New Year's Eve, the end of another year dominated in large parts by Covid. It's been a strange time to say the least.
People complain about losing two years of their lives but it's more a case of thinking about what you have done with those two years. Have you hidden away from the world, and yourself, or have you decided you're going to make the most of it?
I could have done better and been more dynamic but, looking back, there are things I likely wouldn't have done were it not for the pandemic, chief amongst them moving house in 2020 and then changing jobs. Working from home for the better part of these past two years has given me a lot of headspace that I wouldn't have had were I still trudging back an forth on the daily commute to London. I've written a book of sorts (which I really need to get published in some form in 2022), taken steps towards making music again, and probably wouldn't have built (b)log-In.
In a time of global fear and grief I've been happier than I have for a while – the location is a big part of that, just being able to get out to the Moors and Dales, to wide open spaces and leave everything else behind. Apart from a major panic over finding a new role in time, there has been less personal stress and anxiety – notwithstanding the pervading societal anxiety – which has allowed me to emerge from the depression of recent years.
And for that I am incredibly grateful.
