Janette Watt (she/they)
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janettewatt.bsky.social
Janette Watt (she/they)
@janettewatt.bsky.social
890 followers 1.8K following 600 posts
Janette reflects on issues affecting us all. A career as a lawyer, academic, and a government policymaker - what has always driven her is a passion for a better world for everyone.

SUBSCRIBE: https://janettewatt.substack.com/
Posts Replies Media Videos
janettewatt.bsky.social
I've taken my attention back. That means that sometimes I reflect on positive experiences and sometimes on the negative. It's all life and I know if I take time with it and experience it along with reflecting (sometimes instead of reflecting) I will discover again the world around me. Click below.
ATTENTION: WE MUST TAKE IT BACK and OWN IT
IF WE PAY ATTENTION, and IF WE MAKE THE CHOICE TO OWN OUR OWN ATTENTION, I can guarantee you this:
janettewatt.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 4:34 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
IF WE PAY ATTENTION, and IF WE MAKE THE CHOICE TO OWN OUR OWN ATTENTION, I can guarantee you that:
we will discover what we could have known all along (but for the lies) and we will discover the ways forward to a better world for all of us!

READ MORE here:
janettewatt.substack.com/p/past-due-w...
February 16, 2026 at 5:08 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
THIS HAS BEEN A WEEK ABOUT LOVE! and today is a day dedicated to LOVE. So many of us are choosing to make it something unique to us - love that can move us toward one another, closer, kinder -- in all the ways we choose to express it!

THIS HAS BEEN A WEEK ABOUT LOVE — let’s keep it going!!
#LOVE
RADICAL HEARTS! In these times it's what we ALL need.
Last night I felt the earth move … the world shift … when a rapper, who goes by the name “Bad Bunny” — surrounded by hundreds of other people — some famous and some not, brought a message of love to u...
janettewatt.substack.com
February 14, 2026 at 4:45 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
What ideas exist to guide us? I continue my search. Reminded once again of Agnes Denes' Manifesto (the last two lines--):
"seeing reality and still being able to dream / persisting in the eternal search". YES, I AM. STILL. - jw ❤️.

Find me here: janettewatt.substack.com

#COURAGE #JUSTICE #EQUALITY
February 13, 2026 at 11:22 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
Emilio Merlina's art pictured here is titled "LOVE AND HATE". It feels to me like an invitation to a conversation. One we desperately need to have whoever we are, wherever we are. Please join me to reflect and discuss here janettewatt.substack.com

Emilio's art: www.absolutearts.com/mixed-media/...
February 12, 2026 at 10:50 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
Some days are heavy.
And it's okay to rest,
and remember--
we're here together.
- jw,
never far ❤️.

(I write hoping to help lift each other up and to find ways to build a better world - together janettewatt.substack.com)

#writers #poets #artists #THINKERS #culture #peace #equality #justice #freedom
February 12, 2026 at 4:44 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
Gillian Eilidh O’Mara always finds a way to place light in what she creates and my mind, my heart and my soul can never thank her enough!

Gillian is a multi-media artist and writer whose work can be found here: lightonthesea.co.uk

#light #hope #beauty #ONEworld
#writers #poets #artists #THINKERS
February 12, 2026 at 4:36 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
Let's keep the message going: LOVE WILL PREVAIL. Repeat it everyway you know how. Learn new ways too! Love will prevail! I know this to be true.

I write about it here as a way to add to the voices who together want to bring forward a better world! janettewatt.substack.com

#COURAGE #LOVEnotHATE
February 11, 2026 at 4:54 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
It's not just Bad Bunny.

People from philosophers to poets and everyone in between, throughout human history, have said something similar about love being more powerful than hate. WHY?

BECAUSE IT'S THE TRUTH.

RADICAL HEARTS ARISE!
More on this/my latest post here: janettewatt.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:59 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
THE ONLY THING MORE POWERFUL THAN HATE IS LOVE"
- Bad Bunny

...these words feel like an antidote ...a powerful NO MORE to those who try to convince us that we’re each other’s enemies.

Divided we fall. United we stand. I wrote about this on my Substack this week (click below).
#JUSTICE #EQUALITY
RADICAL HEARTS! In these times it's what we ALL need.
Last night I felt the earth move … the world shift … when a rapper, who goes by the name “Bad Bunny” — surrounded by hundreds of other people — some famous and some not, brought a message of love to u...
janettewatt.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:13 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
I've been reflecting on wabi-sabi for my post to all of you next Monday. Both this week's post and next relate to how we pay attention and carry on - including how we can find beauty and hope in what surrounds us.

Come visit a safe space here: janettewatt.substack.com

#culture #RESILIENCE #coping
February 6, 2026 at 5:14 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
Here again -- a poet. One who combines words in a way that makes her also an educator. activist. climate envoy. grassroots organizer. beautiful spirit. You can find Kathy Jetnil Kijiner here: www.kathyjetnilkijiner.com
#ONEworld #poetry #compassion #kindredspirits #writer #activist #climate #THINKER
February 4, 2026 at 10:26 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
We are suffering as people and our planet is suffering. We know this, but what can we do? We either stop paying attention or we free our minds by paying attention differently.

I encourage you to choose the latter: free our minds. I wrote about one way here (click below).
#FREEDOM #NewWAYS #culture
ONLY WE can FREE our MINDS: Let's begin.
For most of us, life around us is now often experienced in short bursts - fragments of words and images are unrelentingly dropped in front of us.
janettewatt.substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:19 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
What I hope for ... thank you, Ferron.
"It Won't Take Long" Ferron
YouTube video by Margo Dean
www.youtube.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:24 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
We can be intentional about our attention. I wrote about that and gathered some alternatives. Please come spend time looking at what I gathered (posted Monday Feb 2nd). It's my sincere hope that you find it good for your heart and mind - and spirit. I'm here: janettewatt.substack.com

#FREEyourMIND
February 3, 2026 at 6:19 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
Intentionally, we are fed only fragments of what exists or doesn’t — and we can feel our minds trapped without knowing how to free our thinking. I have one way - imperfect maybe - but it has helped to free my mind. I write about it on my substack (click below) and please join me. #FREEthinking
ONLY WE can FREE our MINDS: Let's begin.
For most of us, life around us is now often experienced in short bursts - fragments of words and images are unrelentingly dropped in front of us.
janettewatt.substack.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:09 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
This week I found myself in conversation with Sappho through her poetry. My reflection on Monday relies on some of the conversation, further pondering some questions I put to Sappho, like: Do you see what I see? Would you see what I see?"

More to read here janettewatt.substack.com
Sending kindness.
January 30, 2026 at 5:12 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
I rely on wise people,
so should we all --
We can live
in their powerful
reflection.

jw. Carrying on, never far ❤️.
These words from Nelson Mandela are from his autobiography "Long Walk to Freedom".
More here: janettewatt.substack.com

#freedom #justice #thinkers #writers #poets #artists
#peace
January 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
The words in quotes? They are my words. They are a promise. I wrote more for all of us, meant to help us carry on.

Please find what I wrote here: janettewatt.substack.com/.../in-a-dar....

#DarkTIMES #OrdinaryPeople #Witness #CarryON #writers #artists #poets #journalists #PRESS #HUMANITY #oneWORLD
January 28, 2026 at 4:53 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
"...Like many...I believe that these are not times of transformation but a rupture. And like many, I believe that as painful as these times are, if we come together for each other and our world we can build something better ..." I write more about that here: janettewatt.substack.com

#NOtoDESPAIR
January 27, 2026 at 5:01 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
SNOWSTORM, internet issues - but here it is, my weekly reflection. This one is RAW and feels unfinished ... like many of us and our world. My HOPE is that you find some SOLACE in what I wrote, and that you are able to continue to believe.

#writers #thinkers #poets #activists #culture #justice #hope
In these DARK TIMES: MANY OF US KNOW and are STILL TRYING HARD TO BELIEVE
This reflection, my writing, is more raw than anything I’ve posted here.
janettewatt.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 6:12 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
There's a wall of snow on the other side of our terrace railing. It's pretty to look at but very hard to move around in -- out there beyond our walls.

- jw,
this evening in Toronto on this date.
❤️. Poetry in Nature (if only it wasn't climate change).
#photos #snow #Toronto #climate
January 26, 2026 at 3:20 AM
janettewatt.bsky.social
To help find more positive to balance the negative, I suggest you begin with these words: "I love... " What will you fill the blank with: to dance? to sing? to walk? ... to make mud pies?

Please click on link below
- jw. in kindness and with sincerity.

#kindness #SELFcareISRadical #poets #writers
WE MUST FIND WAYS TO BE POSITIVE in a NEGATIVE WORLD: TO CARRY ON
I am starting with the premise that as a human being you must find ways to at least sometimes feel some positivity, or you’re not able to go on living.
janettewatt.substack.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:35 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
What can bring us together? How many threads do we need to have in common -- and what do they need to be?

I'm reflecting and writing on that for my Substack landing this Monday. Right now, like me - it's raw. My writing often is - because it's from the heart.

Find me here janettewatt.substack.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:11 PM
janettewatt.bsky.social
Sometimes, the positive presents itself when we least expect (and in all shapes and sizes) helping us carry on. Below I share an example of what just happened that is salve for my soul.

And, this week I wrote about finding and creating positives in a negative world - here: janettewatt.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 9:23 PM