Flashback and Forward to 2010

It took a wile to get everyone adopting the nineties modern beat but it felt like a time that was full of hope when I put that chapter to bed on the eve of new millennium pumping up Prince’s track “ tonight I’m going to party like its 1999!” in my glamour gown.

So what about the Noughties? How am I going to feel tonight, as I kiss good bye to a decade in my Pjamas?

Well it’s got a crap name to start with. I mean what’s that about! In addition to its rubbish name, looking back at the last 10 years all I can think of is senseless wars, & mindless loss of lives (some inflicted by man, some by nature arguably as a result of man).

On the plus or minus side depending on which way you look at it, we got to communicate more, in every sense of the word. All this tweeting, mailing, My –face-ing, phoning and skyping, I seem to have lost track of the day and in a place like England, known for its stiff upper lip and for being a culture that had historically asked its people to close its eyes and think of England, it was amazing to see everyone opening out. As a communications Junkie nothing made me happier in the Noughties then the glut of communications outlets that have become as homely and familiar as my own bed when it rains. I counted the number of virtual ways that I share my world and considered why I choose to indulge

1. Facebook (Because it’s a great way to stay connected to secondary friends, people you rarely see who now live in other countries and is the best way to spread your thoughts to people in your wider community. Even my mum has an account for goodness sake!)

2. Twitter ( because I like the idea of it, don’t really understand the point of it and enjoy checking out random topics that become social frenzy waves of communication between total strangers)

3. Linked in ( great Professional advert , re-connector and place to be a grown up)

4. Emails (Every freelancers secret weapon. Have email access…. Can work. ANYTIME – ANYWHERE)

5. Mobile Phone (4 working numbers… its not flash, it’s a necessity and reflective of the new way of work between countries. I am as much in Qatar, as I am in London, Dubai or Beirut)

6. Skype ( The savior ! I love this piece of magic ) Over the years since this brilliant innovation entered my universe I have skype dated with my husband when traveling, organized events & , social gatherings across the globe and even sat in on meetings taking place in other time zones.
Looks to me like all of the above have a space in the next ten years ahead !

Another double edged sword of the decade for me and one of the golden change makers of the decade was the arrival and permanency of Reality TV. Like it or lump it, its hear to stay ever since those crazy Dutch folks locked themselves away in the name of social experimentation the best was unleashed and the wider worlds curiosity.

Personally I love the intention of Reality TV but only in the sense that it can cut through prejudice, ignorance and confusion in an instant and be more of a change maker then years of polite lobbying! Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate it’s not an answer to creating world peace but having a window on peoples world ( all kinds of peoples worlds) has offered an unprecedented level of emotional intelligence that’s floating around peoples living rooms, unconsciously challenging, & provoking them.

I know some people had a battering this year, with the loss of loved ones, some people grew and learned something new about themselves and the world around us, some people got married, or had a baby in the biblical or professional sense. Some people were all or none of the above and filled all the spaces in between. Where ever you were this year I hope you enjoy looking back on it and all its good, bad, crispy, scary, fun, delicious moments before looking forward to the New Year ahead and setting some Juicy compelling goals.

For my own part, one of my goals is to remind all those people I love and care about in my world just how special they are. Another goal is to keep joining the dots between 2 cultural hemispheres, bringing out the best in the 2 cultures that I call home in my head, and celebrating my part time status with gusto be it in the virtual world or in the visceral sense.

#its going to be a cracker … Happy new 2010 !