When you are making that coffee in the kitchen at work on a December Monday morning, you tend to find your colleagues reporting that the weekend just gone, has gone even quicker than it usually does throughout the rest of the year. Everyone is driven it seems, for one reason or another, to pack as much in and get as many loose ends tied up before the end of the year as possible.
And then there are the December celebrations to take into consideration, and quite aside from the company Christmas Party, the city holds so much once the Festive Season rolls around. Over the last couple of weeks, we have managed to take in a good range of the varied selection of cultural delights that Manchester holds for the local and visiting population. From the Traditional German Market to the Traditional British Pub, from Dublin Punk at Night People with Fontaines DC to pure disco with Nile Rogers and Chic at the MEN. The way we socialise, although allowing us a little time out from the working day, tends to speed us along even quicker and often leaves us a little more vulnerable to anxiety the following day when it may well be enhanced by an alcohol fuelled hangover.
As a complementary experience to the fine food, drink andmusic on offer, it is worthwhile considering the alternative cultural delights that the City holds, that can allow you a deeper reflection of self. One such delight we happened upon in the midst of the hectic crowds was an interactive exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery – ‘And Breathe…’ – exploring the relationship between Art and Mindfulness. There is a very noticeable connection between art and mindfulness – in that both search to deliver an alternative perspective to the ingrained state of mind that modern life serves up for us to deal with. What the ‘And Breathe…’ exhibition offers up is the opportunity to experience the stillness of meditation, that search for perspective, in a public space. With the offering of complimentary headphones, the visitor is invited to use the Gallery’s wi-fi to tune into a series of meditations whilst considering a series of art pieces. The exhibition runs until October 2019, so should you have the opportunity to make your way to Mosley St, Manchester (just off St Peter’s Square) we can highly recommend the experience:
Of course, Manchester is not alone in having art galleries and you do not necessarily need a set of headphones or a meditative guide to appreciate the alternative perspective that a piece of art can relay to its audience. Look around the alternative cultural offerings available in your town or city, take a moment to consider the present moment rather than rushing head first into the next appointment or event. Almost without fail, you will find that experiencing that moment will help you deal better with what the rest of the day has in store for you.