Porthcawl

u3a

Mindfulness for Everyday Living

Status:Active, open to new members
Leader:
When: On Tuesday afternoons 1:30 pm-3:30 pm
Weeks 1 & 3
Venue: Porthcawl YMCA

Links to discussion papers

What is Meditation
Resources
What is Mindfulness
9 Attitudes
Can Mindfulness help
Origins & Pioneers
Handout for new members


Mindfulness Poems

Guided Meditations

Past topics discussed

Mindful Moments Archive

Creating the Life You Want,
One Mindful Moment at a Time

Most of us spend a surprising amount of time living on autopilot. We rush from one task to the next, replay old conversations, worry about future ones, and occasionally wonder where the week went. Mindfulness offers a simple alternative: waking up to the life that's happening right now.

One of the greatest gifts of mindfulness is learning to make your mind your best friend rather than your worst enemy. We all have an inner commentator, but sometimes it behaves more like a grumpy critic than a supportive companion. Mindfulness helps us notice those thoughts without automatically believing them. Instead of being pushed around by every worry or self-doubt, we can respond with a little more kindness and perspective.

A second aspect is reconnecting with our values. It's easy to drift through life following expectations, trends, or other people's ideas of success. Mindfulness encourages us to pause and ask, "What really matters to me?" When we know our values—whether that's family, creativity, community, adventure, or compassion—they can become a reliable compass for daily decisions.

Finally, the informal practice of everyday mindfulness invites us to pay attention. Not in a serious, mountain-top-guru kind of way, but in the simple moments: noticing the taste of your morning tea, listening fully to a friend, or appreciating a sunset instead of photographing it. Life becomes richer when we actually show up for it.

Mindfulness isn't about becoming a different person. It's about becoming more present for the life you already have—and perhaps discovering that the life you want begins with paying attention to this one.

If you haven’t attended before, please wear comfortable, unrestrictive clothing and bring a wrap if you think you might get cold.

Upcoming Meetings details

15th September

6th October

20th October

3rd November

17th November

1st December

For the first three months of 2027, we will be meeting once a month as follows:

5th January

2nd February

2nd March

No need to ring beforehand, just turn up. Everyone is welcome, the group format is a 15 min meditation to settle our minds , followed by a discussion on a theme, idea or arising issues, followed by coffee, tea and a chat and ending with a meditation. 

Mindful moments

Mindfulness Doesn't Take a Summer Holiday

As our mindfulness group takes a break over the summer, it can be tempting to think that our practice does too. Yet perhaps this is when mindfulness becomes most valuable. The aim of our group has never been simply to become better at mindful meditation. Meditation is the practice ground; life is where mindfulness comes alive.

Over the coming weeks, you may find yourself in gardens, parks, cafés, on coastal walks, looking after grandchildren, travelling, meeting up with friends you haven’t seen for ages, or simply enjoying a quieter time, rebuilding your balance and equilibrium. Every one of these moments offers an opportunity to practise.

🍃      Notice the warmth of the sun on your face before reaching for your phone.

🍃      Listen to the chorus of birds rather than hurrying to identify them.

🍃      Feel your feet connecting with the ground as you walk, instead of connecting with your ‘to do list’.

🍃      Pause before responding when something irritates you.

🍃      Really taste the first sip of your morning tea or coffee.

🍃      These are not little things. They are mindfulness.

Some days you may forget to practise. That's perfectly normal. Mindfulness has never been about perfection or collecting unbroken streaks. The practice begins again each time you notice your mind has wandered. Every return to the present moment is itself a success.

Summer, especially during this heat wave, can also invite us to slow down. Nature follows its own rhythm without rushing. Flowers bloom when they are ready. Trees do not compete with one another. Clouds drift across the sky without needing to arrive anywhere. There is something deeply reassuring about remembering that we, too, are allowed to move at a human pace.

Perhaps choose one simple intention each day:

"Today I will notice."

Notice your breath.

Notice moments of gratitude.

Notice kindness, both given and received.

Notice beauty in unexpected places.

Notice when your mind races ahead—and gently escort it back.

You don't need an hour of meditation to remain mindful.
Sometimes thirty seconds of full awareness can change the course of a day.

Until then, be gentle with yourselves. Keep returning to this moment. 
After all, this moment is the only one we've ever truly had

Summer Reflection

During the summer, if you notice a moment that made you stop, smile, breathe deeply, or simply feel fully alive, make a brief note of it. You may wish to share one of those moments with the group. 
Sometimes the smallest moments become our greatest teachers.

A Mindful Summer 

written by me and CHATgpt

The garden asks for little,
Just sunshine, rain and care;
It teaches us, in silence,
That peace is growing there.
Each blossom blooms when ready,
No flower rushes through;
The summer gently whispers,
"There's time enough for you."

The blackbird greets the morning,
Bees wander bloom to bloom;
A breeze stirs through the grasses,
Sweet scents as beautiful as perfume.
The smallest things can fill us
With quiet joy anew;
When we are truly present,
The ordinary shines through.

So may this summer find you
With moments softly found—
A cup of tea, a sunset,
Bare feet upon the ground.
And when September calls us
To gather once again,
May hearts be gently nourished,
Like gardens after rain.

Final thought - A garden is never finished. Each season simply offers a different kind of beauty. Mindfulness is much the same; we are not trying to arrive somewhere, only to keep tending what matters.

*** Our mindfulness group is a respectful, safe space for all our members,
but we are not therapists or a replacement for professional advice.
If you think you have mental health issues, please visit your GP. ***

All images used on the Mindfulness pages are either the Group Leader's photos or are AI generated.

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