A Bittersweet Goodbye

@Kate I didn't see this coming. I'm speechless. I don't want to be sad because you're gonna be venturing in a new role in another organization and that just means that you're exploring things and extending yourself to others who may need your helping hand. This just shows how dedicated you are to spreading mental health awareness.

I cannot thank you enough for the guidance, mentoring, patience, understanding and tolerance of me. I truly appreciate you for that. Your quick replies still never fail to amaze me. In fact, I might PM you after posting this haha just remember that you're Katellama and you're irreplaceable. The things you've done for our community especially in the teen community and group support community have left a great impact to the teens and group support room regulars here on 7cups.

@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

I... I'm so shocked, I can barely think of words, but here it goes....

You are literally one of the most incredible people I know. You gave me hope when I didn't have any, you gave me a reason to stay here when I felt unwanted, you supported me when I had no-one else to turn to. You went above and beyond what you were ever expected to do for anyone.

When I felt most lost on here, you were there, you took me under your wing and guided me into a community, you supported me and gave me opportunities I would never have expected, your support literally gave me a new path on here, a purpose. When I decided that that path wasn't right, you accepted it, you supported me with creating my own path, a new path where I could focus on my passion. Whilst anyone else would have been frustrated with me, you supported me so much, you stood by me and it has honestly felt like you have been cheering me on from the side, giving me more and more drive.

As much as I want you here, need you here, I feel so incredibly proud of you. You had an amazing journey before Cups, you have impacted so many lives and made such a difference here on Cups, and I am sure whatever your next adventure is you will do amazingly, you deserve so much happiness and joy in life, and I hope everything that happens in your future brings that for you. Keep following your dreams and your passion, anyone you bump into in life is extremely lucky to have met you.

I think a massive relief was seeing that you will still have your account, and I sincerely hope that we will still see you around, even just once in a while.

I can't thank you enough, and I am struggling to say the things I want to say, but please know you mean literally everything to me, and I will remember you, and everything you have done for me forever.

Anyway, now I've fought back the tears whilst writing it, i'mma go cry :')

Thankyou, and best of luck for the future

-- Spectrum

@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

Just wanted to say thank you for your hard work you did, and all the countless hours you spent on this community! May the lord bless you in ways that you can never imagine.

@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

Dear, @Kate

I would like to begin by thanking you from the deepest depths of my heart for not only all of the incredible and hard work that you have done for the 7 Cups of Tea community, but also for helping me to grow as a Listener and always finding time to answer my never-ending questions - and I know, I asked a lot haha.

I would also like to say that, even with our many other, very talented and very lovely 7 Cups administration, nobody will be able to compare with the unique level of compassion, care and friendliness you so much possess. You have been an amazing Community Manager and an amazing Listener.

I hereby wish you all of the best for the future and hope to see you around from time-to-time.

Best Regards,

Dev.

@Kate

I took a really long break and came back to see you going. While it is bittersweet, I am so happy to see you moving on in your future and just doing what is good for you! Thank you for all the laughs and listening to all the tears when we felt like we were never going to be good enough. I remember when I aged from a teen to an adult I was scared to death, but you were right there, supporting me and many others. You are going to do some of the most amazing things in your future, I can feel it. I am just glad I got to be a tiny spec of that <3

With Much Love,

ItsJoel/Mother Joel

@Kate

I wasn't going to reply because I didn't know what to say but I think I do now.

I am very happy that you found a great opportunity for you, I hope your new job goes well for you!

I have a many good memories with you, like leading the self harm discussion with you when you were here with NAMI for the launch of the subcommunity. It was such a great conversation and I had such a great time doing that discussion.

You have always been so supportive of me, even with all the subcommunity changes I have had and role changes. Your kindness and supportive personality never goes unnoticed and will never be forgotten! Thanks for everything that you've done. Thanks for being such a great admin. Thanks for being part of such a wonderful community thats mission is to break stigma. Thanks for wanting the same thing we all want here, a world with no stigma! Stay awesome and remember that you always will have a community admin or not that cares about you and will be here for you as well! 💕