🌿 Stories from the Desk: What the Numbers Don’t Show

By Victoria Stokes — I’m the Bookkeeper

Before I was the bookkeeper, I was a tax preparer — sitting behind a green desk in an H&R Block office that smelled like toner, coffee, and winter air from the front door swinging open and shut all day.

I met people from every corner of life: single moms doing their best, retirees clutching folders of receipts, young couples trying to make sense of new rules, and folks who just needed to feel seen for a minute. They came in with W-2s and worries, refund hopes and overdue bills — and they all left behind stories I never forgot.

Some of those stories were about money. Most of them weren’t.
They were about dignity. About people doing the best they could with what they had.
About how one small act — a conversation, a form done right, a moment of listening — could change everything.

Those years shaped me far more than I realized. They taught me that bookkeeping, taxes, and financial work aren’t just about numbers; they’re about the courage it takes to face your own story and want something better. They taught me that empathy and efficiency can live in the same room.

So I’m sharing a few of those memories here — not to romanticize the past, but to honor the people who taught me how to do my work with heart. These are Stories from the Desk — the quiet, powerful lessons that still guide me today.

These stories aren’t about tax returns or spreadsheets — not really. They’re about the people behind them, the choices that built a life, and the way small acts of care can still matter in a world that often forgets them. If you’ve ever tried to rebuild yourself one task, one page, or one season at a time — this is for you.