Mud & Lotus Stories

Reflections on growth, struggle and becoming.

Emily Zeiler Emily Zeiler

The Tug of War in My Head

“I woke up that Thursday morning, replaying the conversation in my head again. 

I hadn’t even seen my boss all week and yet I had told her already in 5 different ways about my need for time off…”

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Emily Zeiler Emily Zeiler

A Little Water, A Little Grace

“I questioned my shortcomings as the days went on. Why didn’t I just water it? Why am I just watching it die? And I would just watch. It felt like a monumental effort to put some water in a container, open the door, pour it onto the plant, and put the container away…”

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Emily Zeiler Emily Zeiler

Plucking the Thorns

“I really looked at myself and plucked those thorns out one by one. It was grueling. I kept plucking them - painfully - until I finally realized there was a rose there all along…”

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Emily Zeiler Emily Zeiler

The Unexpected Door

“For the umpteenth day in a row I woke up and thought about the truth and what I needed to do about it…”

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Emily Zeiler Emily Zeiler

Listening to My Body

In 2013/2014, I was nearing the end of my graduate program. had a paid job, an internship and attended classes weekly. I had long commutes for all of this. Suddenly, one day I was so dizzy I could hardly drive…

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