November is for Glimmers
Last week, the temperatures in Kansas City started to drop. Before multiple rainy days settled in, there was this delightful burst of autumn sunshine that filled my home. The way the sunlight moved through my home gave way to warmth and coziness. I wasn’t the only one who noticed.
Beans, our beloved dog (and my occasional work partner), found the sun too. As I walked from the kitchen toward the stairs, I saw him stretched out, basking in a perfect patch of light. The peaceful expression on his face made me stop. I smiled, snapped a few photos (of course), and noticed a shift in my own body. My pace slowed, the tension in my jaw released, and a wave of warmth washed over me.
This, my friends, was a glimmer.
What if November was about glimmers instead of gratitude?
November is often the month we focus on gratitude — but what if we shared glimmers instead?
“Glimmer” has become a bit of a buzzword lately, and frankly, I love it. The term originates with Deb Dana, LCSW, author of Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation.
On Dana’s website, she describes glimmers as:
“Micro-moments of regulation that foster feelings of well-being. A glimmer could be as simple as seeing a friendly face, hearing a soothing sound, or noticing something in the environment that brings a smile.”
Importantly, glimmers cue our nervous system that we are safe. They are the opposite of triggers — which activate our system to feel unsafe or threatened.
Why glimmers matter
As humans, we are more biologically adept at noticing the negative. It’s a survival skill, really. But constantly scanning for danger is exhausting. Our bodies thrive when we can operate from a sense of safety, peace, and groundedness.
Celebrating glimmers helps us return to that state.
When I paused to watch Beans soaking up the sun, I felt my body shift: less tension, quieter mind, softer breath.
As a therapist, I believe every win, every success, and every shift toward safety is worth celebrating — especially in trauma healing. My clients get used to arriving with their wins — the moments that felt calm, joyful, or connected.
And then, we “tap that in.”
(That’s EMDR-speak for using bilateral stimulation, or BLS, to strengthen positive neural connections.)
We use BLS to support the brain’s ability to adapt to positive experiences, just like we use BLS to support the brain’s ability to reprocess trauma. I like to describe the use of BLS with positive experiences as being similar to lifting weights and making a muscle stronger. In short, we’re helping your brain’s neural network understand that safety, peace, and more, is possible. The more we can build that muscle, or shift that neural network, the more data your brain has to help shift the neural networks that hold the trauma.
It’s a magical process, really.
An invitation to notice
Take some time this month to hold space for the glimmers that surround you. Pay attention to what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel.
Start there — and I promise, you’ll find more glimmers every day.
Happy glimmering, friends.
About the Author
Katie Landry, LCSW is a trauma therapist and owner of a private practice serving clients in Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado. She specializes in trauma recovery, IFS informed EMDR therapy, EMDR Intensives, and other integrative approaches that support nervous system healing.
Katie is passionate about helping people reconnect with safety, creativity, and self-compassion. Outside the therapy room, she’s an advocate for neurodiversity, and a proud mom who loves reading, writing, and spending time outdoors with her family (and Beans).
🪷 Learn more: Katie Landry Therapy
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