What is Inside The Gurdeep Magazine
- Number of pages: 84 (All in color on premium quality paper)
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I have exciting news: the design and layout of the 2027 issue of The Gurdeep Magazine are complete, and the issue is now at the printing press. I’m delighted to introduce this year’s writers, whose wisdom fills the magazine’s pages. Together, their work explores how to cultivate joy and a grounded positivity that is neither toxic nor forced.
Our writers bring diverse perspectives to questions of joy, hope, positivity, mental health, and emotional well-being. Their stories consider how hope and joy can endure even in the midst of darkness. I’m excited to share a preview of the 2027 issue and its contents.
TINA PRIGGE,
On page 8 of the magazine, Tina Prigge shares her piece, “Today Is Not the End of Your Story.” She reflects on how she and her husband survived a life-threatening bike accident, her airlift to hospital, and her difficult recovery as a double amputee. Drawing on her experience, Tina explores the power of hope, compassion, and human connection in the face of life-altering circumstances. Her choice to embrace positivity during recovery reminds us that, while we can’t always choose what happens to us, we can choose how we respond.
ROBERT THOMPSON,
On page 14 of the magazine, in his piece “Elder Wise,” Robert Thompson shares his experience caring for his beloved mother-in-law, Muriel, who lives with Alzheimer’s. Through caregiving, he has learned the deeper meaning of compassion, patience, and understanding. He finds surprising similarities between caring for children and older adults, especially when navigating resistance and providing safety and reassurance. Robert’s heartfelt perspective reminds us that caregiving is more than fulfilling responsibilities; it calls for genuine love and empathy.
TITO OYELEKE,
On page 20 of the magazine, in “Stop Expecting You from Other People,” Tito Oyeleke reflects on how expecting others to think, care, and make an effort as we do can lead to disappointment and heartbreak. She reminds us that people express love and care in different ways, and encourages us to accept those differences and let go of expectations that cause unnecessary hurt.
ELLEN SCHERR,
On page 24 of the magazine, in “Aging Out of F**cks: The Neuroscience of Why You Suddenly Can’t Pretend Anymore,” Ellen Scherr explores why our priorities shift and why we may care less about pleasing others as we grow older. She highlights how hormonal changes, accumulated stress, and evolving priorities can shape this shift. Ellen encourages readers to embrace the freedom of outgrowing people-pleasing and social expectations, and to feel comfortable with who they are becoming.
STEPHANIE ANDREW,
On page 30 of the magazine, in “My Therapist Says I Intellectualize My Emotions, But I Just Think That’s So Interesting,” Stephanie Andrew reflects on how trying to understand our emotions can sometimes get in the way of fully experiencing them. With humour and honesty, she explores how analyzing, explaining, taming, and naming our feelings can distance us from them. Stephanie reminds us that healing can mean allowing ourselves to feel without constantly trying to make sense of every emotion.
RACHEL GADIEL,
On page 34 of the magazine, Rachel Gadiel explores the challenges highly sensitive people can face in traditional 9-to-5 careers. In “Why the Traditional 9-to-5 Career Isn’t Built for Highly Sensitive People (And the Solution),” she considers how rigid schedules and workplace burnout can affect highly sensitive people. Drawing on her own experience as an HSP, Rachel highlights the value of flexibility, independence, and finding work that aligns with one’s needs.
VIC JEAN BERROY,
On page 40 of the magazine, in “You Only Live Once – No, You Die Once and Live Everyday,” Vic Jean Berroy offers a different perspective on life and death. He explores how life can feel like suffocation while death seems like comfort, yet urges us to live in the present. Every moment, experience, and memory makes life worth living; missing out means losing opportunities to truly live. Vic reminds us that the greatest tragedy is not dying, but never truly living, and that life’s beauty lies in experiencing more rather than simply achieving more.
LAURA GUTIÉRREZ,
On page 44 of the magazine, in “Catch-Up Culture Is Killing Friendship,” Laura Gutiérrez questions how meaningful connections became scheduled meetings and catch-up sessions. She reflects on the everyday moments that build lasting friendships and encourages us to share experiences rather than simply exchange updates. Her piece celebrates the kind of friendship that can pick up where it left off and reminds us of the value of being present in one another’s lives.
KATIE BIRD,
On page 50 of the magazine, in “Embarrassment Has Good Bones,” Katie Bird offers a refreshing perspective on embarrassment. She writes about the small risks we take when we care, express ourselves, and share our feelings, whether through art, dancing, or simply holding hands. Rather than avoiding awkward moments, Katie encourages us to take chances, risk embarrassment, and have fun. Embarrassment is inevitable, she reminds us, but it shouldn’t keep us from experiencing the joy of life.
ROSELYN MARIANO,
On page 54 of the magazine, in her piece “In Order to Love Who You Are, You Must Not Hate the Experience That Shaped You,” Roselyn Mariano reflects on accepting our past selves rather than resenting them. Even painful moments, heartbreaks, and mistakes can become part of our growth. She encourages readers to forgive themselves, embrace every version of who they have been, and find peace in the journey that has brought them to who they are today.
KATARZYNA PORTKA,
On page 56 of the magazine, in the piece “The Train You Missed Was Never Your Train,” Katarzyna Portka reflects on how we can become consumed by missed opportunities and what might have happened if things had gone differently. She reminds us that not every missed opportunity is a loss; sometimes, it creates space for something better suited to us. Though it can be difficult to resist the urge to stay on schedule and keep moving, Katarzyna encourages readers to let go of the need to control everything and remember that one missed opportunity does not define the journey ahead.
SOFIA MARESCA,
On page 68 of the magazine, in “Your Guide to Getting Your Spark Back,” Sofia Maresca writes about finding our way back to the things that make us feel happy, inspired, and connected to life. She explores how easily daily routines can cause us to lose sight of what brings us joy, and how small, meaningful changes can help us rediscover ourselves. A full lifestyle reset isn’t necessary; sometimes, it’s enough to make space for personal interests, reconnect with what we love, and take time for ourselves.
GURDEEP PANDHER,
On page 72 of the magazine, in his essay “Our Sadness & Darkness Will Continue to Stay with Us, But How Can Our Joy & Hope Coexist & Thrive Alongside Our Sadness & Darkness?”, Gurdeep Pandher explores how we can live alongside sadness while making room for hope and joy.
CHLOE BELLE,
On page 76 of the magazine, in “The Sublime Art of Doing Things Alone,” Chloe Belle celebrates the freedom of enjoying life on your own terms. She explores how going out alone, making independent choices, and finding joy in your own company can build confidence. From visiting a quiet café to watching a film, Chloe encourages readers to see solitude as an opportunity to understand themselves and become comfortable in their own company. We don’t need to wait for someone else’s company or approval to enjoy life.
SALVIN SAWYERR,
On page 80 of the magazine, in “Scar Boy,” Salvin Sawyerr explores how grief and guilt can become intertwined and leave someone struggling with their identity. Through the story of Taiwo and Kehinde, he shows how, after a tragic accident, Taiwo carries a secret that changes the course of his life. Unable to correct a painful misunderstanding, Taiwo lets his mother find relief at the cost of his own identity. The story captures the weight of silence, the burden of protecting a loved one’s memory, and how the truths we carry alone can make grief even harder.
