It’s been a wild year
I can’t recall much of it, much has happened in the latter half that my brain remains pretty slow & useless a lot of the time. My fathers passing in September has effected me deeper than I could have foreseen & Christmas Day was draining at times, emotions for all to see & no warning of what a trigger would be
But it has not all been dark, life has continued & if anything, it’s made me move forward rather than drift downstream
Some of things that I can recall;
My first mountain day since March 2020
Seeing @trashfreetrails spread the message & actions of looking after our trails to an ever expanding audience
Joining @saveourrivers on the River Kent clean
Being part of @kendalmountainfestival’s presenter team
Leading @mindblmk’s Minds in Action team
Joining South Central Ambulance Service (@scas_999) as a Volunteer Community First Responder
Becoming a trustee for @myblackdog_co following 6 months of volunteer shifts
Marking a decade at @madison.cycles
Speaking at @imba_europe Take Care Of Your Trails summit about creativity & story telling
Moving in with someone who I met virtually during lockdowns & has supported me unequivocally throughout
Huge progress with the team at @woburn_bike_trails the first 6 months of 2021
Leading runs for @maverickrunproject & course setting/stripping/marshalling at select @maverickrace events
Above all, feeling connected to communities once again, after feeling cut off from much of what motivates me to do what I love & enjoy. It doesn’t make things easier, nor does it help get through what I’m dealing with internally, however, it provides respite from what is going on in my head and shows there is life after loss.
Thank you to everyone who’s reached out & supported me this year. It’s deeply appreciated
Here’s to 2022
James Mackeddie 