Bess Auer Reminds Us to Notice the Glimmers Around Us

In a world that constantly pulls our attention in a hundred different directions, it’s easy to lose sight of the little things that make us feel alive.

A few years ago, I sat down with Bess Auer, an Orlando native and longtime community builder in Orlando, to talk about what drives her to bring people together. During our conversation, she introduced me to a word I hadn’t heard before: glimmers.

Glimmers, as she explained, are the opposite of triggers. They’re the small moments that spark joy and calm our nervous system. It's the sound of laughter at a neighborhood café, the way sunlight hits your kitchen in the morning, or that familiar face you see every Sunday at the farmer’s market.

Bess shared how noticing these moments helps her shift her focus from stress to connection. “Community really does that for us,” she told me. “It’s only by leaning into those things that give us joy that we truly survive. It's the people around us, the places we love, the things that bring us together.”

Her words stuck with me. Maybe the answer to navigating life’s daily pressures isn’t about escaping them, but about noticing the glimmers that remind us we’re part of something larger. We're all a part of this Orlando community.

This short video captures that moment in our conversation. I hope it helps you pause for a second, breathe, and possibly notice your own glimmers today.