Mindfulness in later years

At 4 in the morning, lightning streaking across the sky, thunder crashing, raining as if it was a monsoon and Jess our dog hiding under the bed. Then the phone rings, there is a rescue on, the team have been called out to support a search of Scafell, England's highest mountain. Quickly getting dressed grabbing the rucsac which sits ready to go and down to the base to collect the Land Rover Ambulance, soaking wet before getting much beyond the door.

Then an hours drive to the search area, meet other teams involved, get a briefing and watch the sky brighten as the sun comes out. Two ladies, one in her eighties and the other her 60 yr old daughter, reported missing by the manager of their campsite. The teams deploy in support of the local area team who have been searching all night. A few hours later the message comes through to stand down, they are safe and well and back at their tent!

But the thing is the press are very quick to criticise and yet these ladies were mindful. They had been walking in the area for a few days (along with their three dogs). They were carrying the right equipment so had been mindful of risks. They realised it was getting dark so took the decision to stop and take shelter, mindful of avoiding injury or getting lost trying to get down from the mountain in the dark. They slept in their shelter, along with the dogs until it was light and made their way back, not knowing what had happened in the meantime, that the campsite manager, mindful of two people not returning had taken action.

The rescue teams are made up of people (all unpaid volunteers) who are mindful of others. Mindful of the dangers we all face, that things can go wrong and in practising mindfulness exhibit compassion for the well being of others, that's why as volunteers they turn out in a storm and the dark, to go to the aid of others less fortunate. So the whole episode involved mindfulness practice. The only thing the ladies could perhaps have done was left a route card with someone so the teams knew where to start looking.

But let's not forget that these ladies were also practicing being mindful of nature, that's why they were walking in the area. Mindful of their health, while some over 60's sit at home watching daytime TV these ladies were mindfully working on their fitness, protecting their health. Mindful of each other and others, that's why they stopped, had the right gear etc.

And as for the teams, anyone safe is always a good result!