This precious Present

Christmas is nearly upon us and the air seems to be alive with excitement and anticipation. Gifts will soon be exchanged. But for me, there is one gift that is way more important than any other. This precious Present.
What do I mean? In other words this moment of time. Or the ‘Now’ – as it’s sometimes called. This is the cornerstone of mindfulness.
The beauty of this practise, is it can be done literally anywhere. Whether you’re opening presents, eating Christmas lunch, or out walking. And it enhances your enjoyment tenfold – as well as reducing those stressful moments.
All you need to do is become aware of what is happening in this present moment. Feel the wrapping paper in your fingers. Notice your breath as you’re making the Christmas gravy. Taste those Brussels sprouts (and perhaps spit it out – if you’re like me!) and that rich, red wine. Focus on your feet as well as your breath on your Boxing Day walk.
And if you forget all of that just take three conscious breaths. This will help calm the mind down and interrupt those thoughts before getting carried away by them.
Happy Christmas everybody, and if you can, remember the best gift of all. This precious Present.
Walking at night can feel a bit like a mini-adventure. Instead of succumbing to the settee you’re doing something different to your usual routine. By doing so, it opens up a whole new world both outside - and inside of you. Believe it or not, it’s a fantastic way of combatting those winter blues as it expands your horizons. And this stimulates your happy chemicals. Even a bite-sized bit of time after dark makes you feel exhilarated. This is because your primary sense - sight - takes a back seat while all your other senses become alive. The crunch of snow underfoot. Feeling the breeze brush lightly over your face. Watching silhouettes move in the wind. Looking up to a bright, full moon. The activity totally focuses the brain, so you become more aware to the natural environment around you. All those things you may have missed before, suddenly grab your attention. When you’re less distracted, you mind is calmer too and troubling thoughts may just disappear. Your capacity to feel awe increases massively. An emotion which many scientists now believe is more important than happiness ( read more about awe here ). This feeling not only makes you feel more positive, it helps you regain a sense of perspective on life. Certainly I’ve stood on top of a wild moor and seen a huge star-filled sky and it’s taken my breath away. No matter how many times I do these experiences, I feel awe which stays with me for days afterwards. I feel more connected to this world and yet at the same time just a small part of life itself. But you don’t need to be in the middle of nowhere to experience this. Take yourself to your nearest green space and look up. Or join us on one of our dark sky experiences .
We set off just before sunset, travelling slowly along the edge of this ancient land, gently waking up our senses. Taking ourselves on an adventure that would calm the mind right down and make us feel more present. Doing this meant we could feel, hear and see so much more. Meanwhile, our guide Fabian, brought our attention to visible land marks, stars, and spoke to us about the universe. It was utterly enthralling.

Its easy to succumb to the settee when it gets dark. Days are shorter and there’s less time to get outside. Our mood can also be affected. Mini adventures might just be the ticket for combatting those winter blues. Your horizons expand when you break away from your usual routine. And your happy chemicals get stimulated too. So head outdoors and enjoy nocturnal activities – and give yourself a boost.