Kindness Matters!

Interviewee: @KindnessMatters2020

Fristo: What made you join 7cups as a listener?

Kindness: I joined 7cups at the beginning of the quarantine for covid. I felt the need to do something to help people who were in need of emotional support as we all went through that difficult and anxiety-provoking time. I could do this remotely and help people around the world which I loved!

Fristo: How’s been your listening journey so far?

Kindness: My listening journey has been really amazing. If I had to describe it in 3 words, I would say...humbling, gratifying and impactful.

Fristo: What challenges did you face as a listener and how did you try to deal with those challenges?

Kindness: As a listener, one of the biggest challenges I had to learn to navigate were the inappropriate chats that we encounter. I was just really uncertain the best way to manage those and did not want to block people. I tried a few different approaches and finally figured out the one that was most effective.

Fristo: What made you become a 7cups Mentor, and how’s been your mentoring journey so far?

Kindness: I became a mentor here because I really wanted to make listeners feel a sense of ongoing support and advocacy. Even listeners with experience sometimes encounter situations with members or aspects of navigating the site that require little guidance. My goal is to let my mentees know that I am not only here for them today, but I am here for them throughout their journey on 7Cups and will help support their success here in any way as long as they are a listener here.

Fristo: In what ways does listening at 7cups help you in your offline life?

Kindness: This is a great question. I have found that by being a listener here, I have become so much more aware of the daily challenges that people go through and how much loneliness there is in the world. In my offline life, that realization has humbled me to slow down, listen more carefully and make time to just be there for the people around me.

Fristo: In what ways do your life goals align with the work you do at 7cups?

Kindness: I have always enjoyed helping others and sometimes that can be limited due to other responsibilities. The beauty of volunteering here is that there is a ton of flexibility in terms of time and roles and how much you can/want to do. For my life goals, this work has helped me realize how much I get back in the process of giving my time. Specifically, I love being able to emotionally support other listeners and members to achieve their goals and dreams....that feeling is priceless!

Fristo: What message do you have for the cups community and for fellow listeners?

Kindness: My message for the 7cups community is that I am so glad we are together in this journey through life. Even when it feels insurmountable, you are not alone. There is always someone here to support you. For fellow listeners, I would say thank you. Thank you for giving your time, your energy, your efforts and for continuing to believe that together we can make the world a better place ❤️

Wasn’t it a lovely read!

This interview is part of the Living with Leaders Interview Series. Learn about the series here