I am feeling a lot of emotion at the moment. You might have seen my previous blog post about the importance of precious memories, and perhaps you have followed my posts during the past few weeks as I experienced grief, and the stark contrast between life and death. On the pagan calendar, the wheel of the year, we are currently in the dark time. Nights are long, days are dull, the weather grows colder, and traditionally this is the time to stack up your fire, make you home as cosy as you can, and hibernate for a few months, only emerging to find food and maybe take a little fresh air so you don’t fall ill. Nowadays of course, life is far more frantic, and we live in a world of electric light, constantly connected to the Internet, and always hurrying to do one job or another.

When I first began studying the practice of mindfulness many years ago, I struggled to properly understand how it works, or what it is. I thought it was about rest and recuperation, but it encompasses so much more. Mindfulness is the process of slowing down and savouring the moment, whether that be actually tasting your morning mug of coffee rather than gulping it down, or spending time with people you care about. Yes, it does mean that you should take time to meditate and sit quietly in your own space, uninterrupted and disconnected from the busy world. But it means recognising what is important to you, and what you really want to focus on, at this exact moment in time. What makes you happy, and what leaves you feeling fulfilled?

I am happy being mother and being able to spend time with my children. Yes, I do yearn to have a “proper job” that will bring a regular, sustainable income, but far stronger is the urge to be at home and able to give my children as much time as possible. The same goes for being free to spend time with my friends and family. They know that I am around, and that I am mostly able to offer time and a supporting shoulder when they need it. This is important. My role is that of supporter, carer, nurturer, and spiritual guide. And to balance that out, I ensure that I have time alone when I need it, that I continue to write and publish my novels because they make me happy, and that I do whatever other activities I feel compelled to do at a given time. What are you doing today? Will you do it as a chore or as an absorbing activity?

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