Bradley Dowling
Bradley chose to step into the world despite visible difference, and spent thirty years showing kids without belonging that obstacles don't have to stop you.
Hear this story
Bradley Dowling has neurofibromatosis, a genetic skin condition that brings out lumps across his body, especially on his face. He learned about it at five but didn't fully understand its impact until his late teens, when the physical signs became visible. Rather than stay inside looking out at the world, he chose to step into it. For thirty years, he has shown young people without a team or a place to belong that obstacles don't have to stop you.
Bradley coaches basketball to kids nobody else wanted to coach. He teaches them skills alongside values: integrity, teamwork, a positive attitude, and the idea that your word is your bond. A bad attitude stays at the door. He was there for them when they had nowhere else to go. Thirty years later, he still catches up with the first child he ever coached, now a grown man with a family. Many of those kids went on to do well in life, some became school captains, some started their own businesses.
What got Bradley out of the boat was family. His parents, brothers, and sister were always there. People around him eventually saw him as a person, not his condition. He works with Cerebral Palsy Alliance, advocates for neurofibromatosis awareness through media and speaking, and serves as a chaplain. He admits he has experienced mental strain, anxiety, and stress. He reaches out for help and urges other men to do the same. His message is simple: go out, enjoy life, acknowledge that obstacles exist, but keep going. Take people along for the ride.
“You never know until you step out of the boat. Uh, you can stay in the boat. But you never know until you step out.”
“They said, oh, we just don't notice your condition, we just notice you.”
“I've got one gentleman which I'll catch up with next month, and he's actually the very first kid I ever coached. So he's got a family that live over in the Lane Cove, so we will catch up. We families just somehow connected, and 30 years later, you know, he's a grown man, family, and so we'll catch up and touch base.”
The hero, today
Bradley stepped out because he had good family support and people around him who eventually saw him as a person, not his condition. When coaching kids nobody else wanted to coach, Bradley built their confidence by being there for them and teaching that their word is their bond and a bad attitude stays at the door. Bradley admits he has experienced mental strain, anxiety, and stress, and says men need to reach out and ask for help rather than letting it build. Bradley's choice to stay positive each day is deliberate: he believes if you know you've impacted someone that day, it makes a life well lived. Bradley tells people facing personal challenges to make sure they have the right people around them, have confidence in themselves, trust God, and most importantly, don't stop living life.
Yes. Bradley Dowling is a real person who shared their own story in their own words. Kintsugi Heroes is a not-for-profit that shares first-person stories of overcoming adversity, told with the person's consent.
Kintsugi Heroes, a registered Australian not-for-profit. Every story is shared with the hero's own consent and reviewed under Kintsugi Heroes' trauma-informed content standard before it goes public.
Bradley stepped out because he had good family support and people around him who eventually saw him as a person, not his condition.
When coaching kids nobody else wanted to coach, Bradley built their confidence by being there for them and teaching that their word is their bond and a bad attitude stays at the door.
Bradley admits he has experienced mental strain, anxiety, and stress, and says men need to reach out and ask for help rather than letting it build.
Bradley's choice to stay positive each day is deliberate: he believes if you know you've impacted someone that day, it makes a life well lived.
John Milham (Host) · 00:00
This limited Kintsugi Heroes podcast series was made possible through grant funding provided by the New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice Connecting Seniors Grant Program.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 00:09
If you'd like to find out more about Kintsugi Heroes, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au.
John Milham (Host) · 00:23
Welcome to our Kintsugi Heroes special series, Connecting Seniors, where we share the experiences of aging Australians to create connections across our communities. In this episode, John Millum sat down with Bradley Dowling, a dedicated community advocate and coach whose life story embodies resilience and positivity despite living with neurofibromatosis. Bradley's work with the Children's Tumour Foundation of Australia and his efforts in coaching young basketball players showcase his unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 00:58
Now, let's get to the conversation.
John Milham (Host) · 01:00
So welcome listeners. Welcome to Kintsugi Heroes. Stories That Matter. And today we have a podcast in our Connecting Seniors series, a podcast I'm really keen to complete, have a conversation with an amazing guy, a bloke who is involved in community and has overcome challenges in his own life to make his life one of service, right? So, and I'd like to introduce you to Brad. Welcome, Brad.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 01:30
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This conversation includes introduction, three ways bradley stays connected, what neurofibromatosis is and what it looks like, finding out at five, understanding at late teens, looking outside the window instead of stepping out and how bradley developed the mindset to step out.
Thanks, John. How are you, mate?
John Milham (Host) · 01:32
I am very well. Thank you for being here and talking to Kintsugi and sharing, you know, what could be challenging, right? Sharing your story, you know, and your truth with the listeners today, mate. Much appreciated.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 01:48
So thank you.
John Milham (Host) · 01:49
Right, so I thought I'd start, mate, with, you know, getting a quick idea, right? So this is Connecting Seniors. So the story is, is very much about how we, as we get older, how we maintain our engagement, our involvement with the world, right? The piece of world that is both about us personally, but also about making a difference, you know, getting out in the world and being present. So what would you say is your most important areas of connection?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 02:25
I think one of the important things, and there's two, well, actually there's three. I, I do part-time work for Cerebral Palsy Alliance. So I go in there Monday, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Now, two of the main areas outside is with the Children's Tumor Foundation of Australia, which is for people who have a condition called neuroblastoma. Fibromatosis, which is the condition I have. And so I'll say it again, neurofibromatosis.
John Milham (Host) · 02:58
Neurofibromatosis, is that right?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 03:01
That's right. That's right. So you can break it down. We say NF. So it's a genetic skin condition which affects different people in different ways. Mine is more noticeable because it brings out lumps. Around different parts of the areas of the body, especially the face. And so I actually help and actually advocate in a lot of areas to promote the awareness and promote the condition of that NF. And we'll say NF to make it easier rather than saying the whole word. So I've been doing that for quite a while. And so I do that through print media. Or it could be through TV or through other means where we are promoting that you can do and live life with the condition that you have. And you do get stares and whispers, et cetera, through that. It's actually been able to overcome that to let people know that you can still have a good and healthy life. And the other area is through a chaplaincy, and now part of Chaplaincy Australia, and that will come along eventually. Uh, but also involve the local churches, uh, one here in Ascot and one up on the Central Coast. So it's basically enabling to live life to the fullest, uh, even though you've got obstacles to overcome. Wow.
John Milham (Host) · 04:32
That's, um, That's a beautiful list, mate. So, and you talk about obstacles and obviously NF is a, is a part of you, but it's also, you know, has, uh, an impact on how the world, how you interact with the world. When did you, when did you first understand that you had something that was gonna make your life a little different?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 04:53
Well, we first found out when I was about 5, but really not understanding until probably late teens, early adults, where therefore the condition became a lot more with the lumps rather than anything else. So the lumps really didn't start appearing until late teens, early adulthood, and then we actually had to, um, impact on that. I think, yes, there was difficulties. Yes, we had to work through it, but It doesn't mean you stop living life. It doesn't mean you stop, uh, lock yourself up. We call, um, looking outside the window, and means that some people with the condition may not go out. They may just look outside the window. And that was a title of an interview I did for a magazine a few years ago. And I think it's mostly, uh, in yourself if you can find a way to overcome and you can find a way. And God gives me that. God gives me the grace to do that. And not every day is a good day. Not every day is that. And it's not saying, uh, you know, yes, we're going to have difficulties, uh, but you have to admit that, hey, this is what's happening. This is what I've got. And so, yeah, that's, um, yeah, I love that looking through the window, right?
John Milham (Host) · 06:14
Just staring out at the world, the life that was out there, right? That must it's a really powerful image. Your early family life, does NF have other ways that it impacts on your wellbeing?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 06:27
I've got—
John Milham (Host) · 06:28
not just the external one.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 06:29
No, I think I've got good family support. Uh, of course, I mean, like, Dad and Mum were heavily involved with the Art Association, which was called NF Association. It's now called Children's Tumour Foundation. I became involved in actually being able to do things that they needed. So, so they'd ring up and say, oh, this magazine wants someone to do an interview. Uh, or I did a show a few years ago called You Can't Ask That, which was on the ABC. So, uh, they asked me to go on and do that, which I did, which was fantastic. It was a good response. But I think, uh, the importance is not being afraid. To either do an interview, be in front of the camera, or help because there's people out there that may not understand and may need someone that can help them to overcome what they have. And I mainly look around at NF or stuff, it could be anything, but you know, life is there to live and life is there to be enjoyed. And so, as I said, we talked about looking outside the window where people will stay inside, look out. And a lot of it has to do with the fear of the stares and whispers category. People will look at you, point at you, whisper, but I'd rather people come up and ask and say, hey, listen, what have you got? What's this? So I carry little blue cards, which has got Q QR codes on it and they can actually look, look up what it's all about. They can check at the Children's Tumor Foundation. They can go to, uh, Heroes, which I'm part of, and look at my story. And, uh, and they can share that. So sharing things of who you are and how you, uh, keep going.
John Milham (Host) · 08:26
You, you mentioned that, uh, you know, the powerful image of sitting and looking outside the window to get outside. Take that step, right? You know, I can imagine that there's courage involved, that there's risk involved. And you said it was about, you know, the individual choosing, um, you know, finding a mindset to do that. How did you develop that mindset? What, what was the steps that led you to be in that space where you can do this and others sometimes can't?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 08:54
I'm not sure. I think it was just, uh, the attitude, but you know, I got involved, uh, which children's church, I coached children's basketball. Um, so there's certain areas that I got involved in, but I think, uh, the mindset was to be involved. And I've had a lot of people that— beautiful saying, one of the things they say, look at me and they said, oh, do you know what? We're very daunted and taken back when we first saw you. But you know what, after a while we don't notice this condition, we just notice you. And that was a beautiful thing.
John Milham (Host) · 09:35
Does that make you, uh, encouraged? Does that keep you ticking over?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 09:40
I think so. Yeah, I think it's just encouraging to know that, you know, and I, I'll tell people, I'll, I'll explain to people, but that's one of the lovely signs. They said, oh, we just don't notice your condition, we just notice you. It's simple, you know.
John Milham (Host) · 09:56
What do— are you physically inhibited from doing anything? Does it actually manifest into stopping you from doing it?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 10:02
No, you know, I mean, you know, you gotta keep fit. Sometimes you have the lazy bones and just want to sit down and—
John Milham (Host) · 10:11
yeah, yeah, I'm, you know, I know that struggle, but it never has.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 10:16
I mean, basically, uh, you know, it was just getting out and, uh, Yeah, walking and exercising and, uh, and stuff. So, uh, you know, unless you, uh, a daredevil bungee jumper or stuff like that, then I haven't tried bungee jumping, but that's another story, you know.
John Milham (Host) · 10:36
Oh yeah, we'll talk again after you, if you survive that, right?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 10:39
So, you know, it hadn't stopped me traveling. I've many years ago traveled overseas and, uh, you know, uh, I've got a brother that lives on Norfolk Island. I've got a brother that lives on Fitzroy Island. So I've been to both of those islands. So no, I mean, I drive a car. Uh, it's, uh, it's all part of the parcel, you know. I've got an automatic, but I do like driving manual as well.
John Milham (Host) · 11:04
What, uh, what are the things that you love to do? What's, you know, what's the favorite thing about Brad Daddell?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 11:10
You know, I think I like finding a going up to the beach, having a swim, walk along the beach. That's kind of a way to relax. I do like to read a bit, but you know, I think it's just every now and then a spur of the moment. Sometimes throw something in the car, go for a drive and just stop. I don't play competition sport, but every now and then I'll get a golf stick and go down to the golf driving range. Yeah.
John Milham (Host) · 11:37
Well, there's no— you're like, everyone has that, has that suffer for some reason, right? So golf, you're playing golf, right? You obviously, you know, enjoy suffering, I think.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 11:47
Well, last time I, last time I, uh, played golf, Don Bradman was, uh, my score.
John Milham (Host) · 11:54
I get it.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 11:55
Oh, well, let's just say, let's, for modern day term, let's say, um, uh, Steve Smith.
John Milham (Host) · 12:02
Right, right. Well, I'm, um, Yeah, I had to give up golf, uh, just to maintain my mental health. So, um, and maintaining mental health, right? How do you— like, everything is about connection, right? So if we go back to that idea, and you mentioned, you've mentioned many things you're involved in, right? What's the, you know, what's the, the, the— how do those things, like basketball, you coached, you know, um, basketball, how does that help you maintain your well-being?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 12:34
Well, basketball coaching, it's a bit of a long story, but it came quite accidental. But a lot of the kids which I coach, uh, were either loose connections, kids that hadn't got a team or couldn't find a team. And so they're the ones which I really enjoyed coaching.
John Milham (Host) · 12:52
How were you there to help these kids that were all standing around wondering about a team?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 12:57
Uh, right place, right time. And so I got involved with Hornsby Basketball Association. I started basically as a supervisor, but ended up having coaching. And one of the things is that you can know a few areas, but a lot of it is building confidence in the children that are there with you. In other words, you know, working through and letting them know that they can do it.
John Milham (Host) · 13:26
Yeah, so these are young kids, are they?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 13:28
These are school kids, age kids, uh, primary school. I did coach youth, I did coach youth as well, and the same rules apply. It's building some confidence and building some, uh, attitudes, uh, you know, look good, feel good, play good, attitude, integrity, teamwork. And so, uh, we had a kind of thing saying that your word is your bond. And, you know, a bad attitude, stay at the door. And, uh, it's simple as that. Positive.
John Milham (Host) · 14:02
So coaching them the skills of basketball and the values of life.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 14:07
Yes. Yeah. And I think that's important. I think understanding, uh, the aspects of, uh, who they are and what they can do, you know. Building confidence.
John Milham (Host) · 14:19
And, um, how, you know, like, how did they, uh, you know, develop it? Like, obviously, you know, young kids, they come in, they're a bit lost, uh, you take them through basketball as a, as a bit of a platform for learning other skills, coping and confidence skills, right?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 14:39
I think, you know, you can actually go, look, you've got a lot of areas of what you can do, but it's letting, I think, I think it's just being there for them when someone needs them, you know? And, uh, I've got a, um, a lady which she's, uh, she passed away a few years ago. Her name's Rita Pearson and she was an African American educator who believed in educating children for the better. A wonderful, uh, uh, person. And I actually listened to a couple of her TED Talks. And so she's kind of like something which came along, but this is early days for myself. Yeah. Because I know what it's like to actually not be picked for a team, not to be picked to go to here, picked there. And so it's just actually going, hey, come on. And we did have a team when, uh, when we coached. What do you do? Uh, no one wants to coach us. I said, okay, give me— and then I usually love coaching teams that aren't developed. In other words, teams that have never been tried and encouraged and built on, and it always works well.
John Milham (Host) · 15:58
What, um, what happened to some of these young kids?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 16:01
Well, uh, some of them are still going well, some are working full-time. I've got one gentleman which I'll catch up with next month, and he's actually the very first kid I ever coached. So he's got a family that live over in the Lane Cove, so we will catch up. We— families just somehow connected, and 30 years later, you know, he's a grown man, family, and so we'll catch up and touch base. At the end of next month.
John Milham (Host) · 16:30
So, uh, that must be incredibly satisfying.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 16:34
He's also the only kid I've ever told him never to play basketball. And the story goes, he had a dilemma between soccer and basketball. And I just said, look, let's look at this. Do you like basketball or soccer? Can you get soccer? So, well, good, then play basketball. And so the others that went on to do quite good things as well in life. And so, yeah.
John Milham (Host) · 17:03
So that level of satisfaction, is that your legacy or part of it?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 17:07
I think, uh, is, uh, getting a tap on the shoulder, uh, from people in, uh, you used to coach my son, you know, and I haven't seen him for probably 10 years or something. And you used to coach my son. And, uh, and then we talk about, uh, the olden days of, uh, PCYC Hornsby. And the, the development was to actually build a protective culture and make sure the kids, uh, it's always knowing where you stand, where the kids need to be honest, and, and this is it, you know.
John Milham (Host) · 17:45
Uh, we know kids can be brutally honest. How, how did you handle that?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 17:50
Well, I never had really any problems a lot, you know. I had attitude parents. I didn't have a lot of attitude kids. My kids should be coached. And I said, I said, no, no. And I said to some of the kids, I said, oh, you know, that kid's no good in my— and I said, I said, no. And so we actually learned a routine about language and how to You're in a team, you help each other, you back each other up, uh, positive with each other. And, uh, yeah, it's good. Some of the kids went on to, of course, be their school captain, both high school and primary school. Some are now, of course, out there working in the workforce and some are running their own businesses and stuff, you know. Uh, but it's been able to say, look. Look at me, you know, and I hate the attitude when people go, oh, you poor man. And I said, no, I'm not. I've got $100 in my wallet, so I can't be poor.
John Milham (Host) · 18:58
Challenging people's perceptions through that.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 19:00
So, uh, it depends. I mean, basically I didn't have any real cruelty. I mean, as a young kid, yes, people stares, whispers, point at school and everything like that. But the kids I coached, uh, because I think, uh, having the confidence— they saw someone that probably had a confidence in them to do something.
John Milham (Host) · 19:22
That's beautiful, mate. Um, it's interesting, you know, you don't have, um, kids of your own.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 19:29
No, no, unfortunately. Do you—
John Milham (Host) · 19:31
is this your fa— you know, is this that process? You've put your— that father energy into these kids?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 19:38
I think so. I haven't coached for a while. Uh, I've took a big break and, uh, I haven't done the kids at church for a little while, but there's other stories around that, which too much of a long story, but I'll get back to that. But I think, uh, looking at it, uh, knowing the success of being there and having support, not only from the kids, but from the parents, I think it was a trust. I think it was very much they trusted for me to be there, uh, to coach, you know.
John Milham (Host) · 20:12
Very good. Of course, you talked about chaplaincy, so you— faith is a very important thing, and you mentioned how it helped you, you know, stay positive to get through. So how, you know, what, what is, what is faith for you? What does it mean, and how does it keep you connected to people?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 20:31
I think it's been able to trust a loving God to lead and guide through situations. And it's just been there. And I think being able to have other Christians around you to help and pray for you. And yes, I've had a lot of mental strain, mental health issues, a lot of anxiety and stress, not with my condition, but other areas of life as well. Yeah, but I've got good people around. Uh, a good group, of course, is Mentoring Men. And that was a very much a saving grace, uh, in that way. Uh, I've got a few people at church that are church people that will pray, that you can ring up and talk to. But I think, uh, if we're going through something, especially mental mental stress, anxiety, is to reach out and say, hey, I need help. I need you to pray for me. Uh, this is what's happening. And unless we admit our needs, uh, then it just keeps building. So I'm grateful. Uh, and of course this, I think this month we're in October is Mental Health Awareness. And so it's not just dying of mental health, any needs is being able to reach out, say, I need help. And as men, we need to admit where we need help, talk to someone.
John Milham (Host) · 22:05
As, um, I hear you when you say that, you know, that anxiety, that constant kind of threat of stepping outside of your comfort zone just to do some things that you have a right to do as a person, as a bloke. How did you keep fronting up to that challenge? How do you, you know, like you mentioned, talking and connecting to people. What was it, you know, what was it like to just constantly have that, you know, have things a little bit harder or a little bit more anxiety or, you know, to, to understand that you're going to walk out and take a risk, you know, by being out there and exposed?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 22:41
Well, you never know until you step out of the boat. Uh, you can stay in the boat. But you never know until you step out. And I'm grateful because I've got, uh, we lost dad a few years ago, but always dad and mum are always very supportive. I've got two brothers and a sister, always very supportive, always there. Uh, and I was very lucky and blessed to have such a loving and supportive family. And that was a big thing. And also building up friendships. Uh, but yeah. Family is so, so important, you know, and I'm grateful, uh, for the people in my life. I'm grateful for, definitely grateful for family, uh, and external family, cousins, et cetera. But definitely, you know, people being there, uh, for me.
John Milham (Host) · 23:31
Did that allow you to feel like you were supported so you could go into that?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 23:37
Oh yes.
John Milham (Host) · 23:38
Into the daily You know, mix.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 23:41
They'd become part of it. They always ask, how's basketball? How's church? And stuff like that. Mum comes to church on Sunday now, uh, because she's up on the Central Coast. Uh, but yes, having people there, having family there, uh, never underestimate that value, uh, that's, uh, of that.
John Milham (Host) · 24:02
Part of your chaplaincy is involved supporting and reaching out to people and doing one-on-one and stuff like that.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 24:08
That will be starting soon. I mean, I haven't got a lot in there, but I think I do chaplaincy about now, and I'm doing chaplaincy. And so, uh, sometimes it's just, uh, listening to someone or just sharing with someone. So officially, although I've got the church, and I'm officially trying to get back into sport with the sports chaplaincy or chaplaincy, but yeah, I think that will down track, that will probably be the way to go very soon, but at the moment I'm just there if someone needs me.
John Milham (Host) · 24:41
What do you know as a result of having that challenge of sort of walking out with your confidence? You need to bring the confidence rather than looking for acceptance.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 24:52
Uh, well, the only way is to find out is to keep going. You know, it's to, yes, we need to rest. Yes, we need to take time, but Hey, you won't know until you, as I said, you won't know what's going to happen until you step out of the boat. You know, you can sit in the boat or you can step out of the boat. And so if we, look, we never know until we try something. And one of the things is when I coach kids, I say, I don't want to hear, I don't want to hear the word can't. I said, unless you, unless you show me that, don't use the word can't, uh, because we don't know. Eh, so we're not going to be silly, but you know, there's simple things, uh, we can learn from.
John Milham (Host) · 25:41
I love the idea, Brad, that, you know, like the world has presented some, uh, some of its hard face or cruel face to you and you, you're aware of that. What do you, What has also been loving and good? What's good in the world for you?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 25:58
Uh, good people. Uh, been able to, you know, go to work, been able to share with friends, been able to go to church, been able to go to the beach, been able to go for a drive, been able to, you know, enjoy life. Just enjoy it. Yes, it's going to be difficult times. Yes, there's going to be struggles. Yes, there's going to be times when you, uh, probably don't even want to get out of bed, or there's been times when you feel that there's just, no, the whole thing is don't stop living life. Don't stop. Keep going and look after yourself. One of the big things which I've gotten, which kind of like I've neglected a bit, is self-care. Cause I've always looked after others or trying to care for others. And they go, self-care. If you don't look after yourself, you're no good to anybody.
John Milham (Host) · 26:49
Self-care, mate. It's, there's a lot, you know, it's been thrown around a little bit. What would you offer, you know, if a bloke's come to you and they, they're saying, mate, you've obviously developed a way to keep going and, uh, you know, to stay in the game. Um, and they're saying, what do I do to self-care? What's your, what would be your, your suggestion?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 27:10
I think one of the things is to just to stop what's happening. And just stop, just stop for a few minutes or whatever it is, take a break, get some people around you and look after yourself, you know, and let's, and don't be too proud if someone comes to you and says, hey, listen, how about I'll take you out to lunch or how about I come and sit for a coffee or, you know, all things. Don't be too proud to, uh, not accept some help. You know, if people notice something, and more likely people will say, ah, pardon my French, but someone might come and go, gee, you look crap, you know, and, uh, and then accept that. Hey, listen, you don't look good. What's going on? You know, stop, have a coffee, you know, sit down, something, uh, or just go and do something you enjoy. Hey, look, if you're feeling frustrated, maybe you get a golf stick and go and hit a golf driving range, you know.
John Milham (Host) · 28:12
That'd tip me over the edge, I'm afraid.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 28:15
Anyway, yeah, that's, that's fine.
John Milham (Host) · 28:17
What are your mindset tips?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 28:19
I don't really have a lot, you know. I think it's just, uh, finding something you enjoy.
John Milham (Host) · 28:25
So being positive in life is part of that. I can see that in you, you know, you're constantly positive every time we, you know, we meet or whatever. You know, how do you, like, that's, that's, it must be a choice you make.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 28:37
Oh yeah. Yeah, it's no use to, you know, I shared with some people this morning, yeah, so going through this, but hey, you know, maybe the other person just needs to be encouraged as well.
John Milham (Host) · 28:49
Yeah, but you know, you can sit in your misery and not do that. Why do you choose to do it? Right?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 28:56
I think it's choice. Just the way it is. It's just me.
John Milham (Host) · 29:00
So you are making, constantly making the choice to connect and, and, uh, you know, step up for others, right? Does that feel like a life well lived? Are you— does that make you happy?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 29:11
Oh yeah, you know, I think, uh, if you know that you've impacted someone on that day, or sometimes, uh, yeah, it's just me.
John Milham (Host) · 29:21
Thank goodness it's just you, mate, right? So, uh, like, thank goodness you, you know, you make those choices. People are helped by that and coached by that. So what's— what, what do you see, um, is important for the world from your exploration of the world, you know, from your unique perspective, what would you like to see the world adopt or take on or head towards?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 29:45
I'm not sure. I don't really have something for that. You know, it's just everyone has an individual thing and just enjoy it.
John Milham (Host) · 29:53
And what do you hope people take away from listening to you?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 29:58
Just go out, enjoy life. Yes, there'll be obstacles. Don't stop. Just keep going. Life is enjoyed and takes people along for the ride.
John Milham (Host) · 30:11
What are you hoping, uh, your future holds?
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 30:15
I think, uh, to retire, to enjoy, and just to ensure that I look after myself, uh, to keep going and, uh, just enjoy life.
John Milham (Host) · 30:32
Yeah, that's, uh, that's brilliant, mate. Final message to people who, like all those kids that you've had such an impact on over years, right? Final message to people who might need some confidence or are facing a, a personal challenge or something.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 30:49
What, what would you I think there are personal challenges and there will be roads ahead that will be bumpy. Make sure you have the right people around you. Make sure you get people that you can talk to, but whatever you do, have confidence in yourself. Trust God. Pray, but don't stop. Don't stop. Just keep going. Keep going because things will get better. Things will actually improve, but don't stop, don't stop living life. And if you need help, get help. Don't be too proud to go and say to somebody, can you help me? This is what's happening. Okay, but don't stop living life and just make sure that you know there are organizations groups and people and friends out there that can help.
John Milham (Host) · 31:47
Fantastic message, Brad. Um, mate, congratulations on all that you have achieved personally, but on staying connected and being a connected individual that is helping other people connect, right? It's really impressive, my friend.
Bradley Dowling (Guest) · 32:01
John, thank you very much for the time. Appreciate it. And all the best to everybody who's listening. Take care.
John Milham (Host) · 32:08
Yeah, fabulous. Thank you for listening to this episode of Connecting Seniors, a Conceivie Heroes special series. Thank you to Colin Lilly for permission to use Broken as our theme music for this series. If you enjoyed this conversation, share the podcast with a friend and let us know by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to support Kintsugi Heroes and the stories we share, head to kintsugiheroes.com.au and follow the instructions to make a tax-deductible donation. Thank you for listening, and we'll see you next time.
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