A Bittersweet Goodbye
Dearest 7 Cups Community,
Its with mixed feelings that I am officially announcing that my time as Community Manager here at 7 Cups will be ending. I was offered an exciting new role with another organization and have accepted. My last day here as Community Manager will be next Friday, March 29th.
My time here over the past year and a half has been exciting, challenging and extremely rewarding. Ive learned so much from all of you and have valued leading the group support rooms and teen community. The one constant with 7 Cups is that things are constantly changing and evolving. Change can be hard to deal with and its ok to be scared or unsure. I am leaving you in good hands with @Laura, @Jill7Cups and @Heather225 (and Tuna).
Here is my advice and (unsolicited) wisdom:
- Approach change with an open mind and remember that nothing is set in stone and everyones feelings are valid, even when you may disagree.
- Be nice to everyone. You never know what someone is going through on the other side of the computer or phone screen.
- Be patient with the Community Managers. They see you and they care about you even if they dont answer your PM as fast as they would like to.
- Its ok to take time for self-care. I mean it. Go outside. Your roles will be here when you come back.
- No Cupsing in class.
Even after next Friday, I will still have access to this account so please stop by and say hi sometimes, send me a silly cat photo or a llama-related item you happen to come across.
- Kate/LovelyLlama
Update from Jill: here is the compilation of going away messages that I shared in the surprise hug parties, if you didn't get a chance to add yours you can add it as a comment below.
Wow what a journey it has been, you have achieved so much in your time here and its been a pleasure to work with you and you have allowed me to grow so much with your guidance, you are my kate and no one will be able to replace you. I cannot say that I am happy to hear this news and will miss you lots and lots ! Though exciting times for the journey ahead and i know you will rock your next role - they better realise who they are employing though and treat you as the Queen LLama you are . Don't be a stranger !
@Kate it is indeed a bittersweet good-bye. I understand that there comes a time when one must move on but for some reason we never really expect that to actually happen. It saddens me to see you leave your role because you did a really group job at it! I guess thats one way you know how well you did? Its not just the fact that you did a great job, its also the reality that you are a great person to be around, very approachable and proactive. Wherever you move next, they are lucky to have you and they will soon find out! I am glad that we have a way to reach you in case there is urgent illama gif to share. Thank you for your work, your kindness, all the love and all the good times!
@Kate the journey you have taken our community on over your time as Community Manager has been one that has touched so many lives and grown our community in ways that would have never been possible without you. Youre right, change is constant. Its is through your leadership that we have been able to adjust to many of the changes our community has seen over the last while.
You have been an incredible leader and role model to so many of us. You have taught us that work can be fun. That change is okay and positive. That tough times dont last and that through teamwork we can achieve anything. You have taught us to value every effort and contribution and that we all have something of value to share.
While hearing this news is hard I am extremely excited for your next adventure and they are very lucky to have you. This may be a hard time but if you have taught us anything it is that nothing is impossible. You have set us up for success and for that we are all extremely grateful.
Working with you has been an amazing experience. You have given me skills and experience I will take with me wherever I go. Thank you for motivating and inspiring me to always do the best I can and take care of myself while I do it. Thank you for being so dedicated and passionate about a community we all love.
Im so glad to hear youre still be around yay!
Goodluck with this next chapter and I hope it brings you nothing but happiness
@Kate
Kaaaate! I, of course, am shooketh to see that you are stepping away from CM, but I would be remiss if I didn't stop by and say how proud of you I am!
You came into 7 cups and changed it for the better. You are a wonderful CM and an overall wonderful person. Your speedy response time is a force to be reckoned with!
But change is not always bad. It's okay to be amazing in one place and decide you want to move on to another. Just as 7 cups has immensely benefited from your presence, I know this and all future organizations will be equally blessed to have you. And, lucky for us, you are not leaving entirely <3 just changing forms.
It will always be a pleasure to see you around the site, and I will for sure sneak into your pms every once in a while.
Above all else, remember:
@Kate A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Thank you for your exemplary contributions to the 7 Cups Community - they will serve as excellent inspiration to all of us, forever.
Wishing you the best in your upcoming journey, and know that we shall always keep you in mind when GIF-ing
Your wings already exist, all you need to do is fly!
@Kate
I'm feeling sappy (sad & happy)
I'm happy that you get to follow your dreams and move on to a new adventure that you are super passionate about! I'm happy that your new place gets to see how wonderful you are too! I'm happy that you were a CM on 7cups for the time you were here because without it I don't think I would be here either! You've helped me through lots of struggles and growth moments.
I'm sad because you will be missed on 7cups in your roles and it's just always sad to see someone say good bye even though I know you will still have your account up
I just wanted to say thank you for everything you do on 7cups and all the work you do in other spaces to bring mental health awareness! Thank you for always leading by positive example and encouraging me to grow through every situation.
You know the concept of ecological footprint? The one where people are concious of the environmental impact they leave behind and how it trickles down and impacts every system below it? I see your mental health awareness footprint like that! How you always try to leave behind a legacy of zero judgment, tolerance, kindness, and compassion for everyone. I know sometimes i fail but I will try to do the same in all my actions as well.
Thanks for being part of my recovery story and time here on 7cups! Your community leadership and mentorship will be missed but your impact will not be forgotten <3<3<3
My fortune cookie from Panda Express yesterday :P I think maybe it was trying to tell me something was coming XD
@Kate, Its taken me as long as it has to reply to this, because I simply could not find the words that would completely do you justice in this goodbye. I still dont believe that I have been able to find all the words even now, but nevertheless Im going to try as hard as I can to get as close as possible.
From the moment you became part of our community, you radiated like a bright sunshine. I still remember, like it was yesterday, my first message to you. I cant even explain to you how exciting it was to think that you would be the Teen Community Manager here. What pleasantly surprised me the most, was your absolute willingness to learn from every single member of the community and to make sure that we all knew how valuable we are in this community. You truly encompass all the wonderful qualities that creates an amazing leader.
From then on, time has felt like a blur. I have learned an incredible amount of things from you, from being a true advocate for mental health, to the importance of prioritising yourself, to recognizing the power I have within me, to embracing life and braving through everything that is thrown my way, and much more. There are countless things that you have taught me in your time at 7 Cups, and I could never even get close to naming them all, but they will forever remain wonderful lessons and sweet memories to look back on and to remember.
However, the one thing that I cannot afford to let slide by without mentioning, is the biggest lesson that I have learned in my life by far, thanks to you. This has shaped me into the person I am today, it has become my life my motto; what I live by every single day. This truly gives me the strength that I need to continue waking up every day and do my best, no matter what Im facing. And that is to Be Brave. Two words that you spoke to me during one of the hardest times in my life, which have an incredible amount of meaning behind them of which their significance could never be properly explained in words. All I know, is that these two words are what are giving me the strength to even write this reply, one that has felt so incredibly impossible. These two words have given me so much courage in my recovery and through my own mental health journey, and I cant thank you enough for supporting me through that every step of the way. Thank you for showing me how brave I am, even when I could not see it myself. Thank you for showing me the amount of strength that I have within me to own my recovery journey and to make the best of my life regardless of the cards that I have been dealt.
I feel like I have become the leader that I am today because of your continuous guidance and support. You have helped me grow in so many ways that I could never forget, and have taught me so many lessons about being a leader along the way, not only on 7 Cups, but also in my own life. You have showed me the true meaning of kindness, patience, caring and true understanding. Every day has been a blessing to have someone like you in my life. You have showed me that there is hope in this world, that we can truly change the world for the better, one day at a time. I will carry all these things with my throughout the rest of my life, for they are essential in building a kinder world.
While writing this reply has not come without tears and sadness, I know that you are moving on to a wonderful opportunity in your career, and your future colleagues are so incredibly lucky to have someone as hardworking, committed and inspiring by their side. I know for certain that you will continue to move others and inspire them in your future journeys as you have with me, and the field of mental health will forever be marked by the huge positive impact that you continue to make through your advocacy.
Whatever happens, I know that we can always look down at our necklaces and I will remember all the wonderful memories that we have created and all the empowering lessons that you have taught me. Perhaps if its meant to be, one day our paths shall cross again as we both continue to advocate in the field of mental health. This world truly is a better place with you in it <3
Be Brave,
Your Anyallama
@kate
I don't really have words for how sad this makes me. I will say that I feel like your last point was mainly directed to me as I cups in class the most. I will be good about not cupsing in class even after you've left. I hope you still continue to drink 7 cups of tea a day (microwave tea doesn't count. Please invest in a kettle). I will continue to drink 7 cups a day in your honor. Thank you for everything you have done for me personally and for the community as a whole. 7 cups and especially the teen side won't be the same without you. I hope you do amazing at your new job. I can't thank you enough for answering all my obscure questions all the time including the weekend. I will always say hi and check on your tea drinking anytime I see you around the site. My one request that I hope you can fulfill is that you try to be online October 22nd for my aging up. You're forcing me to grow up so I want you to be there for it. You've been such a huge part of my journey here on cups and I'm sure you've been a part of everyone's journey in some way. Thank you thank you thank you for making 7 cups what it is today. You will be missed so much. 7 cups will always be your home
@Kate
Oh my goodness. I have to thank you immensely for the extreme hard-work that you have put in during the last year and a half on 7 Cups. You have made significantly meaningful contributions to our community and brought kindness, positivity and the best cats in the world to us. I admire your dedication and willingness to support every individual here.
I wish you all the best of luck for your future. You will do amazingly in your new role, and I hope that you enjoy it very much. You deserve this.
7 Cups will always be here for you ❤️