Bradlee Zrudlo

Hard times

Things have been tough for me lately. Over the past few months, I have been learning more about trauma, the major impact it’s had on me, and how it is the root of so much of my struggles. I have been at low points in my life, but none have felt quite so low asContinue reading “Hard times”

Reconnecting to myself

Sometimes I hear my voice inside me and it’s loud and clear. Other times it’s like there is so much noise from the world that is making it harder to know who I am and where I stand. Today, I went for a walk in the woods and I heard the noise. I felt theContinue reading “Reconnecting to myself”

Helping others and myself

I really like helping others. I also really like helping myself and giving myself care, compassion, and gentleness. Life has felt hard lately, probably because it has been really tough. When times are like that, I feel myself rising to the challenge and other times, I feel myself getting smaller and in need of timeContinue reading “Helping others and myself”

Overwhelmed by my own needs

Yesterday I heard the title of this post inside of me, and I silently agreed with it. It is a sad thing to be overwhelmed by my own needs, so I did the following things: It felt great to take some pressure off of myself and to settle more deeply into being me, just asContinue reading “Overwhelmed by my own needs”

Reaching across

I am reaching Reaching across my inner divideTo the one who feels so unsafe and so unlovedBut I see I have been reaching in the wrong direction I have been doing so much to control my environment to keep myself safeAnd I have been talking nicely and kindly to myselfBut in this moment, I seeContinue reading “Reaching across”

Sometimes

It is okay to slow down. It is okay to rest. It is okay not to compare oneself to others. It is okay (and a good idea) to smile when feeling down. It is okay to need help, to eat what doesn’t make you feel the best, and to laugh at the irony of life.Continue reading “Sometimes”

Deeper

Deeper – A self-care poem Sometimes I catch myself trying to accomplish something when I’m feelinglostsadconfused oroverwhelmed. Most of the time, the temporary high I get from accomplishing something is very fleeting andleads me to want to accomplish something else. I honestly had no idea that I was running away from myself when I wasContinue reading “Deeper”

When I write – a poem

When I write Sometimes, when I write, the wisest and steadiest parts of me have something to shareAnd it uplifts and inspires me. Other times, the most traumatized and fractured parts of meHave something to sayAnd it’s painfulDifficultAnd hardBut what they share is no less wise.In fact, those feelings help me learn how to moreContinue reading “When I write – a poem”

So Beautiful – a poem

So Beautiful This dance of pain, exhaustion, joy and loveIs so so beautifulHow could I trade the way I am and the ways I experience lifeWhen it leads to such depth of feeling?The love I feel in my heart for humanity this morning is so preciousSo all encompassing, pure and full of tendernessAnd yet theContinue reading “So Beautiful – a poem”

Rejoicing and Grieving

Rejoicing and grieving. Two seemingly opposing feelings, and yet, I have felt them both most of the week. I wonder if that is how a birch tree feels? It is always growing, yet shedding its bark. I learn a lot from nature. It is always teaching me how to relate to myself more kindly andContinue reading “Rejoicing and Grieving”