YOUR JULY JOY CHALLENGE
Find Your Glimmers
“Summer doesn't have to be extraordinary to be unforgettable.”
When was the last time you had so much fun you forgot to check your phone?
Not the kind of fun that comes with planning, coordinating, or making sure everyone else is okay first.
Real fun.
I'm talking about the kind that makes you lose track of time.
Mine happened on a trampoline.
I was at my niece's birthday party - surrounded by kids, chaos, and cake - and somehow I ended up bouncing with them. And I laughed. Like, really laughed. The kind that comes from your belly and doesn't stop.
For those few minutes, I wasn't thinking about work, my inbox, the laundry waiting at home, or the million things on my to-do list.
I was just…present.
On the drive home, I realized it wasn't the trampoline that stayed with me - it was the feeling. That lightness. That freedom.
It made me wonder: When did we stop making room for moments like that?
Somewhere between building careers, raising families, supporting our communities, checking in on everyone else, and carrying the mental load, joy quietly slipped to the bottom of the list.
"I'll relax after..."
"I'll make time next month..."
"I'll enjoy myself once everything is done."
Except...everything is never done.
As Black women, we're often expected to be the dependable one. The strong one. The one who figures it out. Those qualities are something to be proud of, but they shouldn't come at the expense of our own joy.
We can be responsible and joyful.
Productive and playful.
Strong and soft.
This summer, I'm choosing both. And I hope you will too.
So here's your July challenge...
Find Your Glimmers
Joy isn't always loud. Sometimes it shows up in the smallest, most unexpected moments.
There's actually a word for these little moments: glimmers.
Coined by licensed clinical social worker Deb Dana, a glimmer is a small moment that makes you feel calm, connected, safe, or unexpectedly happy. Think of them as the opposite of triggers. Instead of putting your nervous system on high alert, they remind it that, even for a moment, everything is okay.
The best thing about glimmers is that they're already happening all around us. You just have to notice them.
Maybe it's…
Feeling the sun on your face
Your favourite song coming on at exactly the right time
Laughing until your stomach hurts
That first sip of coffee before anyone needs you
Catching an incredible sunset on your drive home
Fresh flowers on your table
Getting lost in a good book
A long hug
Watching your child experience something for the first time
They're small. But they’re powerful.
In fact, research suggests that intentionally noticing positive moments can help lower stress, build resilience, and improve emotional well-being.
Joy doesn't always arrive in the form of a big vacation, a promotion, or a major life event.
Sometimes it's hiding in an ordinary Tuesday.
Your July Joy Challenge
For the rest of the month, notice one glimmer every day. Just one.
Write it in your Notes app. Snap a photo. Text it to yourself. Start a running list. Whatever works.
At the end of the month, look back at everything you collected. You might be surprised by how much joy was there all along.
A Few Questions to Think About
What made you ridiculously happy as a kid?
When was the last time you laughed until your stomach hurt?
What makes you completely lose track of time?
What's something you've been waiting to "earn" permission to enjoy?
Summer doesn't have to be extraordinary to be unforgettable.
Sometimes it's a trampoline.
A walk around the neighbourhood.
Music while you cook dinner.
Ice cream on a Tuesday.
A phone call with someone who makes you laugh.
So this July, notice your glimmers.
Collect them.
Hold onto them.
You might discover that the moments you'll remember most weren't the biggest ones - they were simply the ones where you felt most alive.
Check out these events happening in Durham this month:
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10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Pickering Museum Village, 2365 6th Concession Road, Greenwood, ON
$36.67 (+$12.57 pizza add-on)
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8:45 PM - 10:45 PM
Ajax Community Centre Sports Field (South Field), 75 Centennial Rd, Ajax, ON
FREE
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6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Rotary Sunrise Lake Park (Grass near gazebo), 269 Water Street, Whitby, ON
FREE
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written by Nickisha RASHID