Seize the day... and whatever this brand new year may bring – Liam Rudden

I won't miss the year past, but equally, having never been happy wishing my life away, I won't be celebrating its passing either. After all, tomorrow is always a day away, so who knows what 2021 may hold.

‘Live for the day’ has long been my ethos in life. It’s something that will be brought home to each and every one of us at some point in life. That moment, often one of loss or a health scare that highlights our own mortality, certainly makes you reassess your approach to life. My epiphany came a number of years ago when the old saying ‘live every day as though it's your last’ suddenly made so much sense. That the family motto is ‘Carpe Diem’ should really have been a clue.

It proved an effective mindset as 2020 began to fracture way back in March, although, like everyone, there were times it was more difficult to seize the day than others.

The year had actually started well enough with a trip to Dublin early in the year. Little did I know then that those flights would turn out to be the last I'd take... to date. Travel actually played a fairly big part of my start to the year, a couple of press trips taking me to London to review hotels. When things get back to normal, I can recommend the Ruby, Victoria House and Malmaison hotels.

I was in London when everything changed. You could sense the anxiety. A week or so later, theatres closed and lockdown had been introduced. That’s when the family motto really came into its own. Working from home proved a whole new adventure (it’s second nature now) and discovering 'Zoom' introduced me to a whole new virtual (or should that be digital) world.

As shows and concerts were cancelled and holidays fell by the wayside, my diary emptied and the changing pace of life allowed me to reconnect with the city I love; my daily exercise regime let me rediscover with the Capital in a way I'd not done since childhood. My love of walking was rekindled, even if the old knees aren't so keen these days.

Like many, however, I never did get around to doing all those things I promised myself I would; I’ve only just started plotting the novel (every writer believes they have one in them, I’m no different, time will tell) that I should have finished by now. Maybe during this current ‘lockdown’.

So as 2021 brings hope of better things, I'm raising a glass to you all right now. Thank you for reading and I wish you everything you would wish yourself for the New Year. Me, I hope to travel again; the godmother is waiting in Dublin and I’ve tickets to see Pet Shop Boys in Bournemouth, Frankfurt and Toronto – hope we’re flying again by then. My resolution is to finish that novel… but I’ve never been good a New Year’s resolutions so we’ll see how that goes.

Here’s to 2021. Seize the day!

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