It’s the new year, which means calendars and to-do lists are still chock full of the good habits we vowed to keep as we ushered 2021 out the door. But it’s also mid-January, which means those best intentions have probably loosened their grip as we settle back into the routine of daily life.
I’ve never been one for new year’s resolutions. I usually fall out of love with whatever challenge I enthusiastically embrace in the first few days of January and would rather spare myself the heartache. But I do believe change is a good thing. And that’s just as well because I’ve started 2022 with some very big changes.
A fond farewell to the Granite City.
As the new year rang in, I swapped the grey granite of Aberdeen for the historic streets of Edinburgh. Being based in the world’s first City of Literature already feels exciting, with lots of nooks and crannies filled with stories waiting to be told. It’s hard to imagine inspiration quickly running dry in a city that actively champions creativity. My bucket list of places to explore is overflowing, from the Writer’s Museum to all the charming wee bookshops that line the cobbled streets. Not to mention the prospect of being ever closer to Glasgow, a city buzzing with culture. I can’t wait to get reacquainted with a place very close to my heart.
With the scenery change comes new opportunities, too. I’m thrilled to be working with the local Dogs Trust rehoming centre a couple of mornings a week providing media support—and lots of doggy cuddles, leaving me energised to tackle my freelance projects the rest of the week, teaming up with creative collaborators old and new.
We tend to shy away from change. Especially us Brits: we like what we like and leave it at that. Big change is often considered frightening or shameful: a blemish on our identity. But after two years of sudden, unexpected, often difficult blind turns in the road—paralleled with the seemingly never-ending monotony of staying at home as much as possible—there’s a sense of anticipation in this upheaval as we lean on the edge of our seats, excited to discover what lies around the corner. While the move did present its fair share of challenges, we had firm control of the wheel, letting us confront problems on our own terms.
After a couple of difficult years (thanks, Covid), starting 2022 with a major shake-up feels invigorating. So it’s with a sense of rejuvenated enthusiasm that I write this at my new desk in a new city filled with history, imagination, and new creative opportunities waiting to be discovered. Change is scary but, whether big or small, it can be worth embracing.
Edinburgh Castle towering over the city at night.