What is a glimmer?  A glimmer is the opposite of a trigger.  We all have our triggers – words, sounds, thoughts, smells, memories or events that spur negative energy and cast a mental or emotional shadow on an otherwise enjoyable situation.  But glimmers also exist!

Glimmers are small moments of joy that can bring light to even the darkest days.  Glimmers can have a significant impact on mental and emotional well-being.  Research has shown that regularly experiencing positive emotions can improve physical health, decrease stress, and even greater longevity.  Triggers are cues that signal to our brain that we are in danger, whereas glimmers are cues that signal safety and an allowance to unwind.

Glimmers refer to the moments of positivity we experience that can combat difficult situations or negative emotions.  These can be as simple as seeing a lone flower grow from a rock face, having a stranger smile at you in passing or feeling accomplished when a task is completed.  These small moments of positivity are healthy coping mechanisms that can give us hope.

The following are examples of glimmers:

• Witnessing a spectacular sunrise
• Getting a genuine compliment from a stranger
• Spending time in nature
• A random act of kindness
• The companionship of your pet
• Spirituality or religion
• Doing something creative or discovering a new hobby
• Getting together with friends, laughing out loud
• Feeling a sense of connection with others
• Spontaneously dancing to your favorite song

What happens when you feel a glimmer?

While glimmers are brief, they are powerful experiences of heightened mental and emotional awareness that leave a lasting impact on us.  Somebody experiencing glimmers may report feeling a sudden burst of inspiration, clarity, motivation, or even epiphany that creates a shift in their perspective or way of thinking.  These experiences can profoundly affect their lives, inspiring creativity, increased productivity, meaningful relationships, and greater self-awareness.

How does my practice provide glimmers for our patients?

We strive to be a bright spot in each patient’s day.  After we get to know our patients “head to toe, inside and out” at their initial consultation and their preoperative visit, we stay connected with them in a personal and positive way throughout all their postoperative visits.  By learning about what makes our patients tick (and what they are most apprehensive about), we can best help them through their surgical – or non-surgical aesthetic journey – with the least number of bumps in the road.

Our entire team shares this vision to bring glimmers to our patients’ lives.  From the warm and welcoming voice on the other end of the phone, to the offer of water, tea or coffee  when you need a pick-me-up in our waiting room, to treating each situation with patience, grace and humor – each member of San Francisco Plastic Surgery showers our patients with glimmers – without them even knowing.

We celebrate our patients’ first bowel movement after surgery (yes, we cheer poop!), their initial nervous look in the mirror, finally showering and trying on clothes or applying makeup for the first time after Plastic Surgery – these are all little victories our patients go through that deserve acknowledgement and celebration.

We also help our patients recognize their life achievements outside of surgery, whether it be an upcoming marathon, college graduation, a change of job, move, wedding, birth of a grandchild or any other personal milestone that deserves to be celebrated!

How can you discover and embrace your own glimmers?

Many of us already know what brings us joy.  As a Plastic Surgeon who loves what she does, a fitness enthusiast and a proud Mom, I have countless opportunities each day to seek out and embrace my glimmers.

Here are some of my personal glimmers:

• Spending quality time with my tween twin girls (and relishing that they still want to hang out with me)
• Observing my patients beam with self-confidence, joy and appreciation once they have healed from surgery
• Keeping my body fit and strong at Pure Barre, a fitness class I’ve enjoyed over 1800 times over the last 8+ years!
• Treating my office team to an annual weekend retreat in wine country – complete with spa treatments, wine tasting, fantastic meals and team-building
• Making healthy in-season gourmet salads (that even a salad-hater would try & like)
• Getting out for a run in nature – but stopping frequently to take photos of natural beauty along the waterfront in San Rafael or along the trails of China Camp State Park
• Surrounding myself with positive people and those who bring me joy – my office team, my husband, close friends that are my “chosen family”
• Witnessing my daughters grow in confidence and excel at alpine ski races, cross-country running races and academics
• Being greeted by my loving Golden Retriever Gordy each day when I arrive home each evening

I encourage you to seek out what YOUR glimmers are!  By recognizing the little things that bring you joy, you can curate the best experience EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.  Until then, we’ll keep providing our glimmers to our patients!