Fristo Retires
Hi Fristo, we hear you are retiring. Tell us more about what you mean by retiring!
Q: What do you mean by you are retiring?
Fristo: It is simple. I am retiring from 7cups. I have been very active on 7cups, especially in the last many months, it is my time to retire. I have new commitments in my off-cups life that demand and deserve my most of time and energy, if not all my time and energy.
Q: Does it mean you'd disappear from 7cups altogether?
Fristo: I wish I could. But that won't be possible for me, given the love I have felt and expressed for the community over the period of my stay. So I'd still be seen occasionally but won't be committed to any role whatsoever.
Q: What about the Living with Leaders interviews, would you still be posting them?
Fristo: I might! But as I said, no commitment anymore. I might or might not. The interviews have been happening once a week since October start of last year without a break, but now these interviews would be occasional and might stop happening altogether too at some point unless someone else might like to take over the project.
Q: Would you be available to help with the Peer Appreciation Project you led?
Fristo: My project agents and team members have been awesome and I know they will continue to do awesome. I'd be happy to offer my suggestions when I am around, but there is no guarantee of how frequently I'd be around.
Q: What are your wishes for the community?
Fristo: May we use the 7cups space for exploring, developing, and expressing kindness in us. When you do that, that is when 7cups is at its best for you. More than you look to be served, look to serve. More than you expect to receive, give. The same applies to life in general.
Q: What 7cups gave you?
Fristo: It gave me a platform where I could serve through the simple and powerful act of active listening. I am going to carry the active listening tool to all my ventures in life. Active listening is a powerful message for the world in itself. May this message get louder and clearer through the efforts of this wondrous community.
Q: Would you like to share with us what would deserve your energy off-cups?
Fristo: I am a teacher and I would be busy making lessons and taking classes. I feel in doing so lies my best potential for the world. I teach not only a subject, but via the subject, I teach good conduct and character. Because the education of living well is the education that truly and lastingly matters.
Q: Anything else?
Fristo: If you ever miss me, take a moment to do a small act of kindness, which could be as simple as offering someone a smile emoji (or an actual smile if you are meeting in person) along with greeting them well. Put aside your personal sorrows for a moment and wish someone well.
Q: Would you be completely back at 7cups any day in the future?
Fristo: If I feel inspired enough, then a big yes! Wherever I am, I need to believe that I am living the best of my soul and energy. So when I am at a place, I look to turn things upside down and make a heaven come true in that place. I don't know to live any way else but to be a revolution. Maybe if another day I believe again I have much more to serve at 7cups than what little I could, I'd happily offer my days and nights to it again.
Living with Leaders Tag-list: @Dallady @HealingTalk @SkylarListens @ThoughtfulBlossom @Zarram77
ο»ΏAdd/remove yourself from the above tag-list by posting here
Peer Appreciation Team: @bubblingBreeze14 @Sunisshiningandsoareyou @GloriaD @WarmLightXO @rrretsuko @Reemhelpp @GoldenRuleJG @crang17 @funnyZebra5328 @mamtasha22 @MelodyoftheOcean @anjellyna @asilentbunny @gentleFox20 @Stevie1 @TheRusticMystic74
This interview is part of the Living with Leaders Interview Series. Learn about the series here
@Fristo
Aw this is by far the most creative "farewell/ on hiatus" posts I've come across here in my almost 2 years of being in 7 cups.
And might I add, one of the most "gosh whatta loss to the community and those that have known you a bit more closely" kinda posts. I feel, with leaders specially, people who are engaged in many activities in and around 7 cups, contributing in endless ways for the betterment of the community, somehow over a period of time we get "used to" them doing what they do and then comes this reality check of how off cups life will always precede and there may be times when these people who have been synonymous to the projects they lead, roles they hold, rooms they've been a part of, will too need to step away (may be for a little while, maybe longer), and hey hey, stepping away for however long one may need to, is super okay. We've valued you then, we value you now and we'll value you when you return in whatever capacity that is. One thing's certain- you are and always will be valued, simply for being yourself. β€
Your super active and warm presence will be missed dearly, Fristo, you are one the most passionate, dedicated and perseverant people I've met, you speak of giving your heart and soul to something you are passionate about and I know firsthand that you indeed go above and beyond for whatever you set your mind to. That's something (one of the many things lol) that I highly admire in you.
It's so touching how you always advocate for kindness and even now have the same message for us. To be kind and practice kindness.
Something else too that I greatly value about you Is your growth mindset and your willingness to constantly keep improving, and making the most out of your time and days, spending them doing things that bring you satisfaction and Joy and most importantly, a sense of purpose. And thus, it makes me so proud to know you have some great off cups goals and responsibilities moving ahead and theres absolutely no doubt you'll be the best teacher for your students. Ask them inquisitive questions about life hehe :P
In all honesty, I like the way you think, Fristo. I have said this before as well, your mind is a beautiful garden with many beautiful thoughts. I hope this beautiful garden will always be fresh, vibrant and ever-growing.
Thankyou is fairly unjustified in comparison to what you've done for the community, your contributions are so loud and radiant, and you've certainly made an impact and will continue to do so, I believe. But here's a try lol, thankYou, Fristo for being your wonderful self. I'm glad I got to meet you here and will always look forward to see you around and your PMs too haha!
Ps: I'm happy you'll be around and ofcourse, any and all of your presence is greatly appreciated and valued. β€
Wishing you the best for your future endeavors. π
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou
your mind is a beautiful garden with many beautiful thoughts. I hope this beautiful garden will always be fresh, vibrant and ever-growing.
HI - what i nice sentence to write!
@Helgafy
Hii Helga, many thanks for appreciating. β€
@Fristo Much agreed with @sunisshiningandsoareyou because this is highly creative hehe, love it!
As much as this post was meant to be an explaination and farewell, it's provided much inspiration. I'm so glad to hear that you're able to put your time, energy and efforts towards what feels most fulfilling. You deserve that clarity and joy, wherever you go.
Hearing that you're a teacher made so much sense, as you've always been so kind, thoughtful, patient and adventurous in your 7Cups endeavors. Your dedication to reaching your best potential and following it where it takes you is truly admirable.
I feel so blessed to have gotten to know you for the short time I have, and I have no doubts that you're going to continue to spread sunshine, love and smiles wherever you go, and we all wish you the absolute best moving forwards.
Thank you for the time and efforts you've provided us as a community, and for leaving us with the fabulous gifts not only of appreciation, but of hard work, of communication, of slow moments of mindfulness, and of hope that we can make a difference in our own lives, in our communities, and in the world. We appreciate you.
Much warmth,
Elliot ππ
(Also I'm interesting in chatting about the Living with Leaders project π)
@WarmLightXO
Andddd what Elliot said too. ^ β€
(I'm excited to see how the chat about the project goes ππ rooting for Elliott, go goπ€)
@Fristo
*jaw-dropped moment*
Not gonna lie, it's a sad news for me, but I agree, offline life comes first. And knowing you, you'd do your best in every life settings. π
And... I'm losing one source of my social media content without Living with Leaders series lol xD
Fristo, take care for now, I'm wishing you the best and looking forward to seeing you around again. With or without roles! π€
@Fristo
You will be greatly missed but I can fully understand your reasons for retiring. I think it is a hard step, but I am sure that you will do amazing in your off-cups life.
I hope to see you now and then, you know that you are always welcome here β€οΈ
Take care @fristo
@Fristo You've been such a dedicated and kind member of the 7cups community. It's sad to see you retiring and I know I'll miss you so much! But I'm glad you are happy with the path you have chosen. I'm sure you're a great teacher and you can spread kindness wherever you go, on or off 7cups. I wish you all the best in your endeavors β€οΈ
@Fristo
Thank you for all you have done in 7 CUps particularly, from my side, to improve the quality of support, and quality of life for Listeners, with various initiatives, like your wonderful Interviews.
To the leader of the "Around the World" subcom, that stressed so much expression of cultural diversity, I share a piece of Western wisdom, the Ecclesiastes 3 that starts:
"There is a time for every thing under the sun, and for each activity, there is a season"
There was a very long time for 7 Cups, that you fulfilled with maximum commitment and excellence, and now comes another time, when you will focus all your amazing skills, kindness, and wisdom on another very worthy and noble purpose.
We wish you all the luck in the world in this new phase of your life!
@Fristo aww we will miss seeing you around. Hope you come back soon!! β€οΈβ€οΈ
@Fristo
I was a bit taken aback, I won't lie. Took me a few seconds to process the information when I came around to alert this post. Something @Sunisshiningandsoareyou said clicked with me almost immediately, that is how we get used to some people around us, that we don't even see it coming. The only thing I want you to know is, that I've always admired how you put your heart and soul into whatever you do, from the smallest tasks to the bigger community projects. And I know wherever life takes you, you'll be nothing short of amazing. Best wishes π I'll be very proud of myself if I'm ever able to do even a fraction of what you've done for the community. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to work with you on various projects, I'll always cherish those memories. And whenever you look back to 7Cups, you'll always be welcomed with open arms π
@Fristo
You are one of the most dedicated person I came across on 7cups, I cant imagine 7cups without you being around. You are super helpful & have always helped me whenever I have come up with my silly questions to you. I have learned a lot from you specially when it comes to answering listeners in LSR.
One more thing I will specifically say that, you have seen some potential in me & have asked me to consider few roles or responsibilities few times & I have always had my own reasons (excuses) to refuse them & still you never took it personally & you are amazingly welcoming even after refusing almost everything you offered me to consider.
Your students are really lucky to have teacher & guide like you. All the best with all your future endeavors. I Hope to see you in LSR (I am so used to that) soon. Take care
