— Photos by Renee Roederer
Baby Elephants Suck Their Trunks for Comfort
I just really want everyone to know this. What a cute, fun fact.
Boundaries as a Way to Love
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
Nothing Left For Me To Do But Dance
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.
Perfect Tense
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
People Who Delight in Your Delight
Several times this summer, I felt delight and I will even say, glee. Whether it was spinning around in the water of the Great Lakes and enjoying the crest of the waves, or feeling the breeze while riding a bike, or simply driving in my car to a good bop, there were a couple of times I thought, “If people could see what I’m doing, they’d be delighted to see it.” I was so readily enjoying myself.
That doesn’t mean that every moment this summer was puppies and rainbows. They weren’t.
But these moments were. And I felt people with me.
–Renee Roederer
Reconstitute the World
I am grateful for people who act and care in large ways and in small ways. I am grateful for people who live fully and freely as themselves and make the world better in ways that only they can.
It matters. You matter.
“…My heart is moved by all I cannot save:
so much has been destroyed
I have to cast my lot with those
who age after age, perversely,
with no extraordinary power,
reconstitute the world.”
-Adrienne Rich
*Thanks also to MaryAnn McKibben Dana who introduced me to this quote when she shared it in her newsletter, The Blue Room.
Today in Nature
5 Things We Never Say to People We Love But We Should
I really love this list by Malanda Jean-Claude.
5 things we never say to people we love but we should:
1. it is an honor that we exist in the same space and time didn’t choose to separate us by eons.
2. the world is a better place with your soul in it.
3. laughing with you plucks anxiety out of my heart, you are a gift to my lungs.
4. your past is not a threat, it’s what brought you to me.
5. i pray about you, still.
I’m going to make an effort to say at least one of these this weekend.
Place
I’m taking a Staycation Day today, and I am looking forward to it very much. If you’ve followed this blog for a while, it won’t be a surprise that I plan to be in nature for much of the day. If fact, I think I’m going to go kayaking!
As we start September 1, I’m also reflecting on the gift of this summer. First off, I adore summer. A few days ago, I shared that I wish we were on a rotation of a) a year with all four seasons, followed by b) a whole year of summer, then repeated consistently. I’d love that! But deep down, in addition to enjoying the warmth and the open windows, I love summer because it becomes an occasion to explore place.
I adore place — my place. I love the Great Lakes region of the U.S. I decided this was going to be the summer I go to the Great Lakes an embarrassing number of times. And you know what? I delivered! I explored all five, and I visited Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie a lot. Truly, an embarrassing number of times. But no regrets. I greatly needed an adventurous summer.
And place is adventurous. This is not only true when it comes to the big, regional features. This is true on daily walks. This is true in our backyard. I also took photos daily of the flowers, animals, and unique features I found, just exploring my neighborhood and my wider town. I discovered that there is so much beauty. Too often, we place it in the background, unnoticed, as we ruminate on our anxieties or stressors. Those anxieties and stressors can loom large, no doubt. But it’s a great gift to be placed and notice what is around us. In fact, this is one of the best ways to ease those anxieties and stressors.
As we start September, I hope you feel connected to your own sense of place. I hope that gifts you.
–Renee Roederer
Smuggling Grace 