For the past 7 years, I lived close to one of my friends. We both moved 2000 miles from the same city to the same city (18 months apart), and for a long time, he was my only friend in the new place. We’ve watched every major football match together (except the 2022 World Cup final, sigh). We’ve played thousands of games of Fifa against each other (starting from PES 06). We’ve shared many dozen a meal at his father’s restaurant. Somewhere along the line, he became my closest friend.

In May this year, I moved away. Far enough that I couldn't see him whenever I wanted, but close enough that I could see him if I really, really made the effort. And surprise suprise, I didn’t make the effort. “We’ll catch the next game together soon.” “We’ll go to this restaurant together soon.” “We’ll do this soon.” “We’ll do that soon.” Everything would happen soon, but nothing was actually happening.

The Euros happened over the summer, and unlike previous years (where we’d watch many games a week together), we only watched two or three games together. He got a new job in July, and life got even more busier for him. The amalgam of me moving away and him getting a new job meant that we rarely saw each other. As life gets busy, people start drifting apart.

It was sometime in September that I randomly suggested that we play squash together. Neither of us had ever played squash, or known anyone who plays it. I played other sports regularly, he did not. A couple of back and forths later, I paid £10 for a pair of used squash rackets from Facebook Marketplace, and he for some beginner squash balls, and there it began. The best thing I did in 2024 began. Although I had significantly more experience playing other racket sports, he was a quick learner and the games were competitive. We both enjoyed it a lot. And since then, we’ve played a game of squash every week. We made the effort. Sometimes we watch a game of football after it. Sometimes we play Fifa after it. Sometimes we have a meal from his father’s restaurant after it. It wasn’t really about squash. It was about finding a reason to carve out time, a weekly ritual that made sure our friendship didn’t fade into ‘soon.’

As life gets busy, don’t let people drift apart. You say you’re gonna see someone soon. You’ll grab a pint soon. You’ll go bowling soon. You’ll go on holiday soon. Everything will happen soon, but nothing is actually happening.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in 2024, it’s this: don’t wait for ‘soon.’ Make the effort. Start playing squash with your best friend.