My Mindful Year. 2023

This time last year, I was prompted by my mindfulness teaching supervisor, Bethan Roberts (who is helping my development as a mindfulness teacher) to look back on my mindful activities, across 2022.

I found the experience interesting and beneficial, and was surprised and pleased to recall how much had happened and how much had been accomplished.

As before, the idea here is to create a record of what has occurred for posterity, and perhaps to compare with other observations in the future. Also, most importantly, to send a big thank you to all those involved and who made it all possible???

This retrospective is split into sequential date order -

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In the first week of January I was invited by Sharon Grace Hadley CEO at the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation Teach, Personal and Professional Development to give their January Keynote Talk. It was a wonderful experience revisiting my TEDx talk on the subject of?Street Wisdom ?– with the headline of ‘Noticing’ and how our how our immediate environment can boost creativity, wellbeing and mindful behaviours. Always a pleasure to talk about Street Wisdom and remember how this project, created by David Pearl, prompted me to start my mindfulness journey 14 years ago.

Also in January,?I hosted an edition of the The Mindful Workplace Community Book Club, discussing What Happens in Mindfulness, by John Teasdale; and I also attended my first retreat at GAIA HOUSE TRUST . The 7 day 'Rest and Renewal' silent retreat, helped me to deepen my practice and my experience of mindfulness at the beginning of the year.

In February I was invited by Jo Taylor , Founder and MD at Let's Talk Talent to provide a mindfulness taster session, to a cohort involved in their latest mentoring programme. I enjoyed sharing some learning, guiding meditation practices and being part of the sharing circle. Thank you also to Claire Koryczan and Joni Smith (APMQ) for supporting my involvement in this. Also, around this time I was interviewed by Jo, on her Potential for What podcast, discussing 'how you can find potential and develop it through mindfulness practice.'

March marked my first trip to the Sussex Mindfulness Centre Conference. It was a delight to witness talks from (among others) - Clara Strauss, Robert Marx , Chris Ruane , Uz Afzal , Miia Chambers , Rosalie Dores, Chris Tamdjidi and Willem Kuyken . Looking forward to next year's event, on 10th May 2024.

Also, in March, I was proud to be accredited by British Association of Mindfulness-Based Approaches (BAMBA), as a registered mindfulness teacher in the UK. (BAMBA is the UK’s primary professional body of mindfulness practitioners, teachers and teacher training organisations. Their mission is to promote safe, ethical and inclusive practices in the field of evidence-based secular mindfulness teaching in the UK).

For the month of April, and for the second time, I had the opportunity to lead meditation practices for the weekly Friday morning sessions, hosted by the The Mindfulness Network . I also loved being part of the Let's Talk Talent 'Learning At Work Week' programme, where I spoke on 'How Mindfulness Can Help With Wellbeing At Work'. Thank you to Jo Taylor and Charlie Southwell .

June, provided an opportunity to combine two areas of interest and activity in my life – Travel & Tourism and Mindfulness. It was a pleasure attending the IPW Travel Conference in San Antonio, Texas, with colleagues from MDSG ( Kevin Harris , James Bailey , Melina Collie and James White ), and also spending time with Tourism Cares (and the San Antonio River Authority ) highlighting their work, advancing the travel industry's impact to help people and places. Thanks also to Visit San Antonio for hosting such a great event ????

?In July I spoke at the IOP Publishing Conference (PubCon) in Bristol , sharing thoughts on wellbeing, stress management and the amazing 'Power of the Pause.'?Thank you to Andy Macdonald FCIPD and Miriam Maus , for asking me to speak.

Across the summer, I ran my fourth, 8-week mindfulness course in the community. Including local people, friends, and individuals from around the world. This course was based on the programme and book - Finding Peace in a Frantic World.

Alongside this I took part in a highly enjoyable and rewarding, 12 -week poetry course, Form and Feeling, with tutor Jocelyn Page from Goldsmiths, University of London .

August saw the publishing of my piece in Rise of Happiness magazine, regarding my bereavement and loss of my son Rory in 2018.?I originally wrote ‘The Gift’ a few years ago but had not shared it widely. I did so with great trepidation but was overwhelmed by the response. Thank you to Rob Hosking and Kaigan Carrie , for making this possible.

In September, I spoke at the Every Little Thing Festival. A wonderful event, in its first year, founded by Sinead Gibson and created to support wellness and mental health. I spoke on how my experience as a mindfulness teacher has supported me in dealing with loss. ?

Over two days in October I trained as a Mental Health First Aider with Esther Thomas and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England Instructor Members . The course was very challenging at times but also uplifting, at others. With the knowledge and experience gained, I believe I will better supported and informed in my role as a mindfulness teacher.

In Manchester, October saw the third iteration of the Manchester Mindfulness Festival. It has been a pleasure to assist at this event since its inception and for a wonderful day, thank you to founder Christoph Spiessens , organisers - Ed Cutler , Natalie Rossiter, Annie Bowden; and Speakers - Mark Williams, Willem Kuyken , Rebecca Crane, Ken Lunn , Imani Sorhaindo , Sue Tibbles , Phil Startin, Louise Haynes , Liz Lord , Lucy Woods and Kalyana Bliss. Great also to see so many organisations supporting the event. Here's to next year's festival on the 19th October 2024 ! Bravo!! ??????

I also returned to academic study this year, in my 3rd year at Bangor University, working towards a?Masters in Mindfulness (School of Psychology). Following modules in my first two years?– Foundation, Buddhist Background to Mindfulness, and Mindfulness and the Brain, I have?now embarked on the Research module. Studying in 2020 and 2021, learning was all online and so this October was the first time that I have been able to visit Bangor and study in person, rather than via zoom.?It’s been a pleasure connecting with old friends and new ones, face to face.

Coming to November, alongside my business partner Jo Henwood , (executive coach and trainer) I was excited to announce the launch of a new venture, Hablo Wellbeing, in partnership with Hablo (the digital home for the travel industry). Hablo Wellbeing, is a free wellness and personal development service supporting the community of travel industry professionals.Thank you to George Beguinot and Russell Meara for making this happen.

Across the year, work with businesses in the wellbeing and mindfulness space has been a big focus for me. This has included a range of interventions with a global newspaper and media organisation based in London. Programmes expedited, focused on - mindfulness based stress reduction, mindfulness and creativity and mindful leadership.

Throughout the year, I have continued my work as a trustee of the The Mindfulness Network . Having been a trustee for nearly three years and Deputy-Chair for a year, it was a privilege to step up to be Chair of Trustees in the summer. I'd like to thank previous Chair Roya Hekmatpanah for their support and guidance, as well as the other trustees Uz Afzal , Paula Watson FRSA , Dr Avinash Bansode , Alex Clifton and Rebecca Crane. Also Executive Director Ken Lunn and Business Director Ruth McDonald.

A busy second half of the year at the Charity, involved recruiting six new trustees and putting in place initial thinking around an updated vision, mission and strategy for the organisation. Important to mention as well, the International Conference on Mindfulness 2024, which is being jointly presented by The Mindfulness Network and Bangor University, taking place in Bangor 2nd-6th August next year. Loads of people involved in organising this of course, but I'd like to highlight two individuals, from the Network, who have done (amongst many other things) a stellar job setting up the website and preparing event communications - Joelle Morgan and Madeleine Hynes. ??

To end this year, on the 28th December, I will be returning to the enchanting Gaia House in Devon for five days, spending the New Year in silence! I am relishing the opportunity to rest, renew and deepen my practice over these precious upcoming days.

Finally, and most importantly, I’d like to thank my family for their love and support - Jo, Luke, Miles, Elliot, Nigel Hammond and Sarah Hammond; and of course, never forgetting?Rory.

If you would like more information on the above or on any of the wellbeing and mindfulness services offered, please reach out directly on this platform.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season and best wishes for a positive and peaceful 2024???

Nick Hammond

Wellbeing Teacher and Speaker

07920 257908

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