There are not many opportunities in everyday life to simply stop. Between work, family, responsibilities and the constant pull of somewhere else we need to be, taking time for ourselves can easily slip to the bottom of the list.

Our recent Sisters’ Day of Mindfulness, Peace & Reflection at Daisy Nook Country Park was an opportunity to change that. Women came together for a day away from their usual routines, with space to walk, talk, create and enjoy the company of others. And, as is often the case with an outdoor event in Manchester, there was rain.

A Day to Slow Down

One of the most special things about the day was the range of women who joined us. Our youngest participants were teenagers and our eldest was 71. Mothers came with daughters, while professionals, retirees, carers and women from different walks of life arrived knowing very few people around them. They all came for the same reason: to slow down.

The day began among the lakes, woodland and greenery of Daisy Nook with a gentle reflective walk. Rather than rushing towards a destination, everyone was encouraged to notice what was happening around them: the sounds of the park, the landscape, their thoughts and how they were feeling in that moment.

It was a simple exercise, but an important one. Mindfulness does not require us to escape from everyday life. Sometimes it simply means paying attention to the life already happening around us.
After the walk, personal trainer Vicky led a gentle cool-down and stretching session, adapted so women of different ages and abilities could take part comfortably.

For one participant, having the opportunity to stop and reflect was something she had needed for some time.

“Every minute was worthwhile. It gave me time to take in the beauty of the world around us and the meaningful company of a group of Muslim sisters I’d never met before. There was time for reflection, contemplation and acceptance.”

Finding Connection in the Unexpected

Of course, the weather had other plans for us. With rain threatening the outdoor painting session, we moved inside. It was not quite what had been planned, but bringing everyone into the same space changed the atmosphere of the day unexpectedly.

People talked. They laughed. Conversations continued between activities and women who had arrived as strangers began getting to know one another. It became a fitting lesson in mindfulness itself. We cannot control everything that happens around us, but we can choose how we respond to it.

Rather than allowing the rain to spoil the day, it simply became part of the experience. One participant recalled a similarly unplanned moment when someone arrived late for the day's activities. Being able to make space for her became a reminder of how much a seemingly small gesture can mean to another person.

Making Space for Ourselves

Throughout the day, we also explored the different roles women carry through life. A woman may be a mother, daughter, wife, professional, carer, volunteer and friend, sometimes all within the same day. Each of those roles can bring enormous meaning, but constantly moving between them can leave very little space for the person underneath.

The idea of the many different “hijabs” we wear became a way of reflecting on those identities and responsibilities. Taking time for ourselves does not mean stepping away from the people who depend on us. Giving ourselves space to rest and reflect can help us return to those relationships and responsibilities feeling calmer, stronger and more present.

Creativity Without Expectation

Later in the day, clinical psychologist and mindfulness specialist Amna Chowdhury led a guided visualisation, allowing everyone to quieten their thoughts before the creative session began. Then came the paintbrushes. With guidance from a professional artist, everyone began with the same blank canvas and the same instructions. What emerged was completely different from one person to the next. There was no expectation of artistic perfection and no previous painting experience was required. The point was simply to enjoy creating something.

As one sister reflected: 

“I left this mindfulness day feeling refreshed, grounded and inspired. The thought-provoking mindfulness talk, stretching session after the walk, guided visualisation and creative painting session blended perfectly into a truly restorative day. Every activity encouraged reflection, connection and self-care.”

By the end, everyone had something of their own to take home, alongside a few new friendships and, hopefully, a slightly quieter mind.

Caring for Ourselves, Supporting Others

The day also had a purpose beyond Daisy Nook. Every ticket purchased helped support Action For Humanity’s Gaza Campaign for Women, contributing towards humanitarian assistance for women and families facing extremely difficult conditions.

It brought together two ideas that can sometimes feel separate: caring for ourselves and caring for others. In reality, the two can sit comfortably alongside one another. Making time for our own wellbeing can strengthen our capacity to show compassion, support others and remain present for the people around us.

More Than a Day Away

As the event came to an end, women left carrying their paintings and saying goodbye to people who had been strangers only a few hours earlier. Perhaps that was the simplest reflection from the day.

We spend so much of our lives being encouraged to move faster, achieve more and fill every available moment. Sometimes, what we actually need is permission to slow down for a while. To walk without rushing. To have a conversation with someone new. To notice the rain rather than complain about it. To make something without worrying whether it is any good. And simply to be present. 

Thank you to every sister who joined us and made the day what it was. We look forward to welcoming many more women to future Action For Humanity wellbeing events, insha’Allah.

 SUPPORT GAZA