Well, hello there. My name is Morgan Harper Nichols. I'm an artist and a writer, and this is a space where I share poetry and prose 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.

And today's piece is called,

Feeling stressed,

here's a calming reminder for the day.

The act of seeking calmness is a journey,

and you are worthy of that journey.

Give yourself permission to pace yourself along this path. Remember, you live in a world that makes it hard and sometimes nearly impossible to find

peace and that is not your fault at all. So if it feels challenging to find a

quiet moment away from the noise or a moment of rest where you don't feel guilty about not doing

something else, be gentle with yourself because for so long you have been learning to survive in a world

built for the rush. Rest isn't easy to stumble into, even on a day off. So be patient with yourself

as you continue to seek what brings you a sense of calmness.

Be kind to that part of yourself that finds it difficult to rest.

And be proud of yourself for any step you take away from stress and toward peace. Some days you may set out to have a quiet hour to

yourself only to be interrupted by a phone call five minutes in. Other days you might seek to curl up

in bed with a book only to fall asleep before you make it past the first page.

This is okay. You have not failed at seeking calmness because something else got in the way.

Embrace the rhythms of life by not judging yourself when something suddenly changes.

Recognize as long as you are living, there will be time to seek out that place of peace again.

Trust, you'll get back to those quiet moments outdoors. You'll get back to the book you've been meaning to read.

You'll get back to the rest your body seeks.

You will get back.

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