Where’d You Go, Time?

We tend to live our lives one day at a time. In a world that never slows down, reflection is often the first thing we sacrifice. Deadlines replace daydreams, notifications drown out nostalgia, and before we know it, another year has passed. Yet there is one quiet, marvellous way to bend time; one simple trigger that can transport us back to the very beginning of our story.

That time machine is called music.

Not long ago, I heard an old song: “Where’d You Go?” by Fort Minor, released back in 2006. In an instant, I wasn’t where I stood anymore. I was a teenager again, singing along with friends, carefree and loud, convinced the world was ours for the taking. No pressure. No expectations. Just laughter, rhythm, and the unshakable feeling that life was only just beginning.

That’s the magic of music. It doesn’t just remind you of who you were, it shows you how far you’ve come. How many miles you've travelled.

Back then, I was just a kid at university. I had far too much energy and an almost irrational love for sport. I didn’t know exactly where life would take me, only that I wanted it to involve stadium lights, roaring crowds, and moments that mattered. Life, of course, had other plans along the way. The road wasn’t always smooth. There were bumps, doubts, and days when the destination felt impossibly far away.

At times the destination itself was wrapped up in tedious discussions that only mattered to those that pointed them out. After all, were we not at the forefront of some of the greatest spectacles the earth has to offer. And yet the memories tend to erase the difficult moments.

I was fortunate that my journey, took me somewhere extraordinary.

If that kid - belting out Fort Minor with his friends - could see the adult typing these words today, he’d be stunned. He’d marvel at what became of a dream that once felt so fragile. Sport didn’t just remain a passion; it became a passport to the world.

It carried me to the Rugby World Cup in France in 2023, watching South Africa lift the trophy. It placed me in England for the Ashes, across the Atlantic for the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup in Dallas and Miami, and throughout Europe’s most iconic stadiums for the UEFA Champions League, Premier League, and Bundesliga. It even led me to the immaculate green grass of Wimbledon. Which is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious stages tennis has to offer.

A career in sports television, the FT Sports YouTube channels, and writing has tested me in countless ways. The challenges were real. The pressure was constant. But so too were the rewards: lifelong friendships, unforgettable moments, and memories that will outlast any highlight reel.

And that’s where Fort Minor’s words hit hardest: “Where’d you go? I miss you so.”

We can’t turn back the clock. Time doesn’t wait, and it certainly doesn’t rewind. But it does leave clues, whether they be songs, moments or memories that remind us where we began. And when we pause long enough to compare where we once stood with where we are now, gratitude has a way of finding us.

So this is a thank you to those who came along for the ride. To Fort Minor too, for the soundtrack to a younger, freer version of life. And to anyone reading this who may be struggling - whether with real, heavy problems, or simply the pain of watching a beloved sports team lose its way - take a trip down memory lane.

Remember the moment you fell in love. With the sport. With the dream. With the life you’re living.

As Christmas approaches, we know this season can be difficult for many. But we hope that somewhere between the songs, the memories, and the moments that shaped you, you find a little joy.

Happy holidays. And wherever time has taken you, never forget where you started.