Joy in the Small Moments
Why the tiniest glimmers can matter more than the grand holiday plans.
Big plans get all the attention this time of year — the dinners, the outings, the “this will be the best one yet” declarations. But joy has a sneaky habit of showing up when nobody’s looking. It hides in the quiet corners: a shared giggle, a calm breath, a look that says, “we’re okay.”
The trick is remembering to notice it — because those tiny glimmers? They’re proof that regulation and connection are still finding their way through the glitter and noise.
Turns out, the small stuff is the sparkle — you just have to slow down long enough to see it.
✨ One thing to remember
The nervous system often thrives in small, gentle, low-pressure moments — and those moments are usually where the real joy lives.
During the holidays, it’s easy to get caught up in big expectations:
the perfect dinner, the perfect visit, the perfect behaviour, the perfect memory.
But the truth is?
Brains that work differently often shine brightest in the micro-moments — the ones that feel safe, familiar, predictable, and real.
Joy might show up as:
• A shared giggle
• A quiet cuddle
• A silly inside joke
• A moment of connection over a snack
• Reading together
• A smile during a calm activity
• A soft “thank you” whispered later
• A tiny act of kindness
• A peaceful car ride
• A calm transition
These aren’t “little things.”
These are regulation gold — and they tell you that the nervous system had enough space to let the good stuff through.
Small moments are the proof that connection is still happening, even when the day is chaotic.
✨ One thing to release
Release the idea that holiday joy comes from big, impressive, postcard-perfect experiences.
Some things to let go of:
• “We need to do more for it to feel special.”
• “Everyone else is doing big outings.”
• “We should be making memories right now.”
• “This doesn’t look like a holiday.”
• “We didn’t do enough.”
• “The day is ruined because something went wrong.”
Nope.
Your magic is not measured by the size of the moment.
It’s measured by the connection inside it.
A tiny moment of joy is still joy.
A small success is still success.
A quiet win is still a win.
This season doesn’t need to be big to be beautiful.
✨ One thing that may help today
Start a Glimmers List — tiny moments of spark that you notice throughout the day.
A glimmer is the opposite of a trigger. It’s a micro-dose of regulation — a hint of calm, safety, connection, or joy.
Examples:
✅ They laughed at something silly
✅ They tried a new activity for one minute
✅ They advocated for a break
✅ They handled a transition more smoothly
✅ They enjoyed a favourite snack
✅ They let you in for a hug
✅ They smiled
✅ They played quietly for a moment
✅ They took deep breaths without prompting
✅ They shared something with you
✅ They surprised you with kindness
You can keep your Glimmers List on:
• your phone
• a sticky note
• a notebook
• the back of a receipt
• your brain, even
You don’t need 20 glimmers.
Even one glimmer is worth noticing.
When you look back at your list in a week, you’ll see the real story:
✨ there was joy here
✨ there was connection here
✨ there was progress here
✨ there was magic — small and powerful
