Hunting

When I was little, I remember going agate hunting, mushroom hunting, sea shell hunting, and yes, sometimes with my mom and sister, bargain hunting. As an adult, I still hunt. When I’m out for a walk, I’m searching for striking images, beautiful things that capture my attention and imagination. I seek out the best jokes and stories to share at my next gathering. I dig for recipes. Maybe this goes back to our hunter/gatherer roots.

As an adult, I’ve tried to develop the habit of gratitude or what I like to call joy-nugget hunting. Wouldn’t you know there’s already a term for it? They’re called “glimmers” and they’re the anti-trigger. Instead of things that revert us back to painful, difficult things, they instead bring calm and feelings of safety and joy. Glimmers (I’m still going to call them joy nuggets) can be internal or external. Gratitude and things like glimmers can help shift our thinking.

Of course I want to be mindful and make a huge distinction between toxic positivity and using tools to help combat anxiety, depression, and fear. Finding joy and choosing gratitude in appropriate, healthy ways aren’t a denial of the very real tragedies we face, but they’re helpful in surviving them, navigating them, facing them with maybe a little more courage.

Time in nature at Bennington and Mill Creek, my garden, my kitties, painting, laughing with my family and friends, singing really loudly in the car, watching the leaves change, hugs, watching movies and making bagels with my kiddo–these are my joy nuggets, my glimmers. They do not change the fact that I am in this home alone and my person isn’t here to help navigate the hard times, but they give me courage and delight as I move forward in this new reality.

Tip jar: https://venmo.com/u/Rebecca-Lubbers-1