Working in the community

Today we're engaging more in island life. Firstly assisting with teaching a mindfulness course in a local village. Then lunch in the 'church' cafe - an example of community again with the church building providing venue, the GP and Minister waiting on tables, locally produced and cooked food and community members and visitors all eating together.

The community of Walls - West Shetland

Yet while the community is apparently strong, there are issues of SAD, seasonal affective disorder from the long winter night and summer midnight sun, the difficulties of young people finding work, buying homes, getting an education, simply meeting with friends from school yet miles apart. All the time within surroundings of outstanding beauty with rugged landscapes, abundant wildlife and the ability for your senses to go into overload with the sound of crashing waves and bird call, the sight of otters, seals and wales, dramatic sunsets and sunrises, the touch of the wind and feel of temperature, the smell of the sea breeze and taste of salt and herbs in the air. So how does being mindful of this abundance of natural riches help in a modern yet sometimes isolated society?