Erica Whyman

let me get this straight a team will not be playing in the FIFA World Cup because they are currently being bombed by the FIFA Peace Prize winner

Hugs to those who find Mother's Day a struggle. Whether you don't get on, she's no longer here, you can't be with her or whatever your story, I'm sending love xxx

Happiness does not come closer to you when you chase it, because chasing assumes it is missing. Most people try to fix their moods. Instead, fix how you perceive your pain. When your mind keeps asking, "Did I get enough?" peace and joy cannot stay. Happiness is not excitement. It is stability. You enjoy what comes, but you do not depend on it. Pleasure visits. Pain visits. You welcome both. This does not make life dull. It makes it lighter and more balanced. Nothing owns you, so nothing can shake you. 24/7 happiness is not a smile. It is the absence of inner noise when approval stops feeding you and fear stops driving you. You do not feel high. You feel free. That freedom is happiness that does not expire. ***** This winter, I brought to life something that has lived in my imagination for years—the first annual print edition of The Gurdeep Magazine. It features writing from other contributors alongside my own work. If you feel called to hold this warmth of printed words in your hands, visit Gurdeep.ca/magazine.

Numerous posts across various social media platforms are actively suggesting to us as humans that we should remain divided and harbour hatred toward one another. Recent wars and conflicts happening around the world are unfortunately reinforcing and amplifying this troubling idea. However, we should never forget or lose sight of the fundamental truth that we belong to each other and are deeply related. All these divides, whether they are religious, racial, political, or based on other categories, are deliberately created and maintained by those in positions of power as a strategic means to rise to power or to maintain and strengthen their existing power, because they are fully aware that dividing people and setting them against each other is one of the most effective ways to gain support and control. But we as humans need to come together in solidarity and should not forget or abandon our fundamental interconnectedness and shared humanity. We are one world, one human family. On this small planet we call home in this huge universe, no land is truly foreign, we are all citizens of Earth, bound together by our shared existence. ***** This winter, I brought to life something that has lived in my imagination for years—the first annual print edition of The Gurdeep Magazine. It features writing from other contributors alongside my own work. If you feel called to hold this warmth of printed words in your hands, visit Gurdeep.ca/magazine.

I just read Virginia Roberts Giuffre's book "Nobody's Girl" and I'm devastated. Especially knowing now she's gone. I drew this cartoon almost 10 years ago to illustrate what women, girls, and men who care are up against: carelessness protected by power. Let's not give up caring.

Unbelievably proud of @MarkRavenhill2, Erica, Sam, Vicky and a glorious team who made Ben and Imo, which I fell in love with @TheRSC and was so delighted to bring to @OrangeTreeThtr

BREAKING: Muliple women are reporting similar things in Texas They’re saying that their voter registration is in “suspense” meaning somebody challenged their voter registration. Thanks to @AshleyDCan we’re reporting this. What’s going on Texas?

@mrdavebyrne @royalcourt Beautifully said David. For all Blanche’s finger-on-pulse excitement about the route to ‘success’ she also had the curiosity & the generosity to really see and support those of us insisting on going the long way round. I’ll be forever grateful for her recognition and her wisdom

A tribute to Blanche Marvin @royalcourt. royalcourttheatre.com/stories/a-mess… 📸 Suki Dhanda

If you don’t believe me here’s someone you might listen to.

A beautiful show, made with care, love, and compassion — full of joy and magic. I’m not saying this because I’m part of the creative team. If the world feels heavy and you haven’t seen it yet, please go. It may gently warm your mind and leave a quiet smile. #myneighbourtotoro

The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction no longer exists. - Hannah Arendt

All I want for Christmas are universal human rights. And universal human duties. 🎄 🎄 🎄

Carol of the Bells in Kyiv subway. Voices of the Embassies of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom came together to perform Shchedryk in the Kyiv metro as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine. Thankful to everyone who stands with us!

The right wing is now attacking a Labour Chancellor because the economy is doing BETTER than was predicted.

I keep this on my desktop: “Words are innocent, neutral, precise, standing for this, describing that, meaning the other, so if you look after them you can build bridges across the incomprehension and chaos. But when they get their corners knocked off, they’re no good anymore. “I don’t think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little or make a poem which children will speak for you when you’re dead.” Tom Stoppard

The document at the heart of the BBC’s crisis is unfairly selective and ignores most of the corporation’s output. Written by the ever thoughtful @DAaronovitch observer.co.uk/news/national/…

Sunday night on BBC2. I remember taking notes. Why does modern television not do stuff like this? Guess it must be too expensive.

🚨NEW: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has rejected the Trump Administration’s offer of federal funding in exchange for aligning with Trump’s agenda. This is the first university to do so. RETWEET to thank MIT President Sally Kornbluth for standing up to Trump!

Congratulations to new Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado for her courageous struggle to bring democracy to Venezuela. It should inspire those engaged in similar struggles around the world - and remind those of us lucky enough to live in America that we have a solemn responsibility to constantly preserve and defend our own hard-won democratic traditions.

I feel so much anger for those who continue to legitimize the Taliban. We warned the world it would worsen, for years. Of course the Taliban would shut down the internet. It was never a matter of ‘if’ – but when. Shame on you.