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Photo by Who Gives A Crap.
Draining. Hectic. Horrendous. Exhausting. Overwhelming.
These are a few of the words that came to mind when we asked our team to describe 2020 in one word.
Interesting. Unique. Insightful, were a few more. What would be yours?
This year has certainly been one that none of us will forget in a hurry.
It will be one we tell our grandchildren and great-grandchildren about, recounting far from fond memories of toilet paper shortages, months of isolation, and a deadly virus that swept every corner of the globe.
We will speak of lockdowns, working and schooling from home, of a newfound addiction to puzzles, or how we binge-watched Schitt’s Creek and reruns of The West Wing.
2020 has been a year that has tested all of us, in many more ways than one - but that, now as we near its end, we are hopefully coming out the other side a more resilient, grateful and empathetic community than we were before.
While the pandemic is certainly far from over, particularly beyond Australia’s borders, as the year comes to a close and we take a collective ‘balcony’ moment to look back on the year that was, it is important to make space for reflection and celebration and hope.
Photo by Keith Luke on Unsplash.
So, to you, our community, we celebrate you.
We celebrate your resilience and courage in the face of adversity.
We celebrate your agility and proactivity in the face of constant upheaval (and ever-changing government schemes).
We celebrate your small wins and your big victories.
We celebrate your determination and your grit.
We celebrate businesses like StageKings, a set design and construction business renowned for their innovative and unique stage designs. When faced with letting their team go and bringing the curtains down on their business, they came together and created the now-iconic IsoKing office desk and product range, which not only kept their business afloat, but that enabled them to donate $35,000 to Support Act; a mental health support group for musicians, crews and music workers.
We celebrate frontline and essential workers who sacrificed and gave up so much so that we may be as safe and secure as possible.
We celebrate the leaders and public health officials who spent sleepless nights weighing up and making difficult decisions that balanced the need to reopen the economy with the need to keep people distanced and safe.
We celebrate the charities and support organisations like Wayside Chapel who worked around the clock to give those experiencing hardship and disadvantage the food, shelter and essentials they need.
Because, as scary and awful this year has been at times, there are plenty of things to celebrate and be grateful for.
From ditching the hour-long commute, to spending more time with new babies and family members, or to finally clearing the stack of books on the nightstand - one thing that this year has given many of us is the chance to reevaluate what matters most.
For us, as a company, that means ensuring our work makes an impact far beyond the dollars and cents. It means supporting small businesses like yours to focus on what you do best while being a trusted confidante when things don’t quite go to plan. It means helping our people to do their best work, from wherever they are, whenever they can. And it means always checking if we’ve taken ourselves off mute before we talk.
For our team, it meant making local discoveries and visiting new parts of Australia that they might not have otherwise. It meant being glad to be part of a team and finding new ways to support each other. It meant home renovations and trialing a meal delivery service we meant to get around to. It meant giving ourselves permission to slow down, connect with our loved ones, and always having plenty of toilet paper in the cupboards.
For you, our community, it meant reinventing yourselves and ‘mastering the pivot’ to new products and services to keep the doors open. It meant finding any means necessary to keep staff employed and bolster your team’s mental health and wellbeing. It meant capitalising on the opportunities before you and being flexible and adaptable to the ever-changing market conditions.
To that end, we promise never to use the following words or phrases again in 2021…
Unprecedented.
Trying times.
Social distancing.
Pivot.
Lockdown.
More than ever.
New normal.
Or, that President Who Shall Not Be Named.
For if 2020 was the year of locking down, 2021 must be the year of opening up.
Opening up to the possibility and the opportunity, to the prospect of a more just, ethical and kind world for all.
Will you join us? We hope so.
With gratitude, and thanks for all of your support this year. Because of you, we will also be making our annual $1000 donation to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation in support of their important and life-changing work.
Be safe and jolly this holiday season,
Shelley and Kim, on behalf of the BASic Bookkeepers team
PS: We will be taking a little break to rest and recharge from 18 December until 4 January, by which time we will be back on deck to help make 2021 your best year yet.
