotting the perfect butterfly on a perfect flower, and the sound of rain.

I’ve called these joyful moments many things (I believe they are God’s love notes to me), but now I will call them glimmers. Here’s what I’ve discovered. When I began to notice these moments of joy and delight, I received more and more of them. Someone commented that I have so many because I take the time and have eyes to see them. Which is true. Someone else said that I purposely look for them, which is not always true. For example, I really do not go looking on the ground for heartshaped rocks. However, I found two on my recent camping trip. I see heart shapes all the time—water spots, melting snow, leaves, stains, bits of trash, and once even part of my scrambled eggs. And neither do I look for 11:11 on the clock—that takes the surprise out of it. But I am more aware now, taking time to notice things. Plus, I actively look for rainbows and the perfect sunset.

I believe I’ve been blessed with so many glimmers because I do take time and I look around with my eyes wide open. I have great curiosity and wonder, and I realize the significance of the small things. I allow them to fill my heart with joy.

There really is a lot of joy to be found around us in our daily lives if we take the time to notice.

It has become my life’s ambition: finding as much joy as possible in the beautiful life I’m living.

It’s a practiced art and I hope you will see the benefit of it and join me. I firmly believe that glimmers help our spirits flourish. And we need all the joy we can find.

Mimi Matthews is in the “encouragement business” as the owner of Empowordment Cards by Mimi. She is also a speaker, workshop leader, writer, and our editor. Visit her shop at www.etsy.com/shop/ EmPOWordmentCards and her blog at www. particularpassions.me.