I have ended my contract with the UBports Foundation

[UniSuperBox]

Hi everyone,

I'm letting you all know that I have ended my contract with the UBports Foundation, effective January 28, 2022. Therefore, my role as Development Manager within the UBports community has ended.

What's changing?

My departure is likely to change how the UBports Foundation's Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, contracted project teams, community, and the public interact. This change is most likely for the better: leadership may be formed within all of our (already tightly-knit) bodies to report on progress and next steps. Whereas I've been a nexus for project information, tasks, people, and interaction, these centralized functions will now be distributed between interested parties.

Or, at least, that's the hope. This project has never functioned without you, dear reader. Your encouragement, leadership, and contributions make Ubuntu Touch possible. Now there will be a space left where I once contributed that pulls in new, unlikely faces.

I'm not dying, or at least I'm not planning on it. I'll still be available for the occasional question or two.

I'm also still available for my duties as the UBports Foundation Membership Committee chair. Watch out for more news about my assignments soon.

I've left my leadership responsibilities to the Ubuntu Touch based on Ubuntu 20.04 project in the capable hands of our contracted project team.

It is undecided whether the Ubuntu Touch Q&A will continue in its current format, use a new format, end its run, or do something else.

Why leave?

I'm all too familiar with the speculation when a project leader resigns. Allow me to alleviate some of that.

I enjoy what I do, I appreciate and support our team. I love that we were able to build a kind, friendly community that's open to a great many people. We're building excellent software, even if we're still a little unsure of what it should do best. However, I've already stated that I experienced burnout last year. I took a week off in October to attempt to alleviate the problem. It was not enough.

For the past four months, I've put myself under more stress and given myself less time to recover from it. Ultimately, it's led to me being unable to meet my expectations and yours. That feeling of missed expectations compounds my stress, and it's all snowballed. I now dread turning on my laptop, opening Telegram or my email, and even opening GitLab. Surely this can't be healthy. My resulting mood in communication isn't conducive to a healthy, productive environment.

At this point, I think I've read every self-help book. I'm a newfound expert in getting rid of distractions, reducing stress, working intensely, being kind to myself, self-reflection, and generally being more productive or healthy. Unfortunately, these have not combined into a proper set of actions and environment for me to thrive.

I also have dissonance compared to the UBports Foundation's values. The Foundation is set up to own copyrights, collaborate between disparate organizations, and drive projects where those organizations cannot do so themselves. This model does not have space for a rolling-contract, non-project-based, jack-of-all-trades community, development, and product manager any longer. Additionally, I've watched our community sentiment change from "what can we do together?" to "what can the Foundation do for me?" I have contributed to this misunderstanding of purpose, partially because I want to do things that the Foundation does not do. But what I would like in an ideal world and what we have are much different things.

What's next?

I'll be taking a bit of time to decompress and reorient. During this time, I'll be mostly unavailable for contact. Then, I'll come back around to finish things left incomplete, particularly in the Membership Committee.

[Lakotaubp]

Take care, rest and get your health and mind back to where it needs to be. The rest is in the scheme of things of no great import. You have done more that enough already and that is an end to it. Thank you for everything now go look after yourself.

[CiberSheep]

Thank you for all your hard work! Get well.

Hugs

[Rondarius]

@unisuperbox
Godspeed and take really good care of yourself.

[TotalSonic]

@unisuperbox - Dalton - I believe that self care, and allowing oneself to explore possibilities and potentials that might go beyond what one has done previously should always be the priorities in career and life decisions, so you have my utmost support towards your next endeavors, hopefully which provide both de-stressing and rich rewards from other opportunities.
Beyond that - have to say I am sad to see you step down - I think your leadership, hard work, and friendly manner have without a doubt been a key factor towards UBports and Ubuntu Touch development reaching so many accomplishments during your tenure - so THANK YOU for that! Very best wishes to you for a truly happy and healthy life in whatever you choose to do next.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[A Former User]

@unisuperbox Take care of yourself ! Thanks for all hard work on Ubports.

[libremax]

Understanding and thanks for your (over)investment and inspiring mindset.

[A Former User]

@unisuperbox
Thank you for all you have done for UBPorts, you have been instrumental in making Ubuntu Touch as groovy as it is, and the community such a nice place to be. Take your time, get better, 'Live long and prosper'.

[stanwood]

Dear Dalton, I am stunned to read you tonight.

I am infinitely grateful for all the work - beyond all limits - that you have done for the foundation.

You have put your heart and soul into this mission and now I understand you need to find strength and serenity.

I wish you all the success you deserve, and may your innumerable qualities lead you to goals.
Please don't go too far away

Take care of yourself and I hope to see you soon!

[Kaizen]

It's a sad day.

I don't know if I still stick around longer, as a jack-of-all-trades myself

Thank you for the spirit and leadership you brought to UBports. You are young and probably will drive bigger things in the future. But, I believe in you as you believed in many of us.

[Moem]

First of all, thank you so much for all that you have done! We were so lucky to have you.
I hope that whatever it is you decide to do, it will give you satisfaction.
I've had some online contact with you and you've always been pleasant and a joy to talk to. You, sir, are a Good Egg.

Lastly, please realise that you will always be welcomed here. So if the mood strikes you, don't be a stranger.

[lduboeuf]

Hey Dalton. Thank you so much for all your work. I already miss you. Wish you the best and hope you will find what you are looking for.

Lionel

[negations]

@unisuperbox I mirror everything said here. I totally understand. You put your heart and soul into something 24/7. There is sometimes only one outcome. Please rest up and do what is best for you. The community you have helped build will continue and reflect what you have made of it, though will be diminished without you.

[A Former User]

@unisuperbox
all the best, listen to your heart and take care of yourself, and thank you for everything...

[Capsia]

Sometimes in our lives we meet magic people that want to help others and we want to be more like them. Thank you for being an inspiration, for all your efforts and your kindness. Have some rest, we will treasure all the things you have taught us and that make our community friendly and curious

[alan_g]

You did great for UBports, now do great for yourself!

[AppLee]

@unisuperbox :victory_hand: :red_heart:
Thanks

[cliffcoggin]

Sorry to see you leave Dalton, but I am not surprised by your decision. The strain was evident on the last two Q&As.

Don't concern yourself about departing: your health is more important than a mere phone system no matter how much like wizardry it appears to me.

[rik]

@UniSuperBox

"Don't worry, your grandfather died doing this work!"

That was a strange way I was greeted one even in Khartoum, Sudan, in 2010 as it was well past sunset and I was still working away on the network infrastructure at the NGO I was volunteering with. The speaker was this elderly Sudanese man who was encouraging me that I couldn't get it all done in one night, so take some rest. His words sounded funny though because my first thought was: "Huh? My grandfather didn't know anything about running CAT5!?!" but as I thought about it what he was saying was "you can't do it all, there will always be more to do than 1 person can do." In some ways that is "fatalistic thinking": will we never make it?? But it is also true.

So this is what I am acknowledging and passing on to you to, good sir:

"Don't worry, your grandfather died trying to get 20.04 out the door."

So, wishing you a good break and a re-kindling of passion. We will make it with help from the community that ebbs and flows but continues on.... it may not be as you thought it would be when you first took on the reigns as Development Manager, but you have led us a long way, and you deserve some rest and acknowledgement that your effort was so appreciated by so many.

[wgarcia]

@unisuperbox Thanks a lot for all the fish!