2020

In 2020, I didn���t have the honour and privilege of speaking at An Event Apart in places like Seattle, Boston, and Minneapolis. I didn���t experience that rush that comes from sharing ideas with a roomful of people, getting them excited, making them laugh, sparking thoughts. I didn���t enjoy the wonderful and stimulating conversations with my peers that happen in the corridors, or over lunch, or at an after-party. I didn���t have a blast catching up with old friends or making new ones.

But the States wasn���t the only country I didn���t travel to. Closer to home, I didn���t have the opportunity to take the Eurostar and connecting trains to cities like Cologne, Lisbon, and Stockholm. I didn���t sample the food and drink of different countries.

In the summer, I didn���t travel to the west coast of Ireland for the second in year in a row for the annual Willie Clancy festival of traditional Irish music. I didn���t spend each day completely surrounded by music. I didn���t play in some great sessions. I didn���t hear some fantastic and inspiring musicians.

Back here in Brighton, I didn���t go to the session in The Jolly Brewer every Wednesday evening and get lost in the tunes. I didn���t experience that wonderful feeling of making music together and having a pint or two. And every second Sunday afternoon, I didn���t pop along to The Bugle for more jigs and reels.

I didn���t walk into work most days, arrive at the Clearleft studio, and make a nice cup of coffee while chit-chatting with my co-workers. I didn���t get pulled into fascinating conversations about design and development that spontaneously bubble up when you���re in the same space as talented folks.

Every few months, I didn���t get a haircut.

Throughout the year, I didn���t make any weekend trips back to Ireland to visit my mother.

2020 gave me a lot of free time. I used that time to not write a book. And with all that extra time on my hands, I read fewer books than I had read in 2019. Oh, and on the side, I didn���t learn a new programming language. I didn���t discover an enthusiasm for exercise. I didn���t get out of the house and go for a brisk walk on most days. I didn���t start each day prepping my sourdough.

But I did stay at home, thereby slowing the spread of a deadly infectious disease. I���m proud of that.

I did play mandolin. I did talk to my co-workers through a screen. I did eat very well���and very local and seasonal. I did watch lots of television programmes and films. I got by. Sometimes I even took pleasure in this newly-enforced lifestyle.

I made it through 2020. And so did you. That���s an achievement worth celebrating���congratulations!

Let���s see what 2021 doesn���t bring.