It is a beautiful day by the sea. The waves are gentle. The sky is blue. The sun is warm. That was my experience last week in the picturesque Gower.

As I stroll along the promenade with my 97-year-old Mum-in-Law, she comments on the beauty of the day, excepting the strong sea breeze.

It was about as still as you get by the sea. And yet if you spend the majority of your time indoors and are a grand age, your perception will be different.

I wonder what perceptions we each have about today? Naming our perceptions can be powerful; it can open up our understanding and give us choices. We can come to understand what gives us that perception. That can be incredible valuable. We can also choose to respond to that perception (metaphorically put on another layer of clothing!) or may be even decide to take a risk and experience the breeze.

This is Mindful Monday on 8 July 2019.

If you haven’t already booked, you can still join Julie Hill and Sara Shailer for an evening of mindfulness tonight at the Oasis in Cheltenham at 7.30 pm. To book, email hello@essencecheltenham org