A Personal Journey with 7 Cups, starting in 2021, and continuing, through 2025.

October 13 2021
Hi 7 Cups community. I’m glad you are here and I found you. I’m a 61 years old male. I love life and want to get back to it, without the ego. What got me in this hole, that I can’t get out of is a very long story but the abbreviated version is I don’t trust anyone that should be close to me. It’s not just my recent separation and my entire family alienating me during this time. It’s realizing I have been alienating myself for my entire live. I’m the baby of 7 and raised in a dysfunctional family. My parents and Brothers have all passed and I have a few sisters living and a lot of nieces and nephews. Loving life and being optimistic is a good thing but developing an egotistical personality will ruin everything. I don’t even trust myself anymore. I’m solution minded. Past jobs, Auto Mechanic-Jet Engine Mechanic-Carpenter-Home Improvement Contractor. I tried to start a stained-glass business, I loved that. Unsuccessfully self employed since 1985 but I always worked very hard. I’ve never been lazy. I’m not dependent on drugs or alcohol but do partake occasionally. I realize now I have No people skills and no book smarts. Those factors hindered my success chances. My hands-on skills are my gifts. I have a little acreage in a rural part of the U.S. that I want to build into an Activity Vacation Rental place. I currently have no money and no job. I wanted to be the greatest Uncle ever but my “Gruff, No Crybaby, Mr. know-it-all” persona did not endear my younger generation and struggling souls to me. I hope to be a positive influence before I get too much older. Right now, though, I’m having a hard time finding enough energy to get out of bed, compounding my guilt, inadequacy and shame. I try to maintain cleanliness and care for my three dogs.

July 25 2022
7-Cups has been amazing for me but it didn't start that way. I joined on October 13 2021 and I almost quit because it is a big organization and I didn't understand all the sections, communities, sub-communities, threads and etc. Not only that, I couldn't find a listener quickly and then I couldn't relate...... So..... I was ready to go. BUT I got lucky, I met a member called bestVase7265 in the "Depression Support Group" - "Journal Support Check In". This member nurtured me until I found a path. I am close to getting my CDL-A. I Got my CDL-B and drive a school bus. I also got Certified for installing septic systems. I'm still not making enough money to pay all my bills but really getting closer. I've become more involved with 7-Cups and I now am at peace with my challenges and try to help others with thiers.

If You Are A Newbie and do not get satisfaction quickly, Pease, Please keep poking around. There are so many caring people and incentives here; you are bound to stumble onto a blessing sooner than you think. 

May 30 2023
I have been away for a while because things have been going well and I also found a member that we mutually supported each other. Our contacts slowly became shorter and further apart as we both got more involed with more productive personal paths. It was the interaction with this member and this organization and group of people that helped me so successfuly regain my balance a couple years ago. 

As my faith in myself and in others began to improve, so did my life. Sadly, these demons are beginning to appear again as I begin to falter in a very strong way again, I realize how vital it is to interact with a positive minded group of personalities that also suffer from the stigmas of grave self doubt and loneliness from lack of trust in others and lack of value in themselves as in myself also. 

So I'm back for another positve journey. My lonliness from being an egotystical jerk my entire life is overwhelming and I do not know how to approach it without negative judgement of others. I do have several blessings to my advantage such as a house and property. Enough employment to pay the bills. Four amazing dogs. And at 63 years of age, no lack of dreams and possibilities.  

July 01 2024
I give thanks and praise for much and to many. My journey since I started this 7 Cups in October of 2021 has made me stouter and stronger.

December 31 2025 (Preparing to start 2026)

2025, overall, was a productive year. Perhaps, "productive" is
overstating it. It was a good maintenance year. I had not fallen into any
permanent abysses of hopelessness and dismay. Although I had many instances of
doubts, insecurities and lack of progress, including many failures, I was able
to persevere to a new start, to a new year. I am sad to say that at the end of
yesterday, I still find myself struggling with the same demons that I struggled
with for years. The difference is, 7 Cups has given me a space to vent, share,
interact and more importantly hold myself accountable and to task. 

With Gratitude, Love and
Sincerity, I give thanks to every soul that helped me over the years and
through 2025.

I also give an enormous amount of thanks to all the employees, volunteers,
contributers and listeners that keep this website up and running efficiently.
Your hard work is, instrumentally, responsible, for me maintaining my
wits of hope. Especially, for the past four years. Thank you. I wish you all
progress and peace of mind with your challenges and struggles. (P.S. I wish I had time to make a tag list,
but if we spoke, you helped. So many 💖)