24 Comments
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Kim Van Bruggen's avatar

1) What’s something you’ve always wanted to do or learn, but haven’t had the chance yet?

2) What do you see yourself doing in your next chapter?

3) What about Cher? She’s 78 and is still rocking it!

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Maddie Burton's avatar

I’m in love with this shift, Kim. Cheers to next! 🤩

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Tara Penry's avatar

Coming back to look more closely at your new design features, I really like the symbolism in all the graphic elements. I see the water drops and the flower together with the K. Love the meaning of the colors for you, and the lines of connection. Very thoughtful!

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Alisa Kennedy Jones's avatar

Congrats on two years--Huzzah to you! I am so very behind on emails and reading, but let me think... I've always wanted to write a musical. I see myself building Empress Editions with a lot of help, lol. I adore Cher, but mostly for her acting and her personhood... she seems to have so much resilience and mental strength.

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Kim Van Bruggen's avatar

Thanks for the restack!

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Chris Anselmo's avatar

Loving the new branding and name, Kim! Looking forward to what comes next.

I LOVE the font at the top too. What font is it?

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Kim Van Bruggen's avatar

Thanks Chris. The font is called "chathing." I really love it too.

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Denyse Whillier's avatar

Congratulations on your new renaissance life. Learn to play the piano and watercolour painting are on my list. Although if I'm truly honest, I'd have to say horse riding.

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Good Humor by CK Steefel's avatar

Congrats! We should form the 2-Year Club. I love your rebranding and that you went back to your original title. This is one of the great things about Substack. You can create and recreate depending on the chapter in your life.

I want to read Hebrew proficiently. I need to learn Italian too.

Cher is amazing!

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Kimberly Warner's avatar

Beautiful! Love that you’re returning to your original title and feeling unboxed and freer from all your (un)learning. 🙏❤️

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Sandra Ann Miller's avatar

Congratulations, Kim! Love it. xo

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Tara Penry's avatar

I love everything about this! Your circling back, the story, the graphics (60s!), the similarity of our paths, and of course, YOU. Coming back to read more closely after classes....

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Kim Van Bruggen's avatar

I'm so glad our paths crossed on here Tara. It's been such a joy.

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Tara Penry's avatar

Me, too. :-)

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Priya Iyer's avatar

Happy Anniversary, Kim, and congratulations! I’m in my fifties and I’m considering going back to grad school. When I have doubts about whether I’ll be able to handle it, I tell myself I’ll take it a day at a time.

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Kim Van Bruggen's avatar

Oh wow, that's amazing. So many inspiring people on here who have gone back to school later in life. And yes, what's the worst that could happen? You do it and you either like it or don't. That's the one thing I'm really taking to heart these days. "We don't have to just be ONE thing in this life." It's been a mantra in my head for the last few months! What are you thinking you'll focus on in school if you go back?

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Priya Iyer's avatar

I’ve had a lifelong interest in psychology though I am a researcher in disease biology by training. 🤷🏽‍♀️ Maybe I can follow where my heart takes me.

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Kim Van Bruggen's avatar

Yes!! I love that Priya. And you never know how both those worlds could coalesce if you do. Even if they don’t, we don’t have to be just one thing. (I’m looking at you @Maddie Burton!) I realize now, it’s all just a grand experiment. I’ll be cheering you on if you decide to go for it. xo

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Maddie Burton's avatar

Yes! We contain multitudes!

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David Roberts's avatar

I've always wanted to learn Italian. But not willing to devote the time. Congrats on the re-rebrand. Looks great, Kim.

And thanks for that Cher video. It made me happy and a performance like that somehow feels like a rebuke to whatever is bad.

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Kim Van Bruggen's avatar

Right??!! Best revenge. Show your complete expertise and command. I admire how you've really upped your writing game and embraced your new vocation with such dedication and rigour. It's paying off in your growing audience and exceptional essays. You are one of the most generous people on this platform (and I don't mean $$ although I'm sure that's true too! ;) Thanks for all you do, David.

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David Roberts's avatar

Thanks so much Kim!

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Nan Tepper's avatar

Congratulations for acknowledging your inner wisdom. You knew what was right for you, from the start, and tried something else to see how it fit. When it didn't, you came home to yourself. Brava, Kim!

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Kim Van Bruggen's avatar

This warms my heart Nan. Coming home, back to myself. It feels so good after feeling stuck for so long! Thanks Nan for being there and being you. xo

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