Well, hello there. My name is Morgan Harper-Nichols. I'm an artist and a writer, and this is a space where I share words that I hope can make a little room for you to slow down and take a few deep breaths as you prepare for whatever lies ahead. Thanks for being here today. And now on to today's episode. Well, happy New Year, everyone. I don't know what

today has looked like for you so far, but I do hope that we can each remember this. There is no

right way to approach a new year. There is no

singular right way to set goals and intentions. As we embrace all of the newness, as we embrace all of the

newness yet to come, I hope we can take a moment to say this to ourselves.

I am allowed to take it slow, and I'm also allowed to be ambitious. I am allowed to be somewhere

in between. I'm allowed to be a mixture of these things. My mindset might change day by day, month by month, and that is okay.

I have started to think of the new year as a new chapter. It doesn't have to be a new book.

It can just be a new chapter. When it comes to new chapters, each one is written differently. Some chapters

may start off slowly while others dive right into the action. The pace of the chapter might

pick up halfway through or maybe it maintains a quiet, steady flow. Like the rings on a tree,

some chapters will be smaller while others will be more

robust. No matter what your chapter looks like, it is worthy of the energy you are putting in.

Above all outs, what is most important is knowing that we can find peace and we can find grace no matter the chapters

we find ourselves in. We can still practice gratitude. We can still experience joy. There is so

much to be discovered right here where we are. So with this in mind, here's a poem for the new year called Here's to a

new chapter, written by me. Here's to a new chapter. Here's to turning the page. Here's to realizing

the story continues, no matter your yesterday.

Through every high and every low, through every place in between,

through every time you have wondered if you would have what you need.

Morning rose up before you.

You stepped into the light.

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