It’s definitely a kind of grief…

Why Glasgow Feels a Little Heavy Today

There’s a strange feeling in Glasgow today. It’s hard to describe exactly, but many people seem to be carrying the same quiet heaviness after the fire in the city centre on Sunday.

It’s easy to look at the news and think the sadness is only about buildings. But it isn’t really about bricks or roofs. It’s about what those places meant to the people who used them every day.

In this case, since 1851.

So many friends have memories of being taken to see the various adverts, in particular, the Irn Bru one, brightly lit up.

Cities are made up of routines as much as architecture. A favourite café before work. The shop you always pass on the way to the train. The salon you go to every few weeks where someone knows your name and asks how life is going.

I am particularly thinking of CJ who had her salon there. It wasn’t just her salon, there were presents and paintings from clients, little trinkets dotted about the place. It really had soul.

When a fire suddenly takes those places away, it disrupts something deeper than we expect. It breaks the small, familiar rhythms that quietly shape daily life.

For some people the connection is very personal. Maybe it’s the hairdresser you’ve trusted for years, the place you chat and laugh while life gets sorted out one appointment at a time. When somewhere like that is lost overnight, it can feel surprisingly emotional — even if you weren’t there when the fire happened.

There’s also the shock of seeing a familiar part of the city changed so suddenly. Streets that felt permanent and stable can suddenly look fragile. It reminds us that the places we love are not guaranteed to always be there.

Another reason many people feel a bit flat today is the constant flow of images and updates online. When something happens locally, it’s easy to keep refreshing our phones, looking for more photos, more stories, more information. But that can make the loss feel bigger and more immediate than it already does.

What people in Glasgow are feeling today isn’t unusual. It’s a form of collective grief for shared spaces, routines and memories.

The buildings affected by the fire were part of the living fabric of the city. They held conversations, laughter, small businesses, and everyday moments that don’t make the news but matter deeply to the people who experienced them.

Glasgow has always been a city with a strong sense of community, and that’s often most visible after difficult moments. Today might feel a little quieter, a little heavier. But the same connections that made those places special are still here.

And in time, those connections are what will help the city rebuild.

For me, the loss felt surprisingly close to home. I’m a massage therapist, and my hairdresser was based in one of the many salons affected by the fire. It was such a lovely place — the kind of salon where you didn’t just go for a haircut, you went for the atmosphere, the conversations, the familiarity.

Like so many small businesses in the centre of Glasgow, it was part of the rhythm of everyday life. Knowing it’s suddenly gone feels strange and sad in a way I didn’t quite expect.

Today I’ve also caught myself doing what many people are probably doing — checking my phone again and again for updates, photos, or more stories about what happened. But sometimes stepping away from that constant stream of news is the kindest thing we can do for ourselves.

If Glasgow feels a little heavy today, there are small things that can help lighten that feeling.

Talk to people about the places you loved. Share memories. Support the businesses and workers who have been affected if you’re able. And maybe take a moment to appreciate the everyday spaces around you that quietly shape your life.

Cities are made of people and connections more than buildings. And those connections are still very much here.

The buildings may be damaged or gone, but the community that filled them is still part of Glasgow. And that’s something no fire can take away.

Here’s a quick list of things to take the edge off the horrible feeling. I really am quite surprised how I feel about this.

🌿 Step away from constant updates – doom-scrolling can intensify stress.
☕ Visit or support other local businesses – even a coffee or sharing their posts helps.
💬 Talk about it – collective events affect communities emotionally.
🚶 Get outside – walking through the city can help process the change.
❤️ Check in with people affected – stylists, shop owners, staff.

Here comes a hug to anyone affected, reading this.

Catch!

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