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Thank you 2020!

Thank you 2020!

Written by James Osborne

Last edited May 8, 2023

Thank you 2020!

Thank you 2020! 

For the silence on my streets so I can safely walk my dog

For the silence that now exists in my mind to help to clear the fog

 

For the quality time I have to spend with my children and family

For the quality time to reflect on what this year could have been

… and what it has become.

 

And thank you to the pessimists in paralysis who opened up the door

For us optimists and opportunists to step in, get on and just do more

Thank you for this opportunity.

 

For giving us those moments when we could not share a hug or kiss

And so reminding us of all those little things, those people that we really, really miss.

… and that’s for you in particular, mum x

 

Too many people have faced too much grief this year, and many are still feeling the pain

And we hope we have gone some way to help that with our 10,000 meals campaign

 

So to everyone out there still suffering, who are lost and not sure what to do,

Remember there are people here now and will always be here, ready to support you.

 

I’ll never again take for granted those things that I usually forget

And remind myself daily that what I have now is the best I have yet.

 

Thanks also to my new friends, the strangers, who now stop and say hi

And genuinely care for how you are doing as you walk on by.

Thank you 2020

 

Thank you for not forcing me to have to commute in the cold and driving rain

To that meeting that might have happened if it hadn’t been cancelled again

… by the time I just got there!

 

And thanks for the incessant laughs we had as we all looked like technofools,

On that first day in March figuring out those online tools

 

From sitting in your pyjama bottoms whilst wearing your tie and suit,

To delivering your best presentation with the whole thing stuck on mute.

 

I have never been so remote from people, so removed and so unseen,

And yet so connected to those little people in boxes on the screen

 

And if you add all those little boxes together, covid, do you know what we’ve become?

We’ve become bigger, we’ve become stronger, more united as one

 

So, thank you 2020 for making my business day to day so derailed,

As you’ve actually made my productivity go completely off the scale.

Thanks again.

 

To the online trolls who’s every dig on social is just another coin in my pot

So thank you, you’re making a positive difference whether you like it or not

… if you know, you know!

 

To my co-workers, business partners, board members and peers

I am humbled by your devotion, overwhelmed by your strength and lack of fear.

 

We built this business from the outset to be truly purpose led

To support our members and each other whatever the road we tread.

 

And like so, so many others, we’ve dug deep, held on, worked harder an-d smart,

But we stayed true to our beliefs and always kept our values at heart

 

To creativity, resilience, adaptability – they’re Pivots new best mates

That got our backs off from against the wall and stopped us taking covid’s bait.

 

You didn’t think we’d all just sit here did you and wait for this whole thing just to pass by?

We’ve got no time for that, that’s not our style, we’ve got much bigger fish to fry.

 

2020 has thrown it all at us but we have thrown every challenge aside

We’re riding this coronacoaster together and we’re taking each turn in our stride.

… thank you 2020 for the ride!

 

To the experts and scientists for giving us a new form of hope, an end in sight

I don’t quite understand it all, to be honest, but they seem to be getting it right

 

To the creativity, determination, imagination of the arts

For continuing to bring entertainment to our lounges and to our hearts.

… the show just must go on.

 

To those delivery drivers who just get on and who you never hear complain

To those flight attendants and pilots who may never again fly planes

… but are now taking off in new ways.

 

And of course, thank you to all the careworkers, publicans, teachers who are keeping up the fight

And to all the small high street retailers doing whatever they can to keep on the Christmas lights.

 

Lets’ go out, each one of us now and spend, on gifts and Christmas wrapping

And then join together as one on new years’ eve and restart all the clapping.

 

To say… “thank you!” to those who have given everything this year

To say… “thank you!” to those who through their actions have made one thing very clear…

 

Covid, you turned up at our party unannounced and particularly badly dressed

And I have to say, looking at how you danced this year, I have been very unimpressed.

 

But you have given us a trigger, a unique moment in time

A time to reflect, a time to adapt and a time to re-align.

 

An opportunity to take what we have learned this year and start a 2021 reboot

Oh, and by the way covid, your mic is now on mute!

 

Merry Christmas everyone!

James

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