ZORA

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Cherish the Journey

Morgan Jerkins
ZORA
Published in
1 min readSep 14, 2020

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Black and white photo of Pauli Murray against a violet background.
Photo illustration; Image source: Bettmann/Getty Images

“What is often called exceptional ability is nothing more than persistent endeavor.” — Pauli Murray, lawyer, Episcopal priest, author, civil rights activist

Growing up in a Pentecostal church, I’ve often been told that a test can become someone’s testimony. I’ve found this saying overlap with reminders that we don’t know the journey that one has taken even if we’re in awe of the peak of their achievements. I think that this is a great way to keep ourselves in check if we are ever envious of others’ accomplishments — especially those who we don’t know—or frustrated with the path en route to our dreams.

It is always good to remember that whenever we see someone’s breakthrough, there may have been breakdowns and false starts along the way. Rejections may be redirections and failures can lead to open doors elsewhere. Being persistent is key. No one has a lasting impact without dogged effort and if we hold, we will see the fruits of our labor.

ZORA Readers, what are you endeavoring toward? #ZORACheckIn

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ZORA
ZORA

Published in ZORA

A publication from Medium that centers the stories, poetry, essays and thoughts of women of color.

Morgan Jerkins
Morgan Jerkins

Written by Morgan Jerkins

Morgan Jerkins is the Senior Editor at ZORA and a New York Times bestselling author. Her debut novel, “Caul Baby,” will be published by Harper in April 2021.

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