Little Healing Things
- Cara McLauchlan
- 4 hours ago
- 6 min read
My friend Susan called it "chasing the glimmers."
After her very painful divorce and shoving all her energy into her career, she said she wasn't quite sure who she was anymore.
She forgot what she loved before all this happened. But she knew she owed it to herself and her kids to find out. She called it the season of "chasing the glimmers"—trying out and trying on nurturing and heartfelt pursuits. After becoming a dried up and dusty version of herself, these life-giving adventures allowed her to breathe life into her heart again.
What happened next was a captivating story filled with adventures—silent retreats, mountain climbing, and exotic travels. But the thing she ultimately landed on as most life-giving was gathering friends and flowers. It started by noticing how much joy she found in flowers, then expanded to visiting gardens and floral shows. She combined the two, creating a regular rhythm of gathering women in community to enjoy creative projects all centered around flowers.
Pardon the pun—the beauty of flowers allowed her to bloom again.
What I love about my friend's journey is that, truly, it's a story of healing. I think all of us, in some way, long to heal—whether it's from long-ago wounds, grieving a season of loss, or facing real needs to heal from serious illness. All of us need healing in every stage of life.
For me, I need healing in so many ways—healing in the empty nest places, and healing for family members facing serious illness in my midst. Healing from wounds I unintentionally caused in relationships, and learning to forgive myself too. I want to heal, and I want to help others heal too.
If you, too, are interested in small ways to heal, here are a few things I've been working on. Most of these are obvious and available to us, but if you are like me, you forget. I’m praying they are a blessing to you, wherever you are in your healing journey. Each of these reminders is a chance to engage with the ultimate healer, Christ, who heals us in ways only He can.
Little Healing Things
1. Slow Down and Breathe.
Here's a simple way to feel instantly better—slow down, breathe, repeat. We add so much burden to our lives by rushing, pushing, and striving all the time. Most of the time, I find I'm creating a false sense of urgency in my life. We put so much on ourselves—myself included. I'm working on giving myself grace to slow down and stop constantly trying to do more and more and more.
What if I wasn't always in a hurry—rushing, pushing, and in constant motion? How would that invite health and goodness into my life and my relationships? Noticing and resting in our breath helps us set a kinder, gentler pace for our days.
2. Remember the Joy of Play.
I loved creating little books as a kid. Back then, all we had was plain paper and crayons, and yet a whole world of imagination was available to us. Somehow as an adult, I forget that this same creativity, joy, and play are still available to me. And yet—they are.
What did you love as a kid? Recently, I took my neighbor's kids out for dinner, and they reminded me how much fun it is to play. We had silly conversations about mermaids, weird ice cream flavors, and so many joyful things. They reminded me that the child in me still exists. That whole world of creativity, imagination, and fun is still ours for the having.
Where can you play again like you used to as a child?
When we reconnect with that playfulness, it not only makes us a delight to be around, but it naturally blesses others in our midst. Taking time to play—to goof off—gives us permission to not take ourselves so seriously all the time.
3. Choose Rest.
When I was a kid, every day at summer camp we had "Flat on Back" time for one hour. We hated it—we couldn't talk, and we had to lie in our bunks and read or close our eyes. But afterward, we always felt better. We had more energy, we were refreshed from the mental break—and still, we fought it the whole time.
I still feel like that middle school kid, resisting rest. Can you imagine how much better we might be as a society if we all had "Flat on Back" time for an hour every day?
The more important question is: what does real rest look like for you? For me, it's simple breaks throughout the day—taking a walk, drinking water, sitting outside for lunch, watering my plants. If I'm feeling off or drained, I sometimes give myself permission to lie down for 30 minutes and close my eyes. And yet, I still fight it like a middle schooler.
Wherever you land, getting into bed earlier and giving ourselves grace to rest more often may be one of the greatest healing gifts we can give ourselves.
4. Nourish Yourself Beautifully.
If you are what you eat, I'd like to be mostly coffee, cheese, and chocolate.
In truth, we all know we need to eat better. But the why is what motivates me. It's not always easy to choose the organic, the healthy, and to be mindful of what I'm putting in my body. I want the potato chip—but I also want to live long enough to enjoy grandkids and have more adventures in life.
If I want to live with vitality, I have to fill my cupboards with good things—farmers market finds and nourishing foods—rather than the cheap and easy processed stuff.
All the tiny good habits build on each other. When I nourish myself well, I give myself the best chance at a long and vibrant life. When I eat better, I feel better. It sounds simple—because it is, if we don't overcomplicate it. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Choose the best you can. That's all.
5. Spend Time in Nature.
You probably don't need me to tell you how relaxing it is to listen to birds, watch a sunset, or take in a beautiful overlook on a hike. But if you're like me, sometimes you forget the healing power of nature.
All we have to do is step outside, and it's there for the having. And it's free. God was a genius in giving us the outdoors to enjoy in every season. Even if it's only for five minutes a day—step outside and notice what you see. Look around your front yard, stroll your neighborhood, or visit a nearby park or trail.
Nature is healing and life-giving in every season. It's there for you, ready when you are.
6. Practice Silence and Solitude
The thing that gets me out of bed in the morning is knowing I get to spend the first 30 minutes doing absolutely nothing. With a coffee in hand, it's just me and Jesus—usually sitting on the porch. I love to start my day simply sitting and listening. There's no set schedule—it might be five minutes or longer—but the invitation is the same: to rest in God's goodness before the day begins.
I can tell the difference when I skip it. This quiet space sets the tone for everything that follows. If you've never tried it, consider giving yourself this free gift—time to be still before your day begins. No expectations, just presence with yourself and your Maker.
Starting the day grounded in silence and solitude allows me to begin from a place of peace.
7. Cultivate a Heart of Gratitude
Complaining is easy—gratitude takes intention. Sometimes it comes naturally, like on a Friday afternoon before a holiday. But on a dreary Monday in the middle of winter, gratitude requires creativity.
In difficult moments, we can gently challenge ourselves to ask, "What's good about this?" When we ask better questions, our minds begin to look for better answers. This isn't about pretending everything is perfect—hard things are still hard.
But when I choose gratitude, it always changes me. It reshapes my perspective and helps me find the good, even when it's only visible to me. And somehow, that brings healing to my heart.
Your Turn—What Heals You?
My guess is you already have your own list of small things that invite healing.
Sometimes it feels like a Rubik's Cube—constantly adjusting and realigning our habits and practices. But the beauty is this: as we tend to our own healing, the impact extends beyond us. We move toward a more flourishing life, and the people we love experience the overflow of our wholeness.
PS If I could add one more, it would be this: find a community of like-minded encouragers—and if possible, a community of faith. My heart is always better when I'm reminded that life is about more than me. When I'm surrounded by community, I naturally step into the healing power of loving and encouraging others, while staying grounded in the goodness of God
