Some things take time – my first poetry book and a new poem

I have been writing poetry for several years now. Writing has helped and guided me through periods of massive personal growth. It has also helped me learn to connect with myself and learn to become an expert in taking care of myself.

I kept my writing in a drawer for quite awhile. When I slowly and shyly started sharing it with others, I started understanding how powerful my words were. And how they contained so much healing and acceptance.

I am so grateful to be able to transform my life experiences into poetry; lately I have been feeling the depth of my poetry’s alchemy. I feel its power to help heal, guide and validate others and I am humbled and grateful. And so, I am sharing the exciting news that I have published my first book of poems about grief, loss and transition. I am donating the proceeds to the Beth Donovan Hospice to thank them for all they did for me after my mom passed unexpectedly in February 2019. It is my hope that it brings peace, comfort and healing to all those who need it 💕. I invite you to learn more here:

I offer this new poem in honor of you and all the pain, heartache, grief and loss it has included. It is dedicated to my beautiful friend Carla ❤️. She has inspired me to know that no matter how agonizingly slow my personal growth and ability to self-love have seemed, it is okay. Some things take time.

Some things take time

“We don’t judge a fetus in utero for how long it takes until it is ready to be born.
We don’t rush a flower to hurry up and bloom while the petals are still forming.
We don’t expect a toddler to write a PhD thesis or to be able to drive a car.

So why do we rush ourselves through our healing?
Why do we judge ourselves for being exactly where we are at?

Some things take time. 
The exact amount of time until they are ready, not because they are slow, doing anything wrong or broken.
But just because that’s the amount of time they need.

If you are frustrated, angry or overwhelmed by the length, depth and breadth of your healing journey, I am with you.
I have felt like this for the last 10 years.
What I woke up this morning with is this,
‘Some things take time.’
I feel like there is so much truth in that.

Maybe if we can be with ourselves and sit in our discomfort and pain, we wouldn’t judge ourselves for being exactly where we are at.
Maybe if our culture didn’t value doing over being, we would all expect a long period of healing in our lives and we would know that some things take time.
Whatever the reasons, what matters is this:
You are valid no matter what is going on in your life.
You matter even if you have been in a tough spot for what feels like 100 years too long.
You are a precious treasure even if you feel as worthless as the gum under a school desk or as gross as poop stuck to a shoe.
You are special even if you have been crying, yelling, grieving, hating or fearing for longer than you ever wanted to.
With each breath you take today and every day, may all cycles of abuse within your life and those around you be completely healed and resolved.
With every judgement, may you love yourself more than ever before.
With every moment you choose to be instead of do, may our societal expectations of value from doing be completely healed and transformed.

Some things take time.
You are worthy of all the time you need.
Breathe in and know, you matter.
Take your time dear one, take your time.”

Thanks for reading. I love and honor you exactly as you are. Some things take time, even publishing poetry books, writing blogs, or having the strength to become an expert in yourself. I super get it and I am with you!

© Bradlee Zrudlo 2022. All Rights Reserved