Smuggling Grace

Tweet by Benjamin Perry reads, “What to hear something amazing about crying? Emotional tears have higher protein concentration that irritant tears, which makes them fall down your cheeks more slowly — increasing the chance that they’ll be seen and solicit care. In literal ways, your body is built for community.”

A few times per year, I always like to say thank you for following here at Smuggling Grace. I appreciate you taking the time to connect here, and as always, thanks for engaging too. I enjoy reading and hearing your comments virtually on the platform, in emails, or during real time conversation. Thank you!

And I’m always happy to expand the audience as well. Do you know anyone who might enjoy connecting with this blog? If so, feel free to pass it along. The more the merrier!

And I wish you a wonderful day.

Thanks for engaging in community with me!

–Renee Roederer

Also, a few times a year, I always extend an invitation to support this blog on Patreon. Or! You can tip me with a coffee! Both of these are always great gifts, but are never expected. I appreciate you being here.

Do yourself a favor and go laugh at this thread. So many silly, clever answers!

A person I appreciate says this: If you want to make changes in your health, in your personal rhythms, in your structure, in your work, and in your life, start with one thing, and it can be small. She says, “Make 1% changes, and them it compound.”

When we make small shifts, we are likely to stick with them, and once they’ve become solid habits, we can add another “1% change.”

Most of our lives do not divide precisely into percentages, but I’ll share that three weeks ago, or so, I moved from 7 hours of sleep to 8 hours consistently. That was a 12.5% change nightly. That feels great, and it’s a very solid change to build upon.

Any 1% changes you want to make?

–Renee Roederer

— Photos by Renee Roederer

I just really want everyone to know this. What a cute, fun fact.

I really appreciate this quote and framing of boundaries by Prentis Hemphill: “Boundaries are the distance at which I can love you and me simultaneously.”

I think this is really helpful. And this framing is a good reflection point, allowing us to consider how our relationships are functioning. It also gives us empowerment to move that distance closer or farther based on the needs of the moment.

–Renee Roederer

A lyric grabbed my attention. My music was playing on shuffle when Jamiroquai’s “Canned Heat,” came on. I adore that song, and of course, I can’t listen without picturing Napoleon Dynamite dancing to it. (I adore that silly movie).

Have you ever had so many things go frustratingly wrong? Or lived through a cascade of dysfunction? Or watched things spiral into Murphy’s Law?

Is there really anything left to do but dance? 🙂 That’s what Jamiroquai says, or at least, what Napoleon Dynamite says with his dance moves after the campaign seems to crumble with Pedro.

So whatever it is in my world and in yours, let’s start cutting a rug.

We know about past, present, and future tenses, and we use them regularly in English. But some languages additionally use perfect tense. English uses this at times too, but I came to know about perfect tense when studying ancient Greek in seminary.

A perfect tense verb is an action that took place in the past that has continuing relevance for the present and future. I think this is a lovely thing to think about…

We who find ourselves in this present moment with its own gifts and challenges alike might imagine being in relationship with the perfect tense. After all, aren’t there some beautiful moments, loves, people, and whole communities who are a part of our past but continue to have relevance for the present and future?

And if this is the case, we can call these moments, loves, people, and whole communities to ourselves purposefully. We bring them to our memories, our emotions, and the physical sensations in our bodies. Though they are in the past, in a very real way, they can be experienced in the present too.

–Renee Roederer