What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is described by many as "simple but not easy".  In other words it's a really easy concept but it's difficult to master.  It takes time, patience and effort like most beneficial things.
 
It focuses on the senses and is about being rather than doing.  We spend so much of our time in our own heads or physically doing all that's necessary to get through the day. Mindfulness is about paying attention, not allowing moments to escape because you're desperate to get to the "next thing".
 
A example might be car journeys.  If you find yourself thinking of car journeys as a means to an end, something you have to suffer to get somewhere else.  It may not occur to you yet, that you could enjoy this part too.  Perhaps paying attention to the car, it's smell, the noise, the comfort, maybe music playing, seeing wonderful scenery, enjoying peace (unless you’re not alone that is).  It about considering parts of your life in a completely different way.  
 
Another one is spending time with family.  If you’re life at work is full of meetings, finding solutions then more meetings you can start to lose track of what family life is actually about.   Maybe you find yourself always thinking about the next bit of cleaning, cooking, sorting, organising, DIYing whatever it might be.  On day trip you maybe find your head filled with everything other than what you are doing.  Mindfulness can teach you to be in the moment, to enjoy each moment and live it for what it is.
 
How is that done?  That's the difficult part.  It really is a new learning experience using patience, no judgement, accepting yourself & others and letting go of expectations.  There is a lot to it and if you are interested there's many courses you can go on either face to face or online.  It takes a few weeks and then every day for the rest of your life to practice..... but it's worth it.