2012 + 10
Looking back...
10 years ago, London held the summer Olympics.
If you're British or lived in Britain at the time, I'm sure you'll remember it well. As well as the incredible sporting spectacle, the games - particularly the closing ceremony - highlighted everything that put the ‘great’ into Great Britain.
The medal table finished as follows:
United States
China
Great Britain
Whilst the above reflected the athletes' medal hauls, the nation's confidence could have suggested that this was also a fair representation of the world order at the time.
London had just put on an event like no other, and global Britain was in a mood to show off. The government did so, using the GREAT campaign, with events in 17 global cities designed to show off UK excellence to potential visitors.
2012 was voted by the British public as the best year of the decade, with 37% of the votes, an overwhelming majority. A separate poll even suggested that 2012 was the greatest year EVER in British history, beating 1945 and VE day in 2nd place. The 10th anniversary of 2012 is already bringing out some good old British reminiscing of what a fantastic event the Olympics was and what a year 2012 was.
It wasn't just the Olympics that made 2012 so memorable. Sticking to sport, some significant British achievements came that year including Andy Murray and Rory McIlroy winning majors in their respective sports, Bradley Wiggins winning the Tour de France and Chelsea winning the Champions League.
The country also came together to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth, with parties and events held up and down the country and double bank holidays adding to the nation's mood.
And there was more. In July, London got another symbol of its dynamism and exciting future as The Shard opened, becoming the tallest building in Europe (take that, Eiffel Tower). Last but not least, James Bond returned with a bang with Skyfall, the highest-grossing and one of the most noteworthy Bond films ever (not to mention that theme song).
A decade on, the UK can only wish we had some of the spirit remaining from 2012. Where we had passion, pride and partnership, we now seem to have division, dislike and disarray.
Ahh, how we long for the good old days of 2012. What a time to be alive, and what a time to be living in Britain.
Really?
Well... that's how I remember it. And seemingly, that's how the voters in the year of the decade remembered it too, and it certainly seems to be what media outlets looking back remember.
But away from the events, parties, and film premieres - the headlines from 2012 tell a different story.
In an annual review of the economy, the Independent said, "Some years are best forgotten. And, for the British economy, 2012 is one of them."
The UK experienced its first double-dip recession since the 1970s. The boost provided by the Olympics wasn't enough to avoid the UK's national income falling from the start of the year to the end.
Economic growth was low and falling. Output numbers were terrible and we didn’t see comparable figures again until 2019. The government employed quantitative easing to boost the economy and help with the cost of living. Before the Olympic games, there was evident concern about how affordable or necessary they were and whether the UK economy had the capacity to host.
Then there was the weather. 2012 was England's wettest year on record, even though the start of the year was drier than usual. It was an exceptionally wet summer, with June seeing 203% of the average monthly rainfall expected.
The rain in 2012 was not simply an inconvenience. Record rainfall led to widespread flooding, killing 9 people, ruining crops and costing the country billions. 2012 was the year that the weather in the UK turned dangerous.
Alongside this, England lost a penalty shoot-out, London afforded Boris Johnson additional credibility by re-electing him London Mayor, and to Wayne Rooney - and everyone else’s - dismay, we lost Whitney Houston.
Objectively, away from the fanfare and events, 2012 seems to have actually been a pretty crap year.
So, what?
Is it the case that because of the underlying issues that the UK was facing, the public was foolish to have voted 2012 the greatest year? Or were they right, and it is the case that events and memories are what make a year great?
As an experiment, ask yourself what has been the best year of your life so far? I'd imagine there's a strong chance that the first answer that comes to mind would also be the answer to the question, "what is the most memorable year of your life?". Undoubtedly true for me.
Good memories, particularly novel ones, seem to have a halo effect that gives everything around it a positive framing when looking back. These events dominate memory over how you felt and lived day-to-day at the time.
Memories matter. According to Meik Wiking (author of The Art of Making Memories), happy memories are essential to mental health. They strengthen our sense of identity and purpose and bond our relationships. Happy memories are a crucial ingredient for present happiness. It's probable that when asked to choose the greatest year for Britain or think back ten years, fond memories of all that happened spring to mind. 2012 then became the obvious choice, and our recollections positive.
When I set out to write this post, I initially intended to look back at 2012 and explore the differences from today to explore where we as a country have gone wrong in the last decade. Instead, I think I stumbled on an important life lesson.
Whilst "the importance of making memories" as a conclusion might be slightly cringe-inducing, re-framing the significance of memorable events and new, exciting experiences as necessary for long-term happiness is an important thing to consider. Perhaps also an important rule to govern the way we live life.
On objective measures, 2012 probably wasn't the most favourable year for Britain. But no one can deny it was the most memorable, and perhaps it is that which matters.
Right now, 2022 seems to be a year that most of us will look back on with a negative framing. But for everything going on in the world, from cost of living, frightening weather, and the horrors of war that we see on the news every day, there are of course those that will look back at 2022 as the best year of their lives.
Those getting married, exploring the world, or trying things for the first-time won’t remember 2022 as the year the stock-market crashed, the UK finally flubbing Brexit or any of the other shit the news shows every night. They’ll remember those positive experiences and memories, and in 10 years’ time, it will be those that make 2022 what it was.
This can be true for all of us.
So I leave you with this: turn off the news, put down your phone and make some plans. Then get out there and make some memories.
In time, they’re all that really matter.