DEFINED | chasing glimmers

After my dad passed, I felt completely untethered. This man, who had always been my anchor, who seemed to have all the answers, was gone. The world felt heavier, and I wasn't sure how to move forward without him.

About a week later, I was sitting in Atlanta traffic, lost in thought, when I noticed a prism of light reflecting across my arm. For a moment, everything stilled. I felt a quiet nudge, almost like a message from the universe — or maybe from my dad himself — whispering, you'll be okay.

That fleeting spark of light didn't take away my grief. But it reminded me to look for the small signs of beauty and comfort that still surround us, even in the hardest seasons.

Grief, stress, and overwhelm have a way of pulling us down. We've learned the word triggers — moments that stir pain or sadness — but what's less talked about is their quiet counterpart: glimmers.

The way sunlight warms your skin. A familiar laugh that makes you pause. A soft embrace. A song that feels like home. The grounding weight of something you've chosen to carry close.

These moments don't erase the hard things. But they shine a little light through the cracks. They remind us we're connected — to ourselves, to each other, to something greater.

That prism of light on my arm in traffic is where chasing glimmers began for me. It stayed with me so completely that I eventually had a prism tattooed on my arm — a permanent reminder to keep looking. They're out there waiting for you.

This summer, I'm looking for them through different eyes. My son Elliot is out of school and spending the summer with me. We're building a bucket list together, adventures to collect, moments to notice. We're documenting all of it in a journal—the glimmers, the questions, the small things worth remembering.

There is something about a child's attention that resets your own. The world is still so new to him. Things I've stopped noticing, he's encountering for the first time. He asks questions about things that seem obvious, and somehow the asking makes me slow down and actually look. He's not scrolling past the light on the water or rushing through the moment. He's in it completely.

I want to be in it with him.

That's the invitation this summer. Not to chase something grand. To notice what's already there.

Jewelry can be like little glimmers too. A certain piece that instantly makes you feel good. One that was given to you and brings a warmth to your heart. It doesn't have to be a deep connection. If it brings you a glimmer of joy, that's what it's all about.

When I learned about glimmers I became obsessed with the idea. In the rush of every day I find that sometimes I don't take the time to look for them or let them fully impact me. I just keep going. So I created the message "chasing glimmers" because that is what I should be living for. We have four designs with that message available, but remember — you can personalize any piece with a message that speaks to you.