“Is that alcoholic cider?” I ask the bartender at Canberra airport. He answered yes. “Well, give me a pint. It’s New Year’s Eve!” The truth is, New Year’s Eve, like Christmas, means less to me as time passes. When I was a much younger man I loved both events passionately. What happened then to make me lose interest? I sip my apple cider and look around the airport at midday, watching everyone powering up their iPhones and laptops. I think it’s about communication; my loss of interest.
It occurs to me at the airport bar that the most meaningful conversations I’ve had in the last decade have been one-sided, and on social media, like I’m doing now, writing this blog. Don’t edit, keep writing, a voice in my head urges me. Things were different when I was a boy, surrounded by people who mostly gave their full attention, without the distraction of smartphones and screens. School friends, neighbours, and the corner shop owner all listened. Do I miss those days? Maybe not every day, but I do miss good old-fashioned conversation and people who really listen. I miss the love I guess ❤️
I sip my cider and glance at my iPhone, still forty minutes before boarding. I take a deep breath and look around the airport once more. But this time I see people hugging their loved ones, while others, like me, quietly sit lost in their thoughts. Suddenly, I get a little clarity. I realize that New Year’s Eve is not about parties, fireworks, or apple cider. It’s about reflection and gratitude. But mostly it’s about acknowledging the past, living in the present, and embracing tomorrow. I smile and raise my glass of apple cider. “Here’s to new beginnings.”
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