Weekly Jetsam 8.27.23

glimmers, healing & connection, late August

Aug 27, 2023

Late August.

It’s hard for me to wrap my head around, but one year ago I was loading the contents of my rental into the back of a van, while simultaneously clearing out my childhood home so I could move in after the death of my parents. I had just quit my job, had a rough plan of how I would get by for the next few months, but a strong inner knowing I would be okay.

This year, I still have a basement full of dead people's belongings to clear out, a plan that by many standards is still considered rough, but an even stronger inner knowing that all will be well.

In these last few days of August, I want to slow down, savor the loud noises of the insects and the freedom from the stress I gifted myself when I walked away from teaching.

I want to step into September and new opportunities with ease (the irony of the random crippling back pain I have going on just made me chuckle as I typed this).

How do you want to step into September?

Things I’ve Recently Enjoyed:

1. Glimmers

I had the pleasure of working with Deb Dana a few weeks ago. She coined the term “glimmer”. Glimmers are the tiny moments in our days that bring our nervous systems into a feeling of safety or elicit feelings of joy. Here are some of my recent glimmers. What are some of yours? I’d love to start a “Glimmer Group”, just a place to share our daily glimmers. If anyone is interested, let me know here.

Tartar Sauce plops her face in the palm of my hand so perfectly. The light and colors have been amazing in August. I noticed this mourning dove (I think), perched on the very top branch of a tree and it made me laugh.

2. On Being: Vivek Murthy—To Be a Healer

I listened to this episode of On Being this morning and loved hearing the US Surgeon General talk about things like values, love vs. fear, well-being vs. mental health, and the importance of connection. Here is one quote that really got me:

There are others out there who want what we want. A world that is more connected. A world where we can actually be there for one another. A world that’s actually powered by love. And that is within our grasp. We only have to see it, to name it, and to start taking actions in our day-to-day lives to build that world and reflect those values.
And when we do, we will experience what one of my mentors in medical school told me years ago, which is, she said: Vivek, when you stand in strength, you allow others to find you. And every time you act out of love, whether that’s to a member of your own family or a moment of kindness you express to a stranger, you are telling people around you that it’s okay to give and receive love as well.

Also LOVE his 4 ways to build connection in your life. You can read more about them here.

3. Swimming, One Day in August- Mary Oliver

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It is time now, I said,
for the deepening and quieting of the spirit
among the flux of happenings.

Something had pestered me so much
I thought my heart would break.
I mean, the mechanical part.

I went down in the afternoon
to the sea
which held me, until I grew easy.

About tomorrow, who knows anything.
Except that it will be time, again,
for the deepening and quieting of the spirit.