Goodbye

I've been on 7 Cups of Tea since Oct 2015, a long time. I've watched the site grow, morph even, into a thriving community of amazing people. At some point in 2020, I took a much-needed care break to focus on my MA degree as it was taking up more and more of my time and I needed to focus on my pathway to becoming an MFT which is something that I'd always wanted long before I found this community. I'm at the mid-way point of my program, learning a lot, and 7 Cups certainly helped me to develop my skills of empathy listening, working with diverse groups of people, and getting involved in community projects.

I've enjoyed it all, and the beauty of this site were the people I met along the way. I recall fondly some of the amazing leadership that I met on this site too, that unfortunately are long gone. Their efforts to building 7 Cups aren't forgotten, however, because you can see their time, effort, and energy today.

Lately, I've been helping out with Forums, specifically Relationship Support, for which I ... well, had a badge to designate me as such, given I earned it over a long period of time of supporting the site through guided Relationship Chat Support, Forums, and 1:1 discussions. I'm genuinely humbled by those I've been able to guide, help, and the feedback I didn't ask for but glows on my profile page. It took many cheers and time to get to a five-star rating.

Today, while sitting in Relationship Support helping members - someone... decided it was best to yank my Relationship Support badge - without as much of a whisper. It was a huge slap in the face, for all of the hours, days, weeks, months, and years I'd poured into helping members on this site. With management decisions made like that, I can easily see why there has been a mass exodus of stellar leaders. There is no justification.

And now, with a heavy heart, I've come to a realization that I should have probably come to a long time ago when I couldn't even get the administration of this site to grant me any sort of leadership role. Is it because I'm not qualified? No. Is it because I don't meet the criteria? No. Is it because I forgot to fill out a form? No. It is because... the people that should be in specific roles are not permitted to do so, and thus, get frustrated and leave for other support sites and I dare say that name.

People do not stay where they are not appreciated nor respected. The moment you realize that you're not respected, appreciated, or valued - it's time to move on and leave that entire situation and community behind. So, who really loses here? Well, it wasn't the members of this site that caused the issue. Sadly, they will likely miss out on guidance within Forums and Relationship Support where I've diligently provided countless hours providing FREE support. Do a search, look for yourself. Now that will be silenced, and sadly, based on my review of the Forums, was desperately needed because the quality of support is very poor where most postings get ignored or lackluster responses. That is sad. I do not see many people putting in as much effort as I do, within Forums or Relationship Support Chat. I lost count of the leadership that rolled through those positions too.

So with that, my journey with 7 Cups of Tea comes to an end. I'm off to find another place where I feel that my contributions are valued, appreciated, and respected. I have no doubt that I'll land well. I'd just hoped that I'd find a pathway through 7 Cups, which I'd grown to love. Yet, this site's leadership isn't the same, and the issues never seem to resolve. I'd thought of bringing this up to leadership, but I'd find more resolution talking to a wall. I wish were joking.

For the person that removed my Relationship Support Badge, which is a leader on this site that has the access and ability to do so, perhaps you should consider a new approach to team management. It needs work. Perhaps before your little fingers clicked the buttons, might want to have figured out WHY I had the badge, versus just up and removing it.

Thank you for the years - time - and I wish everyone else well - over 1,227 hours of support chat - and so many more hours dedicated to supporting members of this site. I'm humbled and proud of everything I've accomplished here. This includes completing the 7 Cups of Tea Internship Program.

No Reply - or PMs Requested. This decision is final.