34 Comments
User's avatar
Heather Hausenblas, PhD's avatar

Missed your Sparks, great to have you back. This "letting go" theme hits close to home. I still catch myself retelling old identity stories long after they're useful.

Cara Bradley's avatar

It's good to be back. And yes, letting that old stuff go is a huge relief.

Dr. Bronce Rice's avatar

Cara - This sounds like an honest stepping out into the unknown with a fair bit of humility. I like the way this you is evolving. And I love that you took August off. Enough time for a real reset depending.

Cara Bradley's avatar

Thank you Bronce. As you know, time away is an extraordinary gift we can give ourselves. It’s in those quiet and uncomfortable moments that we hear the truth.

Janice Murphy's avatar

Congratulations! I believe that freedom comes from the comfort in not knowing and the ease in following my intuition…of course this comes at the beginning of my 8th decade and a multitude of life experiences. Off to Scotland…stay curious!👣💪🏼💫💃❣️

Cara Bradley's avatar

You are so wise! I just adore your comments. Scotland... I'm right behind you!

Regina Leeds's avatar

I didn’t intend to take August off. It just happened. I questioned Everything. It’s quite liberating to understand you are done with certain things. In some cases I realized I was pursuing out of habit & no longer cared!

Cara Bradley's avatar

I feel ya on that one.

Rabbi Shlomo Levin MBE's avatar

Close to 80 years old with over 40 years of deep engagement with people seeking advice.

At my age you are supposed to have the answers.

What I actually have is better questions.

Cara Bradley's avatar

Ahhhh…. you are so wise. That is it, less answers and better questions. Thank you for sharing.

Rabbi Shlomo Levin MBE's avatar

I wish I was Cara.

Good to be in contact.

Melanie R. Jordan NBC-HWC's avatar

I'll be very interested to see where you go with this Cara. Sounds like you're going to be creating your own spark :)

I think we all evolve on Substack over time. I know after a year of writing I approach what I share much differently. Why not?

Cara Bradley's avatar

Why not is right Melanie. The way I see it, if I’m not changing, I’m not living.

Melanie R. Jordan NBC-HWC's avatar

100%!

Permission to Relax's avatar

Yes, Cara. So with you on the letting go and not knowing path. Ahhh... 💗

Cara Bradley's avatar

What a relief.

Suzanne Hood's avatar

Welcome back Cara with your new perspective-please add “up until now” to your list, I find it helpful in altering my perception of who and what I’m ready to let go of for what is now required or desired.

Cara Bradley's avatar

Excellent point Suzanne.

VJ's avatar

Welcome back, Cara! missed your morning Sparks and am glad to see you back. Looking forward to reading more… and getting sparked again :)

Cara Bradley's avatar

It's good to be back VJ. Love where you are going with your writing too.

Robyn Bowman's avatar

There's freedom in stepping away from being the teacher and sitting beside your community as a student. I love practicing alongside of my "students" because often they show me the way. Now we figure things out together as life turns us around a different times. Glad you took the month. Welcome back!

Cara Bradley's avatar

Wise words. There's such relief in letting go of the need to "teach" and to truly walk with others.

Brodee Myers-Cooke's avatar

A beautiful evolution.

Always captivated by you, and your ability to plumb the depths and breadths — including your own.

I’m here and ready for all of it.

Cara Bradley's avatar

You always seem to know how to make my day.

Rachel Dalinka's avatar

Brilliant! Looking forward to what is coming!

Cara Bradley's avatar

Me too! I have your last post saved my friend. Looks like it was a big one for you. Can't wait to dive in.

Cara Lindell's avatar

Welcome back—missed you! Thanks for sharing the real ‘you’ with us.

Cara Bradley's avatar

Thank you Cara. She is ready to step forward

Dr Kimble's avatar

Love it! So raw and real 💟

Cara Bradley's avatar

Thank you my friend.

Diana D's avatar

I'm glad to hear of your surrendering.

I listened to an interview you once did (interviewer???) where you spoke to not wanting to write your piece anymore because of feeling stale and 'done'.

Then you kept writing and it was turning me off.

Just old stuff.

I wanted to cancel my subscription.

You are not writing where you are (and exactly where I am, too ) and I can appreciate it more thoroughly... instead of feeling at all badly or negative about myself for not jumping when the ringmaster says jump.

Take exceptionally kind care of yourself and to thine ownself be true Cara✨️

Diana D's avatar

Oops.. meant to say "... you are NOW writing from.where you are..."

Cara Bradley's avatar

I’m glad to be back and listening more deeply.