Well, hello there. It's Morgan here and welcome to today's episode. Today's audio is going to sound

a little bit different because this is a repeat episode. I, when I would normally be working on

the podcast, I was working on finishing up a research paper. So I'm a little bit behind on my

regular routine, but I so wanted to share something today.

And what I talk about in this mini essay that I share is something that I'm still thinking about,

even a year after I wrote and recorded it. So it has special meaning for me. And I hope that

it connects with you too. Thank you so much for being here today.

Navigating our way through the darkness. A mini essay by me, Morgan Harper Nichols. There is a

profound difference between these two internet searches. Search number one, nightlights for adults, search number two, nightlights for kids.

The search results for number two are significantly more interesting. For adults, you're going to

find softer hues with a little dash of color here and there, but nothing too wild. But if you look up kids nightlights,

you're looking up galaxies now, like full-blown starry night skies that cover the whole room.

You're looking at stars that are wearing nightcaps and smiley faces, rabbits, pineapples, neon unicorns, it's a lot more interesting.

It's almost like there's a lot more room for imagination to help kids navigate their way

through the night. And this makes sense, of course. I mean, after all, they have only been here for a few years.

The night can be a scary place where monsters lurk in the shadowy corners of the room and camp out beneath the bed.

As we get older, we learn that those monsters aren't real.

We learn not to fear the dark as much.

Or do we?

Do we actually learn how to find rest in the darkness?

Somewhere along the way, picture books and cartoons become something for kids. Fantasy stories and colorful pajamas are

childhood phases that we grow out of. We grow up and we grow up to the point that we don't need

...