The Morgan Harper Nichols Podcast

Inspired by page 22 of https://morganharpernichols.com/howfaryouhavecome ("How Far You Have Come" by Morgan Harper Nichols, now available where books are sold.)

A lot of things had to happen for us to be able to arrive at this particular moment. Today, we're looking at waterfalls to remind us of this truth. Episode Sources: Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterfall (Waterfall (Wikipedia),) https://g.co/kgs/u8FmEc (Oxford Languages Dictionary)

Every year, monarch butterflies migrate from as far north as Canada to as far south as Mexico to escape the cold winters. And in the spring, they head back north.* However, what makes this migration unique isn’t just the migration itself but how many generations of monarch butterflies it takes to get there. Because the lifespan of the monarch butterfly is only a few weeks, it actually takes multiple generations to finally make it back to the north.** The monarch butterfly migration looks different than the migration of other insects and is a mystery to many. Some of these journeys end up being as long as 3,000 miles.***  And yet, every year, monarch butterflies return south to the same place where their great-great-grandparents were the year before. The monarch butterfly migration is fascinating for many reasons, and one thing that captivates my attention the most is this concept of how many generations it takes for this migration to happen. I think about the journeys I’ve taken in my own life and how I look forward to arriving at the destination. The idea of traveling all of these miles, through multiple landscapes, terrains, and weather conditions should result in finally arriving at a destination…right? The monarch butterflies see it differently. The monarch butterfly migration is a reminder of what it means to pave the way. To carry on on a journey that you might not actually live to see the end of.  I think of the monarch butterflies in the middle of the migration. The ones who maybe never lived to see either Mexico or Canada, and yet, they are still a part of this path that many other butterflies have taken. They are still a part of the journey, even if only for a few weeks. A poem, to the one in the middle: Oh how beautifully your presence matters here (even without knowing what your impact will be through the years). You are a part of the long cyclical journey flying south flying north, you have always been a part of how we move forth. II What greater journey are we willing to be a part of, even if it’s only for a limited time? Even if it's someone else who lives to see the finish line? Learn even more about Monarch Butterfly Migration (Sources for this video) *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWOySU_hAz0 (Watch a Breathtaking Monarch Butterfly Swarm - Nature on PBS (YouTube)) **https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBakLuH6kDY (Unraveling the Monarch Butterfly Migration Mystery - It's Okay To Be Smart (YouTube)) ***https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/monarch-butterfly?loggedin=true (Monarch Butterfly - NationalGeographic.com)

Question of the day: Does the idea of life as a cycle give you a sense of comfort? Why or why not?

Note to self: you don't have to hide anymore.

For the one seeking patience

Sometimes letting go will be the hardest thing you’ll ever do but you will find that it loosens up something within you so you can keep traveling  the way you were meant to.  – MHN

May we learn to embrace the tension of things...this is how we will grow

“Self-awareness is a beautiful thing. And it becomes a powerful thing when you use it to lean into the chasm that lay between your flaws and your fortes. To confront, to grieve, to wonder, to evaluate—but never to stay." - https://www.instagram.com/rachelmariekang/ (Rachel Marie Kang)

What are we willing to create in the absence of light? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okH5n9CZbx0 (Black Art: In the Absence of Light - Trailer (YouTube)) https://www.hbo.com/documentaries/black-art-in-the-absence-of-light (Black Art: In the Absence of Light (HBO Max)) Book mentioned: https://g.co/kgs/5C7oS9 (African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle & Song )

What to remember before you start the race.

Joy doesn't discriminate -- what a beautiful thing.

You were meant to create. You were not just made to consume. You have a voice and story, too.

I was so moved, my eyes teared underwater, and I mixed my saltiness with the ocean’s…I looked around to find my position vis-a-vis the boat and couldn’t. But it didn’t matter. Home was everywhere. – Diane Ackerman 

Adventure is not tied to who said you could come along. It is tied to the journey you’ve been on all along. -Morgan Harper Nichols