A Photo A Day: Finding Mindfulness And Meaning
Repawter: Ian Stephens
Finding Mindfulness and Meaning Through the Seasons
As the days grow shorter and the temperature drops, many of us find winter to be the hardest time of year.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects a great many people, and even those who don’t experience it directly can find themselves struggling with low energy and motivation. But over the past few years, I’ve discovered that small daily moments of mindfulness – especially through nature – can make all the difference.
That discovery became the foundation of My Years in Photos, a pair of books I’ve created by taking one photograph every single day of the year. At first glance, it sounds like a big challenge. But the beauty of this project is that it doesn’t require exotic locations or professional camera equipment. In fact, most of my photos are taken on my phone, in the places I visit as part of everyday life.
On weekends, you’ll often find me at Clumber Park, where the light through the trees or the changing seasons always offer something worth capturing. During the week, many photos come from customers’ gardens in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, or from my regular dog walks close to home. These ordinary settings are proof that you don’t need to travel far to see something extraordinary – you just need to pause, notice, and appreciate.
Each photo in the books is paired with a short caption. Sometimes it’s a fact about the plants or insects in the picture, other times it’s simply a thought or reflection. And often, it’s a “bad dad joke” – because a smile can be just as valuable as a moment of awe. The combination creates a rhythm of light-heartedness and mindfulness, encouraging readers to see the world with fresh eyes.
Through the darker months, these daily reminders can be especially powerful. They offer a spark of inspiration to step outdoors, even when the weather isn’t inviting. They can lift spirits on the greyest days.
And over time, they help you build up a quiet knowledge of the natural world – learning the names of wildflowers, insects, and birds you may not have noticed before. 
But My Years in Photos isn’t just about personal wellbeing. From the beginning, I wanted this project to make a difference to others too. That’s why every penny from the sale of the books goes directly to two charities that do incredible work: Bassetlaw Hospice, providing vital care and support to patients and families, and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, protecting and celebrating the landscapes and species that inspire so many of my photos.
The feedback I’ve received has been humbling. People tell me the photos and words brighten their day, inspire them to take more notice of nature, and give them moments of cheer. Knowing that something as simple as a daily photo can have that kind of impact – while also supporting two fantastic charities – makes me incredibly proud.
Ultimately, I hope the books remind people that mindfulness and joy don’t need to be complicated. They can be found in the frost on a leaf, the song of a bird, or the way the evening sun lights up the sky. And they can be captured by anyone, anywhere, with nothing more than a phone and a little curiosity.
Copies of both of my books are available here:
www.greencatbooks.com/ian-stephens