That Sweet Snooze

DIANA SPENCER DOZING OFF AT A PARTY IN 1981 is all of us at the end of 2021: ready for a snooze. This year has thrown many things our way; some of them comforting, some surprising, though mostly confusing and exhausting as we attempt to carry on with a pandemic still in our midst. Remember when we thought it would last three to four weeks?

While we've had some scientific wins, the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report lists new and imminent societal threats including youth disillusionment and the erosion of societal cohesion. In spite of this, we end the year with a collectively historic achievement of having streamed Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas is You" over one billion times on Spotify. For emphasis, this Christmas is when we've played the song over a billion times!

What a joy to find that we are still a cheerful bunch in spite of things. Thanks Mariah! If this is what it takes to boost societal cohesion, should we be working towards the next big Christmas hit?

Whether all you want for Christmas is trivial or consequential, I hope you are indulging in your favourite playlist and getting some good quality sleep. Seasons greetings and sweet dreams!

Diana, Princess of Wales at the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1981. Image from vogue.fr