I bought Hold Still because I admire HRH The Duchess of Cambridge and enjoy the National Portrait Gallery when in London, and knew that this project was to raise funds for the Gallery and Mind. What project? To call upon the British community for their iconic moments caught on camera.

I hadn’t expected that it would move, amuse,and fascinate me to the extent that it has.

It is quite simply an understated but remarkable chronicle of this memorable moment in our history, expressed through ‘the faces of our nation,’ as Nicholas Cullinan Director of the National Portrait Gallery writes. And as HRH The Duchess of Cambridge also intimates when she writes that she hopes the final 100 photographs chosen, pay tribute to the efforts of all who have worked to protect those around them.

And this is the key I believe. The kindness of strangers, of community, of family, of carers and professionals has indeed  been  faithfully presented by so many many people – 31,000 at least.

The intention behind this Hold Still  was to use the power of photography to create a lasting record, a photographic record – a photographic record not taken by professionals but by us, the community, accompanied by text. In page after page  the brief is fulfilled as  individual stories are laid bare, stories that perhaps reflect our own.

Out of over 31,000 submissions the daunting task was to slim down to 100. The committee included Nicholas Cullinan, the Duchess of Cambridge, and several others. Not an easy task, but this book really is a record of a time we cannot, must not, and will not forget, Within its covers are images of triumph, loss, humour, exhaustion, despair.

I love and laughed at the brilliant postman who donned fancy dress to keep up people’s spirits. I wept at the endeavour of the 5 year old boy who was inspired by Captain Tom to walk on his prosthetic legs and crutches 10km throughout June, to raise £500 but actually  raised £1.2 million pounds for NHS charities. Read the text beneath the image. It will stop any  grumbles in its tracks.

I loved and empathised, and was grateful for the sacrifice, the weariness of those on the frontline,.

I stared into the past at  the pain of the final goodbye between father and daughter, his hand flat on the glass window, she outside, mirroring his hand, the glass separating them but inconsequential in the face of  so much love. This was a goodbye, the text explains , made possible by the kindness and effort of carers.

And on and on.

It is a noble, heartwarming, heartwringing history of a fragmentary moment in the span of time, a moment in which  so many excelled, a moment in which so many sacrificed, so many found a new normal, reached out, and helped others along the way. It has been a time  in which many found the courage to stand tall and though afraid,  reach out, support, until  finally here we are, vaccinated (oh bravo) and here they are, 3100 photographers who  did not shrink from recording their emotions. And finally 100 of these images have been captured in this book, a precious few but symbolic of a time in which nobility triumphed, in all its self-deprecating shades.

Our thanks must go to those who spearheaded this project in a quiet but determined way: HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, Nicholas Cullinan, and the team, the  Co-op who helped so much in taking the final portraits to the communities and to their  photographers, through community exhibitions and this book.

Especially thanks to those 31,000 who contributed, and congratulations to the 100 who aspired, and whose work will be – if not set in stone, at least preserved in a beautifully presented book.

Buy it, keep it for those who come after, to introduce  them to a time when we held the line, remembered kindness. A time in which so many millions became heroes.

Hold Still can be obtained here  Remember that it benefits Mind and The National Gallery.

Now that we have explored the various obstacles to formally practicing mindfulness, let’s take some time to explore the informal practice of mindfulness.

As we’ve discussed before, mindfulness is a way of life, a way of living & being more present & engaged in the only moment that really matters: the here & now.  There’s an old expression: the past is history, the future is a mystery, the present is s gift which is why it’s called the present. Being more consciously aware of the present moment is a beautiful gift, after all it is only in this present moment that we can that we can learn, grow, create & take action.

And this is where the more informal mindful activities can really help us to cultivate this awareness & attention. As we practice mindfulness in an informal capacity, we gradually start to become more actively engaged & aware of where we are, what we’re doing, how we’re feeling, what we’re thinking, as well as enjoying the moment just for the pure joy of being there. Informal practices can include simple things like walking mindfully, turning off the phone or better still leaving it at home, and being aware of our feet touching the ground, the sounds of the birds in the trees, the sun on our face instead of walking on automatic pilot.

I go out everyday with my dog & relish the time in nature: the sun on my face, birdsong all around, the wind in my hair, noticing the blossom on the trees or the leaves turning in Autumn. I even channel a bit of Billy Connelly wisdom when it’s raining: there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes! I find it deeply nurturing & replenishing & often use the time to process & plan, which gives me the space & time to be more efficient & productive elsewhere in my life.

Indeed, there have been many studies about how daily time in nature is very beneficial for our wellbeing. Our brain prefers the natural environment to an urban setting. A study by Queensland University states that as little as 30 minutes a week in nature can help boost mental health, reduce cortisol levels, feelings of depression & anxiety, boost feelings of connection, confidence & self-esteem & increase feelings of happiness.

Eating is another way in which we can practice mindfulness. Eating mindfully is a beautiful experience as we become so much more aware of the taste of the food & when we are full rather than shovelling it in mindlessly! Taking sometime to acknowledge the colours & textures on the plate, savouring the smells & taking a mindful munch & really appreciating the taste of the food takes a simple meal to a different level.

Eating mindfully also helps us to avoid over-eating. We practiced mindful eating on a retreat I ran & one of my clients who had problems over-eating, discovered when she mindful ate a piece of brownie that it wasn’t nearly as enjoyable or tasty as she had thought!

Whenever we do something we normally do habitually, in a slightly different way it helps bring us to the present moment. Try brushing your teeth with your other hand & see how much more present & aware you are doing it.  Eventually when we’ve been practicing mindfulness for a while we will gravitate to more mindful every day practices: standing in a queue & being present for a moment or two; coming back to ourselves whilst sitting at traffic lights instead of being irritated we missed the light; taking a pause when we are triggered & choosing how to respond instead of reacting.

As we become more actively engaged & mindful of the moment, we start to notice when we have drifted away with our thoughts & can ground ourselves back in the moment. This helps us to create some distance between the thought & ourselves, watching them like clouds in the sky instead of getting trapped in the narrative & down the rabbit hole with that train of thought before we’re even aware that we are!

If you would like to try some mindful activities, I am making 2 meditations available for you this week: the mindful walking meditation & the mindful eating meditation. To claim your copies please email me at alex@alexbannard.com stating FROSTINFML.

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for almost a decade, not just in the UK but also around the world. Her mission is to help everyone discover a more mindful way of living & to encourage them to embrace regular self-care practices for a happier & healthier way of being.

If you would like more information on how to practice mindfulness, meditation & yoga message her at alex@alexbannard.com.

For free resources check out her Facebook group: Mindfulness & Yoga for Self-Care, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MindfulnessYoga4Relationships

Alternatively please check out her website: alexbannard.com