Strictly Inverness 2024 diary: New Year's resolutions

It's that time of year where a lot of us are reflecting on what has happened over the past 12 months and what opportunities lie ahead.

Some will want to set themselves new challenges, like I have with Strictly Inverness.

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• Strictly Inverness 2024 diary: The journey begins

I'm not going to lie and say that a year ago I told myself I would sign up in a bid to be selected among the 32 people who will learn to dance to compete in the annual event in May.

To be honest, I've never really set myself a New Year's resolution but recent events have lit a new fire inside that is ready for the next big goal.

I've always been a competitive person, playing a range of sports including a few seasons on the gridiron with the Highland Wildcats when it had a senior team. I also don't lack personal motivation, waking at 4am daily to push myself in the gym before whatever the rest of the day entails.

But I've never been a dancer. I tried to learn a few steps before my wedding a decade ago but I wouldn't be able to remember them now. I performed in a Beyonce-inspired dance skit at a Blitz Awards (an end-of-year celebration linked to the Wildcats) prior to that but any footage is best left unseen. And beyond the relatively rare (especially these days) outing to the Den, I'm not troubling dancefloors anywhere.

So why Strictly and why now?

Highland News & Media has been involved in Strictly Inverness since it started. Over the years colleagues past and present have strutted their stuff and done us proud. But in May 2023, we had nobody from our ranks performing.

Every time I've been to the final, I've been overwhelmed by the high calibre performances and in awe that they could do that after around four months of training. They all put on their best performances at showtime while raising money for event organisers and hosts Highland Hospice and Inverness Ice Centre along the way. And I always thought, I'd love to do it too.

When the applications opened though, I didn't want to take someone else's spot. But as the deadline loomed and the additional appeal for more men was made, I thought the time is now.

Although my "spare time" is often limited, like so many other people, I will make a good go of it. Anything that is then carved out in my routine will be dedicated to family and friends afterwards – and that's my New Year's resolution. It's not to learn to dance, although that will be a superb skill, it's the fact that I'll be forcing myself to make time for this, which in turn should give me no excuse not to give equivalent time in future to family and friends.

If you're thinking about your goals for 2024, taking part in a future Strictly Inverness is well worth considering.

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