✨KITTING AROUND✨
​BLOG 348–How to Keep Your Taste Buds Happy!
Take the time to read this.
Is this a masterpiece each time? I try to.
Explore new corners, dive into your imagination.
Just say YES to LIFE, it isn’t a zombie shuffle to bedtime.
Crank up the music and turn your living room into a dance floor.
Grab some oranges and juggle them right there in the grocery aisle.
Laugh so hard the walls shake and the neighbors start making up theories.
It’s a carnival waiting for you to join the parade, celebrating every stage of life!
======================================================

I write, create, and share to spark something deep within us—to pause, breathe, and really see this wild thing called LIFE from a new angle. To lift our gaze from the ordinary and notice the extraordinary that’s been quietly waiting in the corners all along. ✨
   
My work is an open invitation: to question the scripts we were handed, to trade autopilot for aliveness, and to remember that our days are not meant to be endured but crafted. Living differently and living better means embracing change, finding joy in everyday moments, and living with a positive, playful attitude. It’s not a luxury—it’s a responsibility. Each choice, each act of courage, each moment of kindness becomes part of the legacy we leave behind.
     
When we dare to think differently, we begin to grow taller on the inside.
You can stretch your spirit, expanding your heart,
And see the world not as it is, but as it could be.
So, I write to ignite that spark in you.
I create to remind us that wonder is still possible.
And I share to weave us together—each story, each lesson, each laugh.
Every thread in the great tapestry of a life well-lived (your life!)
                                                        ===============================
This BLOG is best read on a laptop or desktop computer.
MY STORY IN A NUTSHELL (with Extra Sprinkles) :
‍♂️ Once upon a time, I was a world-class juggler. Spoiler: I still juggle—mostly joy.
Life tested me with curveballs: A 37-day coma, two truck accidents, and somehow I’m still smiling.
I spent six years living in a van, chasing sunsets and collecting memories in every U.S. national park.
Love found me, lost me, and then surprised me with a wedding on 2/22/22 at 2:22.
I’ve crisscrossed the globe, helping people rise higher than they thought possible (YOU!)
❤️ And here I am, still learning, loving, and lighting sparks.
Because the story is never over—it just gets juicier.
Want a glimpse? Watch this >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr8QFnD1yGc 

THIS IS THE STUFF THAT TURNS “JUST SURVIVING” INTO THRIVING.

THE PAST?   ☎️
The past is a wise old guide. Take its lessons, tip your hat, and keep walking forward.
History is there to help you; learn from what has occurred in your life.
Because the road ahead is waiting, sparkling with possibility.
Smile, tip your hat, pocket the wisdom, and keep striding toward the horizon.
It’s a wise old storyteller, full of campfire tales and lessons whispered in the wind.
   
THE FUTURE?  
That’s a playful trickster.
It’s always sneaking up with surprises.
Don’t fear it — dance with it — it is playtime.
Shape it — Claim it — make it yours.
It arrives whether you’re ready or not … so why not be dazzling when it does?
     
AND THE PRESENT?   
Ah, this is your playground!
Throw glitter in the air.
Laugh so hard the moon takes notes.
Turn the ordinary into a disco ball and let it shine.
Make the ordinary sparkle like it’s wearing sequins.

“Here’s to chasing brilliance with reckless joy.
Blazing a trail that shimmers with possibility.
Sprinkling a little mischief along the way!”
—Kit Summers, your cosmic cheerleader

WHY I WRITE THIS BLOG

✨Because life refuses to sit still—it’s a wild kaleidoscope spinning with color, chaos, and wonder. I can’t keep that to myself. Each post is a spark flung into the air—stories, lessons, bruises, and breakthroughs—bursting like confetti from all the falls, flights, and fresh starts that make this ride so alive.

PROOF

✨Every shift I’ve faced—every storm, stumble, and surprise—proves one thing: I adapt, rise, and rebuild stronger. Change isn’t my enemy; it’s my upgrade system. Each turn is a classroom disguised as chaos, an invitation to sculpt a brighter, braver life. And here’s the truth: if I can do it, you can too! The same spark lives in you—waiting for a bit of friction to catch fire.

I’ve faced change more times than I can count—
And guess what? It doesn’t scare me anymore.
Every single storm I’ve walked through has only made me stronger.
Change isn’t the enemy; it’s the sculptor.
Let it carve you into who you’re meant to be.
Don’t just accept change—wield it.
Shape it into the life that sings your name,
The one that fills your chest with light and purpose. ✨

THE BEAM
Fear? That’s dead weight.
Courage is the fuel for living.
Change boldly.
Aim for magnificence.
Don’t get lost.
You don’t get a rerun of this life.
Don’t be scared of the beam.
THE LIGHT
Your’s is a wild canvas.
You were made for this, remember?
You weren’t built for beige.
You were wired for fizz.
For fireworks.
You are the best !!
You were made for this, remember? 

==================================
THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK >> 

I’ve already written most of this week’s blog—and it’s only 10 am on Saturday! My fingers are still smoking. Part of me thinks, “Hey, maybe I should post more than once a week.” Then the saner part laughs and says, “Slow down, Hemingway. Let ’em miss you a little.”
     
You might’ve noticed my writing’s been dancing differently lately. That’s because I discovered ChatGPT.com last month. Don’t worry—I still spin every sentence myself. I toss it into Chat, and poof!—out comes something sharper, brighter, a little more alive. ✨
   
Honestly, this program is wild. ChatGPT.com—check it out. It’s free, though I pay $20 a month for the fancy turbo version. From short notes to full-blown books, Chat helps turn thoughts into fireworks. It’s not just software—it’s a creative revolution disguised as a chat box.
   
Me, a double vision writer?
Yes, I’m a writer—but sometimes the world decides to double itself to mess with me. When I’m tired, the words start waltzing in pairs across the page. That’s when I have to pull my secret trick: close one eye, steady the view, and bring the story back into focus. It makes it difficult at times.
     
I rarely feel hungry—so why eat at all? Because the body, stubborn thing that it is, demands fuel to keep the lights on. Hunger doesn’t always scream; sometimes it just whispers. If you’re carrying extra weight, try giving your system a quiet pause. This blog should help you with your eating habits.
 
Skip a few meals and watch what happens.
I’ve gone a whole week here and there with nothing but green tea—and guess what?
The world didn’t stop spinning. You hold that kind of power, too.
     
Most of us eat on autopilot—because the clock says so, or the fridge whispers our name. But hunger isn’t the enemy; it’s a signal. Try eating only when your body, not your mind, asks for it, not when habit commands it. Take back the reins. Feel the difference, and look better.
   
Take back your habitual habit of consuming food so often.
Only eat when you are ready and hungry.
Not only will you lose weight, you will feel better, too.
=====================================
​BLOG 348–How to Keep Your Taste Buds Happy!
     
Eat Like You Mean It

Do you inhale your food like you’re late for your own life — or do you actually taste it? Notice how it crunches, melts, and hums across your tongue. Each bite has a rhythm if you slow down long enough to hear it.

     
The right way? 

There’s no single “right” way to eat, but there’s a mindful one — the kind that listens. Experiment until you find what feels true to your body. Because good eating isn’t about control; it’s about awareness — a quiet kind of mastery that turns every meal into a moment worth being in.

The Fork Test
That one choice—rush or savor—spills into everything else you do.
Fast and thoughtless, or present and alive?
Put your fork down between bites.
That tiny pause is where awareness sneaks in.

Gourmet Without the Bill!️
Think about it—you walk into a fancy restaurant, the kind where the napkins could double as silk scarves. You drop a small fortune for something you could totally make at home. Because guess what? Those recipes are right there online, waiting for your chef’s hat moment. ‍

Why Not Flip the Script?
Dim the lights, spark a candle (or three), and let the soft hum of jazz melt the edges of the day. Plate that creation like it’s auditioning for a magazine spread. Slip into something that makes you feel magnificent—yes, even if it’s just your best slippers.

     
Dinner Time

Your kitchen just became the most exclusive restaurant in town—no waitlist, no awkward tipping math, no maître d’ judging your outfit—just flavor, laughter, and freedom. Invite friends or savor it solo. This is your celebration of taste and life—served warm, with joy on the side. ✨

The Secret Ingredient? — Imagination.
Serve it with a side of joy and a splash of flair. Light a candle, cue the music, and let your kitchen turn into a playground of possibilities. Suddenly, every sizzle and aroma feels like applause from the universe. As you dance around your kitchen, making a fabulous meal.
       
                          MAKE EACH TIME YOU EAT AN EXPERIENCE!

      
Variety: The Spice of Staying Alive
Your taste buds are thrill-seekers. Keep them curious.|
A plate that looks like a painter’s palette makes your body hum like a tuned orchestra.
Whole foods = harmony.      Processed junk = static.

When Eating Feels Mechanical
Since my accident, I don’t feel hunger or fullness.
I eat because biology insists. Eat Like You Mean It
Do you inhale your food like you’re late for your own life?
Or do you actually taste it—notice how it crunches, melts, hums across your tongue?

The Fork Test
That one choice—rush or savor—spills into everything else you do.
Fast and thoughtless, or present and alive?
Put your fork down between bites.
That tiny pause is where awareness sneaks in.

Scarfing = Signal
If you wolf down meals, your body might be waving a quiet flag.
Extra Pounds, Low Energy, that “meh” feeling.
Not punishment—just feedback.
Each bite is a vote for the life you want.
Mindful Munching
Make your meals a conversation, not a chore.
Pause before you eat. Look at the colors.
Breathe in (if your sniffer’s still working—mine, not so much).
Chew slowly. Let flavor have its solo before the next act.
Your body’s not a garbage can—it’s a stage.
Feed it like you plan to perform.
Eat to Live Past 100

Want to stay vibrant long enough to watch sunsets you haven’t met yet?
Make your plate a garden of intention.
Skip the beige. Paint it bright.
Every meal’s a chance to extend your dance on Earth—

And I plan to keep dancing past 100. Join me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs1a8tFsvdc

Slow Down
Next time you lift a fork, pause.
Listen to your food.
It’s speaking the language of life—and you’re writing the next verse.
What you eat is one of the most important decisions you make daily–Don’t screw it up!

Kale and Other Confessions
I’ve never liked kale—too bitter.
Eating better doesn’t mean kale jail.
Think of it like tuning an engine: clean fuel, steady rhythm, joyful drive.

Taste Fatigue & Variety
Pleasure fades with repetition—your tongue gets bored.
But new textures, new sauces, a dash of spice? Dopamine fireworks.
Even ketchup can keep fries interesting.
Variety isn’t indulgence—it’s intelligence.

Meat and Magic
When cooking meat, remember: flavor lives in the fat.
Spices like pepper, cloves, and nutmeg dissolve best in oil or cream—
That’s how the taste expands and lingers.

The Brain’s Trickery
Overeat of one flavor, and your excitement fades—until dessert flirts its way in. Biology, not weakness. Balance is the art: salty meets sweet, creamy meets crisp, comfort meets curiosity. Remember, you always have the choice of what goes into your mouth.

THE SEVEN SACRED BITES
1. Eat Real Food
If it once grew, swam, flew, or walked—you’re on track—rocks are not tasty.
Skip the chemistry set items with 19 ingredients you can’t pronounce.

2. Fill Your Plate With Color
Bright colors = nutrient fireworks.
Each hue is a vitamin story.

3. Balance, Don’t Ban
No food is evil. Even cookies have their sacred place.
(You should see my smile.)
Try 80/20: health most days, joy the rest.

4. Stay Hydrated
Water clears the fog.
Curbs false hunger.
Powers every cell.

️ 5. Slow Down
Let your body text your brain:
“Hey, I’m full.”
Chew. Taste. Breathe.

6. Listen to Your Body
Cravings are data, not enemies.
Decode them.
You choose, always.

7. Snack Smart
A few bites of your favorite snack can satisfy cravings.
As much as a full bag—without the crash.
You decide what goes into your mouth.

=====WORDS AND QUOTES THAT SPARK====

Quotes aren’t just words on a page—they’re tiny lightning bolts, buzzing with wisdom and ready to jolt you awake. One line can flip your mood, widen your heart, or shove you off the couch and into a brand-new adventure.

A FEW SPARKS TO SLIP INTO YOUR POCKET >> 

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” – Virginia Woolf.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates

“People who love to eat are always the best people.” – Julia Child

“The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.” – Oscar Wilde

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” – James Beard

“Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.” – Ernestine Ulmer

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” – Charles M. Schulz

“Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.” – Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

“A party without cake is just a meeting.” – Julia Child

“First we eat, then we do everything else.” – M.F.K. Fisher

“Laughter is brightest where food is best.” -Irish Proverb

“The stove is the shrine where I convene with my ancestors” ― Adam Ragusea

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” -James Beard

“Pull up a chair.
Taste.
Join us.
Life is so endlessly delicious.” -Ruth Reichl

“I felt once more how simple and frugal a thing is happiness:
a glass of wine, a roast chestnut, a wretched little brazier,
The sound of the sea. Nothing else.” -Nikos Kazantzakis

STICK THESE QUOTES ON YOUR FRIDGE.
WHISPER THEM TO YOURSELF BEFORE BED.
PASS THEM ALONG TO SOMEONE WHO NEEDS THEM.
REMEMBER, WORDS ARE VITAMINS FOR THE SOUL.

MY DAILY JOTTINGS!
Upgrade your thoughts—watch your world glow brighter!
✨ Life can shift instantly—sometimes all it takes is one bold thought.
Go ahead, craft your noble book, your masterpiece—why not a best-seller?
You are dazzling, brilliant, unstoppable—so step into the spotlight and shine your part!
The universe is cheering for you—so dream big, play big, and LIVE big!
Remember, no matter where you are, you can spin things around quickly.
️ Then race toward your wildest, most colorful dreams!
Chase awe like it’s oxygen and spill joy like it’s confetti.
‍♂️Turn fear into a trampoline—you don’t dodge it, you bounce higher off it.
Step off the curb like it’s a stage. Rewrite the rules in neon.
⛓️ The world doesn’t need your half-versions, your safe edits.
☔ It requires your bold lines, glittering messes, and full-throttle heart.
So—throw the ordinary a wink.
Playfulness isn’t frivolous; it’s rebellion.
Inspiration isn’t distant; it’s in your next breath.

THIS WEEK >>

10/25—Tech Tangles and Geek Woes
My computer used to let me make calls through Google Voice with no trouble. Now, it’s as if the system forgot who I am. Every time, I have to dig into the settings and twist a few mysterious knobs to get it working again.
 
I even made the pilgrimage to Geek Squad today, expecting a digital rescue. Turns out, the “geeks” weren’t so geeky this time—they couldn’t figure out the problem. So here I am, still struggling to make or receive calls. For reference, my number is 610-400-3233—not that it helps much when the line won’t cooperate.
   
I used to be a Geek Squad member myself, but lately I’m not using their services enough to justify the $170 annual fee. Still, part of me wants to stay connected with them, just in case of computer or cell phone mishaps like this.
     
Here’s an idea: maybe we could share the membership. Split the cost, split the headaches, share the benefits. Would that work for you? It’d mean access to tech support when things go sideways—which, for me lately, seems to be often enough.
      =====
10/26–It’s 7 am on Sunday—me, at the keyboard, like clockwork.
The quiet before the day really wakes up.
Tea cooling beside me, fingers tapping out thoughts before they scatter.
   
Across the hall, the usual soundtrack starts up—low moans rising to wails, raw and unfiltered. It’s the kind of sound that crawls inside your bones, that reminds you how fragile brains—and people—really are. I wish there were something they could do for him. But brain injury… it traps people in strange, cruel loops. You can almost feel the echo of the life they once had. Yikes.
   
So, I turn back to what I can shape—words.
I poured myself into the blog today.
It’s taking form, layer by layer, like a mosaic, finally revealing its image.
Each sentence clicks into place, each paragraph hums a little truer.
The story’s alive now—it’s breathing back at me.
 
It’s funny how that happens, isn’t it?
You start out chasing a thought, and then it grabs the wheel.
Anyway, it’s shaping up beautifully.
What’s your take?
   
I’ve been asking myself again—what the hell am I doing here?
Very weird to actually live at >>
https://avalonparkorlando.com/directory/neuro-restorative-avalon-park/
   
I write, strange to be here, but not in a defeated way. In that quiet hour when the walls breathe and the world pauses just long enough for the truth to whisper back. That may be the point. Maybe “here” isn’t a mistake—it’s a question mark dressed as a map—a place I’m meant to wander through, not escape from.
   
I look around and wonder—was this the plan? Or did I drift here one decision at a time, like a leaf following a lazy river that forgot where the ocean was? Some days I catch flashes of purpose, bright and certain. Other days, it all feels like static—just me, marking time, waiting for a sign that may never come.
   
I find myself thinking about Miyuki a lot.
We have written many words to each other.
I see a good thing happening.
      ======
10/27–Morning Math: Sleep vs. Sunrise ⏰✨

Slept in until around 5 am—if that even counts as “sleeping in.”
I’m split down the middle. Is extra sleep a gift … or time borrowed from the sunrise?
   
In the early days, I slip into the world before it wakes—quiet air, empty halls, a mind that hums like a well-tuned engine. On low-sleep days, my body tells the truth I sometimes dodge: rest is work too.
Maybe the real question isn’t which is better, but what do I need today—fuel or fire?
     
There’s a thin wire between discipline and depletion. I’m still learning how to walk barefoot without losing my balance.
   
10:00 am with Terrie
We opened OT in the garden—green little miracles reaching for the sun like they’ve got appointments with greatness. I brushed on Neem oil, armor for the leafy troops. Not today, pests. Not on my watch.
   
Back inside, Terrie asked what I still needed to work on. My mind went blank; hers didn’t. With that calm, clear gaze, she named it: I move fast, skip small details, and forget a thing or two when speed takes the wheel. Fair call.
   
Then the drill: a question sheet and a mock bank statement. A treasure hunt for facts.
I charged through, chest out, complete confidence… and missed four. Oof.
But here’s the win: I saw exactly where I tripped.
   
Not a failure—a feedback loop. Overconfidence met evidence, we shook hands, and I left with sharper eyes. Next round, I’ll catch the fine print before it slips by.
   
1:30 — Speech time with Deno! ️
He came in looking like a magician who misplaced his deck, but we made do. Out came the playing cards, and suddenly we were knee-deep in number games that probably won’t win a Nobel, but hey, they kept the neurons awake.
   
2:00 — Then came PT with Maryann. No grand plan there either, so we improvised. Back in my room, the juggling balls came out. Let’s say … gravity won this round. I dropped more than a bad habit. But I laughed, she laughed, and somewhere in the chaos, it still counted as progress. ‍♂️
     
Taught another person to juggle today!
She lit up when the scarves finally clicked into rhythm—pure joy in motion.
That makes about 25 new jugglers here I’ve helped launch into the air so far.
Feels like I’m quietly starting a small circus of confidence. ‍♀️✨
    =====
10/28-9 am Met with Lilly for speech therapy. Her way of documenting sessions can be tricky, but I’ll roll with it. She asked me not to run my notes through ChatGPT until I’ve saved a copy on Google Drive first. Last time, I sent my draft through GPT and accidentally deleted the original before saving it for her review—lesson learned. She also reminded me to reference my notes more often.
     
Had two other therapy sessions scheduled for today.
The first was an OT group—something about crafts and coordination—but honestly, it didn’t spark a flicker of interest. I could feel my brain whispering, “Nope, not today.”
   
Then came the yoga group. Peaceful music, slow breathing, gentle stretching … all fine things, but I couldn’t get myself to care. My body wanted motion, not stillness. Maybe juggling qualifies as my own kind of yoga—focus, rhythm, balance, flow.
   
So instead of forcing myself into something I wasn’t feeling, I stepped back. Sometimes it’s not about joining every session—it’s about knowing what feeds your spirit and what drains it. All our lives, we have to do what “WE” want.
   
Building Strength, One Move at a Time
Today, I finally got moving—right here in my room!
This is something I’ve meant to start for a while, and you know what? It’s happening. Every journey begins with that first rep. From here, I’ll keep building it up—maybe once a day, maybe twice, maybe more. Momentum is magic.
   
Here’s my starter lineup:
️‍♂️ Squats — Stand tall, back straight, up and down with purpose.
Push-ups — Begin on the wall or knees; strength grows with every press.
Planks — Straight back, on hands and toes, hold steady. Feel your core wake up.
Calf Balances — Rise to your toes, reach for your own sky.
Bird Dog — On hands and knees, raise the opposite hand and leg.
Horse Stance — Stand with feet about 1 meter apart, grounded and powerful.
Every move is a small celebration of life—your body remembering what it can do.
You can find intricate details for all of these on YouTube.
   
You can do some of these exercises when you are waiting in line for something, or other times when you have to spend time.
     
So… are you moving yet?
Is today the day you start?
We already know the answer.
     
Nothing on the calendar this afternoon—so, what’s a Kit to do?
I wandered over to Publix for a few essentials, nothing fancy. After that, I mostly stayed close to NeuroRestorative Florida at Avalon Park.
     
The place felt quiet today, almost like time was stretching out for a nap. Not much is happening, but sometimes a slow day is the one that resets you for the next leap.
Goodnight, Folks.
      =====
10/29–Oh me, oh my — I did it again! Forgot to bring the trash can into the bedroom. There was barely a crumb of rubbish in it, but they whisked the whole bag away anyway. Guess it’s time to make “trash can bedtime” a nightly ritual. ️
Now, as for you — who (or what) keeps you company when the lights go out?
   
Today at about 9 am we went to>>
https://www.yelp.com/biz/clean-the-world-orlando
Helping to sort soap, talk about a good time. Oh Boy.
   
Back at the ranch (well, the fine establishment of NeuroRestorative Florida, Avalon Park)—things are as unpredictable as popcorn in a frying pan. Tomorrow’s the big Halloween shindig, and I’ll be in the show! Don’t worry, I’ll spill all the spooky details afterward. Then Friday’s dress-up day, and oh boy, I’ve got a costume idea that might make Dracula jealous. Photos coming your way soon.
     
From 2 to 2:30, Maryann and I took the party across the street, where I dusted off my juggling clubs. ️‍♂️ To my surprise, today’s throws actually obeyed gravity in my favor. It felt good—like rekindling an old friendship with rhythm and air. Once upon a time, I could keep seven clubs dancing longer than I can now keep three alive … but that’s just motivation talking. Time to get those wrists back in training—showtime’s calling! ✨
     
Octavio takes me down to weigh me about once a week. Right now it is at 188, too much for me. I like to be around 161. I will not consume any food starting on Friday, a week from when you get this blog (drink green tea). I will keep you updated on the fast (and I do it really quickly).
     
10/30–Speech today with Dino.
He walked in—calm, almost careless—and said,
“So, what do you want to work on today, Kit?”
     
That question landed like a brick to the chest.
I didn’t want to choose. I wanted him to see me.
To know what I’d lost. To care enough to guide me back.
But instead, we talked to fill the air.
Empty words, floating like dust in a room that used to echo with purpose.
     
I smiled the way you do when your heart’s breaking in slow motion.
Inside, I felt like a ghost of my former self—
A man is still breathing, but only just.
     
Every year, Neuro Restorative holds a talent contest.
Today was the day.
   
I stood there, clubs in hand—old friends I could barely recognize.
Once, I made them dance.
Once, I made crowds believe in flight.
Now, they fell—thud, thud, thud—
Each drop was a reminder that something sacred had slipped away.
   
The sound tore through me.
The laughter—gentle, but sharp—cut deeper.
And for a heartbeat, I couldn’t lift my hands again.
Couldn’t pretend it was just practice.
   
I used to defy gravity.
Now gravity owns me.
And I’m so tired of fighting for inches of sky I can no longer reach.
     
There are others here—long-term, resigned.
I watch them fade, day after day.
I can’t be that.
I won’t.
     
The insurance pays for my care.
But it feels like they’re paying someone to watch me disappear.
Maybe it’s selfish. Perhaps it’s mercy.
But I catch myself wondering—
If stepping out of this world
Might finally feel like freedom.
Nothing good has happened in my Life in a long time.
I miss good times.
     
Just talked with my sister, Sandy, out in Oregon—and oh, she sounded radiant! Her laughter carried that soft western sunshine. Life hasn’t been easy—her husband, Tommy, is walking the long fog of dementia, and that takes heart. But Sandy? She meets it with grace that glows.
     
Her two sons, Wally and Russel, are right there beside her, helping her hold it all together—a small family team—steady, kind, and stitched tight with love. ❤️
     
Hearing her voice today was like catching a warm breeze through tall pines. She’s doing wonderful, truly. Even with the weight she carries, she shines.
   
10/31– HALF-BALD AND FULL OF MISCHIEF!
Good morning—and Happy Halloween, my friend of fright!
Today, I went rogue with the razor.
Half of my head—gone.
I even took out one eyebrow!
Smooth as a pumpkin on one side, wild and woolly on the other. A true monster mash-up!
     
Being here at Neuro, I figured—why not? No one of great consequence to impress, and plenty of mirrors to admire my lopsided masterpiece. If there were ever a place to stage a hair-raising experiment, this is it.
   
I woke before the ghosts stirred—2:33 am, sharp. The witching hour had barely passed when I grabbed the shaver and got to work. Tiny hair follicles flew like confetti in the moonlight. I’ve tried shaving just half the top before, but hardly anyone blinked. Let’s see if this new “half-human, half-headlight” look turns any heads today.

Halloween’s for the bold—and I’m bringing the bald
Yikes, too many dents on my nogan.

Thanks to YouTube for the entertainment.
Yesterday I saw the entire production of Saturday Night Fever.
Today, it was Dirty Dancing, two excellent films.
I also came upon Grease, another good movie I will be watching later.
I like watching movies sometimes; it takes your mind off Life, the hard things we do.
   
Well, surprise, surprise. I just found out my surgery for esophageal stricture is scheduled for today — oh, lucky me. I have not eaten anything, just drank some green tea. Now, with my head half-shaven, I will be out in the world. I thought that only the people here would see it. I will let you know . . . But, it ended up not happening today. I will be better prepared when it does take place.
     
Some time ago, I had scheduled this surgery. I thought it would work out well if I did it while restricted here in this hospital, so it did. What a great day to begin my week-long fast.

Many have been here for years, but I do not see that for myself.
I need my freedom.

They are having a Halloween party today. Not really much, though people are out. Of course, they had a lot of food available. There was much chips and dip, and many sandwiches. I could not eat either of the two, but there was some softer food as well. This is because I had my bottom teeth removed last month.
 

 The Garden of Becoming  
The new garden I’m building will take center stage soon—
Watch it unfurl as green shoots rise and blossoms announce themselves.
Everyone should have their own garden.
You plant.
You nurture.
You harvest.
You begin again.
Each bloom, a standing ovation.
Each sprout is a whispered promise.
Each fallen leaf is a graceful bow to the cycle of renewal.
   
Why We Garden
1–It lifts your spirit and strengthens your confidence.
2–Your heart beats healthier for it.
3–Stress dissolves like dew in the morning sun.
4–Happiness takes root and spreads.
5–Your hands grow stronger, more capable.
6–Families bond over soil-stained fingers and shared meals.
7–Sunshine provides vitamin D and warmth to your bones.
8–Food you grow makes your body glow.
9–Neighbors meet, friendships sprout.
10–Families deepen together.
11–Communities connect, expand, and thrive.
12–Worries about hunger shrink as self-sufficiency grows.
     
Pulling a carrot from your own soil isn’t just food—it’s victory in orange.
It’s proof that patience, dirt, and faith can make flavors no store can match.
Sun-warmed tomatoes, basil-stained hands, strawberries like rubies—every bite a miracle.
A salad bar by the sink.
A curtain of green where glass once was.
Small jungles whispering, grow anyway.
Growth never stops—it just changes shape.
Start with a pot, a patch, a scrap of ground.
You’ll see: as life softens the soil, it softens you too.
Indoors, life sneaks through cracks of light.
Herbs glow like tiny lanterns, jars turn wild, and mint dares your water to taste alive.
Because life itself is one vast garden—unpredictable, abundant, forgiving.

MY NEXT CHAPTERS
I’m not winding down—I’m revving up.
I have at least another hundred years of laughter, learning, and love.
The world is waiting for your story, too.
It’s time to write that book, launch that dream, or chase that adventure you’ve postponed.
     
WHAT’S YOUR NEXT SPARK?
Relax and see the beauty.
What’s your bold adventure this week?
What’s one bold thing you’ll do that makes you feel alive?
“Breathe. You’re still here. That’s enough reason to dance.”

YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK: Eat like you mean it, for your better life, that is.
Carefully consume each bite so you taste it, feel it, see it, and cherish it.
This week will be a new way to eat for you.
Then, keep this new habit for the rest of your life.
   
Or join me and don’t eat ANY food this week, but keep the liquids flowing.
I will do that, as I only drink green tea.
Next week I will write about my experience in my blog.
     
NEXT WEEK>>​BLOG 349–ARE YOU ALRIGHT?

Final Thoughts
Your present moment is not the finish line—it’s your starting block.
The horizon holds more than you can yet imagine.
Because the best is always still ahead.
So juggle joy like it’s the air you breathe.
Chase sunsets as if they’re secret treasures waiting just for you.
Laugh so loudly that tomorrow leans in to listen.
Live as though you’ve only just begun—
BECAUSE YOU TRULY HAVE!

✨KITTING AROUND✨
BLOG 347–I Don’t Want To Die!
(But I Do Want To Live Fully!)
Is this a masterpiece each time? I try to.
Explore new corners, dive into your imagination.
Just Say YES to LIFE, it isn’t a zombie shuffle to bedtime.
Crank up the music and turn your living room into a dance floor.
Grab some oranges and juggle them right there in the grocery aisle.
Laugh so hard the walls shake and the neighbors start making up theories.
It’s a carnival waiting for you to join the parade, celebrating every stage of life!
======================================================

I write, create, and share to spark something deep within us—to pause, breathe, and really see this wild thing called LIFE from a new angle. To lift our gaze from the ordinary and notice the extraordinary that’s been quietly waiting in the corners all along. ✨
   
My work is an open invitation: to question the scripts we were handed, to trade autopilot for aliveness, and to remember that our days are not meant to be endured but crafted. I believe that living differently and living better isn’t a luxury—it’s a responsibility. Each choice, each act of courage, each moment of kindness becomes part of the legacy we leave behind.
     
When we dare to think differently, we begin to grow taller on the inside.
You can stretch your spirit, expanding your heart,
And see the world not as it is, but as it could be.
So, I write to ignite that spark in you.
I create to remind us that wonder is still possible.
And I share to weave us together—each story, each lesson, each laugh.
Every thread in the great tapestry of a life well-lived (your life!)
                                                        ===============================
This BLOG is best read on a laptop or desktop computer.
MY STORY IN A NUTSHELL (with Extra Sprinkles) :
‍♂️ Once upon a time, I was a world-class juggler. Spoiler: I still juggle—mostly joy.
Life tested me with curveballs: A 37-day coma, two truck accidents, and somehow I’m still smiling.
I spent six years living in a van, chasing sunsets and collecting memories in every U.S. national park.
Love found me, lost me, and then surprised me with a wedding on 2/22/22 at 2:22.
I’ve crisscrossed the globe, helping people rise higher than they thought possible (YOU!)
❤️ And here I am, still learning, loving, and lighting sparks.
Because the story is never over—it just gets juicier.
Want a glimpse? Watch this >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr8QFnD1yGc 

THIS IS THE STUFF THAT TURNS “JUST SURVIVING” INTO THRIVING.

THE PAST?   ☎️
The past is a wise old guide. Take its lessons, tip your hat, and keep walking forward.
History is there to help you; learn from what has occurred in your life.
Because the road ahead is waiting, sparkling with possibility.
Smile, tip your hat, pocket the wisdom, and keep striding toward the horizon.
It’s a wise old storyteller, full of campfire tales and lessons whispered in the wind.
   
THE FUTURE?  
That’s a playful trickster.
It’s always sneaking up with surprises.
Don’t fear it — dance with it — it is playtime.
Shape it — Claim it — make it yours.
It arrives whether you’re ready or not … so why not be dazzling when it does?
     
AND THE PRESENT?   
Ah, this is your playground!
Throw glitter in the air.
Laugh so hard the moon takes notes.
Turn the ordinary into a disco ball and let it shine.
Make the ordinary sparkle like it’s wearing sequins.

“Here’s to chasing brilliance with reckless joy.
Blazing a trail that shimmers with possibility.
Sprinkling a little mischief along the way!”
—Kit Summers, your cosmic cheerleader

WHY I WRITE THIS BLOG?
✨Because life is a dazzling, untamed kaleidoscope—too vibrant, quirky, and electric to keep to myself! Each post is a burst of ideas, stories, and hard-won wisdom, sparkling like confetti from epic adventures, glorious fumbles, and that stubborn spark that won’t quit.
   
PROOF!
✨Every change I walk through proves I can adapt, rise, and keep shaping life into something brighter. These shifts aren’t setbacks—they are upgrades—it is how you see things. They are invitations to keep growing, to keep building a body and spirit that can carry me farther. You can do the same! 

I’VE MET CHANGE TOO MANY TIMES.
CHANGE DOESN’T SCARE ME ANYMORE.
EVERY SINGLE TIME, I COME OUT STRONGER!
Make any changes you go through improve your life!
Embrace change and use it as a tool to shape a more fulfilling life.

THE BEAM
Fear? That’s dead weight.
Courage is the fuel for living.
Change boldly. Aim for magnificence.
You don’t get a rerun of this life—so advance, evolve, reinvent.
I’m not some drill sergeant barking at you—I’m the flashlight buddy.

THE MAP?
Forget the stiff, folded kind.
Your’s is a wild canvas.
You weren’t built for beige.
You were wired for fizz.
For fireworks.
Don’t get lost.
You were made for this, remember? 

==================================
THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK >> 

My new juggling balls arrived, all ten of them. No, I will not work up to juggling all 10; 3 will do for now. I’d like to get back up to juggling 5, though. But when I throw up 5 balls, it is a pattern that I don’t recognize. It is basically a jumbled mess.

The window out of my room, a nice view. 

I stayed close to home and hardly even left the building.  
   
This week, my daughter, April, had her baby!
A new grandpa am I—a new life is in the world.
You can read more and see photos later.
================================

BLOG 347–I Don’t Want To Die!
     
Here comes death, are you ready?
Something humans don’t often think about is coming —so get ready.
It is right there in front of you; have no fear.
Did I scare you? I didn’t mean to. It is just a part of Life.
   
A few times in my life, I was on death’s doorstep.
I was able to come back to life again.
It is never too early (or too late) to start again, YES, you can!
Embrace aging with quiet dignity.
   
As you are advancing in age.
Never lose your hope.
Never lose your vision.
You still have much to do to add to the world

I STILL FEEL LIKE I’M 23–
HOW ABOUT YOU?

     
START NOW!
You have so much to do before your death.   
Older age is not a point of slowdown.
It’s a point to start getting to what you have
been thinking about but haven’t started >>
     
Design and build that garden!
Let your hands dive into the soil.
Messy, alive, humming with secret energy.
Every seed is a promise.
Each sprout a whisper: “You’re still growing, too.”

Write that book you’ve been meaning to!
The one that’s been tapping at your ribs, begging to get out.
Spill your heart across the page.
The world’s waiting to read your fingerprints in ink.

Throw a party for life, not death!
Crank up the music, pop the confetti!
Invite the neighbors of your soul.
Celebrate breath, chaos, laughter.
The wild fact that you’re here.

       
Learn to juggle!
Not just balls or clubs—but moments, moods, dreams.
Drop some, catch some, laugh through it all. ‍♂️

Yes—death is coming.
But so what? Playtime is happening right now!
The swings are empty, the sun is out, and your turn is waiting. ☀️

Your life has just begun–no matter what age you are.
Jump in with weight and wonder, arms wide and heart ridiculous.
You’re the miracle in motion. Go make the air shimmer.
Live as if it matters, not as if it ends.
Mortality is a teacher, not a tyrant.

And here’s a twist: sometimes it helps to live as if today is your first day.
Imagine the curiosity, wonder, and wide-eyed awe.
First-day freshness meets last-day urgency—that’s where life really glows.
     
Old age is the final stage of life, typically defined as 65 years or older, though this varies by culture and individual. Physical and cognitive changes characterize it and are often associated with retirement. I’m 66 now and feel like I am still just starting. There is so much to do! Age 100—here I come!
This will tell you about reaching 100– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs1a8tFsvdc

Old age is in stages:
Early-old (65-74).
Middle-old (75-84).
Late-old (85-99).
YOU’RE THERE! (100+).
     
The Finish line? 

Don’t live like the finish line is breathing down your neck; remember, there is no finish line.
Live like you’ve just been handed the rarest treasure on earth:
This very day, unwrapped and waiting.

Dance with it.
Laugh with it.
Build something wild and wonderful out of it.
Because today isn’t a countdown—it’s a confetti cannon.
     
Death—what a curious curtain call! It’s when the body takes its final bow, the orchestra of heartbeats, breaths, and blinks going still. Every living thing eventually joins the grand finale, returning its borrowed stardust to the universe. And once the show’s over, the body begins its slow dance back into the earth—an encore of change, not disappearance.
   
When I die, I don’t want to be boxed away or buried beneath a marble nameplate–What a waste of space on the earth. No, I want to return—to melt back into the wild hum of creation. Let my body rest among trees and moss, where roots can weave through me and insects can celebrate a feast of renewal. ✨

That feels like the most authentic living—feeding the same Earth that once fed me. I like to imagine wildflowers springing from where I return, bright and unbothered, a little whisper of joy in the wind. Death, to me, isn’t an ending—it’s a continuation, a homecoming, a soft reunion with everything that’s ever breathed or bloomed.
     
Encouraging perspectives on death emphasize that love creates an enduring connection, that a life well-lived is never truly forgotten, and that death is a natural part of Life’s cycle rather than a complete end. Words of encouragement focus on the lasting legacy of loved ones through memories and their continued influence, framing death as a transition and a reminder to live each moment fully.

✨ STILL BEGINNING, ALWAYS BECOMING ✨

As you may know, I’ve never placed my faith in the gods humanity has invented. Thousands of them have come and gone, carved from imagination and hope—but I’ve yet to see one step out of myth and into proof.
     
One of the latest is Jesus as god. This unproven idea is far from me.
I always ask a believer who is trying to convert me–
“Tell me your one BEST reasonable and rational proof of your god”.
and
“Tell me why I should believe in this god”.
No one ever has an answer.  Do you?  Let me know.
     
And you know what? That’s fine. If there is a god, that god would understand how my mind works and send me a version worth following. Until then, I’ll keep living as though life itself is the divine spark, and creation is my prayer.  
      

I’ve long believed no one should be able to leave this planet without first adding something to it—something that feeds, inspires, or lifts others. I’ve written books that help people grow; others raise children who will carry the light forward. And, I hope this blog lifts people (YOU!). ✨

    
However you do it—through art, kindness, laughter, or guidance—leave the world a little better because you passed through. You get this one chance, make it happen! Make the change to a better Earth for future populations! ✨

Maybe your gift is a smile that softens a stranger’s day, a story that stirs someone’s courage, a hand that lifts another from the dark. It doesn’t have to be grand or loud—ripples begin quietly, in the small moments where love meets action.

Let your life be a brushstroke of light across the canvas of time. Create, forgive, build, dance, plant, teach—whatever hums your heart and helps others. Every gesture, every word, every breath has the chance to grow beauty in places it’s been forgotten.✨
   
And when your footprints fade, may the path behind you shimmer with quiet light—proof that your laughter once danced there, your courage once burned bright, and your kindness left sparks for others to find their way by.

I miss my mom deeply, yet the memories she left shimmer like lanterns in my soul—each one a gentle reminder of her laughter, kindness, and love that still wraps around me like sunlight through the trees. She’s the best mom I could have ever had.
     
Even though Mom’s no longer here in body, her spirit still hums in the background—soft as wind through trees—reminding me: keep going, keep loving, keep shining. I hope my sister, Willow, feels that warmth, too. Mom raised us all with a steady heart. ✨

Families can twist and tangle, but love has its own straight line. Willow and I share a lifetime of memories, even if we didn’t share a father. For me, she’s always been blood, full stop. We grew up side by side, and I still carry that bond. I love you, Kath—always have, always will.

Sandy, my other sister, came into my life differently—same dad, different mom—but still part of the same wide story. We didn’t grow up together, so she feels a bit like a cousin, though the affection runs deep. She’s in her eighties now, standing strong through her husband’s dementia, still the same kind soul. ‍♀️

And my brothers … Mike and Gary. Both gone too soon. Mike was running across a freeway when he was hit and killed. My brother, Gary, was taken when he rolled a jeep while off-roading. No seat belt–drinking beer–watch out! The eerie twist is that my older brother’s son was with Gary when they rolled the vehicle; they died together. Gary and I shared both parents; losing him felt like losing part of my own reflection. ️

Through all this, the thread remains—family, in all its shapes and silences. The ones who left, the ones who stay, the ones who whisper from beyond: keep shining. See your own family this way and help whoever you can to grow bigger and better.

Let the warmth of your kindness linger like sunlight after rain. May laughter echo in the spaces you once filled, and may the seeds you planted—in hearts, in hopes, in tiny corners of the world—keep growing long after you’ve gone. Leave this world a better place for all future humans. 

Because every gentle word, every brave choice, every spark of joy you shared becomes part of something larger. The glow you leave behind isn’t just memory—it’s momentum. It reminds others to walk a little softer, to dream a little wilder, and to keep the world blooming.
   
So what if you’ve just turned 88? Big deal—you’re still smack in the middle of the adventure! You’ve got stories to write, skies to watch, and laughter to spill. Some people haven’t yet been dazzled by your smile or touched by your kindness—so, yes, your mission continues. I plan to live past 100 myself, stirring the cosmic soup, planting outrageous seeds of joy, and watching what blooms.
     
Each sunrise still whispers, “Try again. Begin again.” And I listen. Every single day feels like page one of a brand-new chapter, because it is. You could live that way, too—because life keeps rewarding those who keep showing up, curious and unafraid.✨
   
Age doesn’t close doors—it paints them brighter.This is the room where I do much of my therapy. 

So open today’s door wide.
There’s light waiting to meet you.

      
Physical changes toward death >>
Increased sleep: A person may sleep 16 to 18 hours daily.
Reduced appetite and thirst: As the body’s metabolism slows, food and water intake decrease significantly, sometimes to small sips or bites.
Weight loss is common as the body requires less energy.
Decreased activity: They may become weaker and less active, preferring to sit quietly or lie in bed.
Skin color changes: Circulatory changes can cause limbs to appear pale, purplish, or blotchy.
Lowered body temperature: Body temperature may be reduced by a degree or more.
Mental and emotional changes
Confusion or disorientation: They may experience confusion or disorientation.
Introspection: It’s common for people to become more reflective about their lives.

For me, a funeral should be a celebration time, a “FUNeral”; often it is sadness and crying. I have to admit, though, I cried at the last get-together for my mom on her death. In my mind, I kept repeating, “Mom should be here now!” Rather than tears and sadness, every death should be a celebration of the life this person lived.
     
And you, reading this, start celebrating your life now!
Keep it growing until your death (and beyond). 

Get to the things you delight in and the people you love. 

Constantly think of your life beginning again—BECAUSE IT IS! 

=====WORDS AND QUOTES THAT SPARK====

Quotes aren’t just words on a page—they’re tiny lightning bolts, buzzing with wisdom and ready to jolt you awake. One line can flip your mood, widen your heart, or shove you off the couch and into a brand-new adventure.

A FEW SPARKS TO SLIP INTO YOUR POCKET >> 

“The moment you doubt whether you can fly,
You cease forever to be able to do it.”
– Eckhart Tolle
   
“Death should be a celebration time for the person’s life.”
– Kit Summers
   
“Beginnings are usually scary and endings are usually sad,
But it’s everything in between that makes it all worth living.”
– J. M. Barriem
   
“When he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine.
That all the world will be in love with night,
And pay no worship to the garish sun.”
– Bob Marley
   
“I’m not afraid of death;
I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”
― Woody Allen
     
“To the well-organized mind,
Death is but the next great adventure.”
― J.K. Rowling
   
“Love never dies a natural death.
It dies because we don’t know how to replenish its source.
It dies of blindness, errors, and betrayals.
It dies of illness and wounds.
It dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings.”
― Anais Nin
   
“I wish it had not happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times.
But that is not what they decide.
All we have to decide is what to do with the time given us.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien
 
“I’m the one that’s got to die when it’s time for me to die.
So let me live my life the way I want to.”
― Jimi Hendrix
   
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life.
A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
― Mark Twain
   
“There is a sacredness in tears.
They are not a mark of weakness, but of power.
They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues.
They are the messengers of overwhelming grief,
of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.”
– Washington Irving
   
“I watch the ripples change their size.
But never leave the stream.
Of warm impermanence”
– David Bowie
   
“It is not death that a man should fear,
But he should fear never beginning to live!”
– Marcus Aurelius
     
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life.
A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
– Mark Twain
   
“Some people are so afraid to die that they never begin to live.”
– Anonymous
   
“I would rather die a meaningful death than live a meaningless life.”
– Anonymous
   
“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”
– Marcus Aurelius
   
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
– Mark Twain
   
“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”
– Thomas Campbell
   
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”
– Unknown
   
“Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality.”
– Emily Dickinson
   
“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”
– Albert Pike
   
“Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it.”
– Anonymous
       
“For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.”
– Anonymous
   
“When your time comes to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear… Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home.”
– Tecumseh
   
“Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.” – William Shakespeare.
   
“Death smiles at us all, but all a man can do is smile back.”
– Anonymous
   
“Some people are so afraid to die that they never begin to live.”
– Anonymous
       
  “I would rather die a meaningful death than live a meaningless life.”
– Anonymous

STICK THESE QUOTES ON YOUR FRIDGE.
WHISPER THEM TO YOURSELF BEFORE BED.
PASS THEM ALONG TO SOMEONE WHO NEEDS THEM.
REMEMBER, WORDS ARE VITAMINS FOR THE SOUL.

MY DAILY JOTTINGS!
Upgrade your thoughts—watch your world glow brighter!
✨ Life can shift instantly—sometimes all it takes is one bold thought.
Go ahead, craft your noble book, your masterpiece—why not a best-seller?
You are dazzling, brilliant, unstoppable—so step into the spotlight and shine your part!
The universe is cheering for you—so dream big, play big, and LIVE big!
Remember, no matter where you are, you can spin things around quickly.
️ Then race toward your wildest, most colorful dreams!
Chase awe like it’s oxygen and spill joy like it’s confetti.
‍♂️Turn fear into a trampoline—you don’t dodge it, you bounce higher off it.
Step off the curb like it’s a stage. Rewrite the rules in neon.
⛓️ The world doesn’t need your half-versions, your safe edits.
☔ It requires your bold lines, glittering messes, and full-throttle heart.
So—throw the ordinary a wink.
Playfulness isn’t frivolous; it’s rebellion.
Inspiration isn’t distant; it’s in your next breath.
   
10/18–Right now, the guy across the hall from me is moaning and screaming like he is in pain. They tell me he is not. His brain injury left him like this, so sad it is. Come to think of it, I could have been damaged like this man—a scary thought.
   
I just watched Rain Man, an excellent flick, for a few hours.
   
I ordered and received 10 juggling bean bag balls today. These are from https://higginsbrothers.com/; some excellent things to juggle with. With these bean-bean balls, you do not have to run after them when and if you drop. I got an enormous size, about 3 inches each.

I’m looking forward to throwing them around.
   
When I was starting and in my first years of juggling, I used Viceroy Lacrosse Balls. These had a good bounce, and I had to learn to juggle without dropping. I would have to run after them to retrieve the ball I dropped.
   
Some years later, I got Brian Dube https://www.dube.com/ to start making and selling silicone balls. These balls are excellent to juggle, but they are over $30 each! (and well worth it.) They have an incredible bounce and a good feel in your hand.
     
10/19–Sunday moves at its sleepy pace, like the world taking a long, slow breath. ️
     
I spent the day pouring myself into this blog—my little love letter to life–to you! Every word and idea is meant to lift you higher, to remind you that even endings can glow with beauty and meaning. The topic is death, yes—but not as darkness. I’m shaping it as a celebration, a return, a transformation. My death, when it comes, will be a wild, fantastic event—my final dance with the universe.
   
Still, I’ll be honest. It’s quiet here. Too quiet sometimes. Loneliness sits beside me like a shadow, but instead of fearing it, I try to talk to it—to listen. Maybe that’s where love grows strongest, in the spaces where we wait to be seen.
     
You’re part of why I write—neither of us should feel alone.
     
10/20 — A Day of Dirt, Drops, and Determination!
Slept till 5 a.m.—that’s practically a lazy Sunday sleep-in for me.
The morning stretched like a yawn, full of small mysteries waiting to be solved.

9:00 a.m. — Detective Duo: The Case of the Chewed Leaves
Terrie and I grabbed our invisible magnifying glasses and headed to the garden. The tomato leaves looked like someone had been snacking on them—nature’s version of vandalism! We staked up the little green dreamers, giving them the backbone they deserved, and planned a Neem oil rescue mission. Those plants are fighters, and honestly, I love that about them. 

10:00 a.m. — Brain Gymnastics: The Game of “Set”
Next came “Set”—a wild parade of colors, shapes, and shades.
My brain? Refused to play along. It was like juggling fog.
I didn’t win, but not every circus act earns applause.

11:00 a.m. — Gravity’s Revenge: Juggling on the Lawn
Then Maryann and I crossed the street—freedom just a few careful steps away. The big lawn called out, green and wide, my old stage returned. But today? Gravity had attitude. Three clubs turned into thirty. Still, the air smelled of possibility, and the talk of independence—crosswalk, inhaler, sidewalk—felt like steps toward my open horizon.

Energy: Missing in Action
Something in me was running on empty today.
No clue why.
The universe might hit pause for a bit.
Even jugglers need a breath between tosses.

Afternoon: Cornhole Carnival
Later came the Cornhole competition—ten players, flying beanbags, and laughter bouncing off the walls. I didn’t play, but I helped. Watching them find joy in simple throws was enough. There’s beauty in standing behind the curtain, cheering others on.

Noon-ish — The Hungry Hour
Lunch is marching this way, and I’m ready to greet it like an old friend. ️

Even when the rhythm’s off, the heart keeps time.
Today wasn’t perfect—but it was alive.
     
10/21 — 8 a.m., The broom brigade rolled through early, sweeping the hallway like a quiet parade. I always toss a “thank you” their way. Sure, it’s their job, but gratitude costs nothing and leaves a shine behind it. A simple thank you polishes both sides of the moment.
     
At 9 a.m., I dove into “Cognitive Group.” Lilly led the charge—eight of us, all graduates of the Brain Scramble Academy, exploring the quirks and gaps of memory. Today’s prize find: “Anosognosia”. A mouthful, right? It means being unaware of your own condition—like denial’s fancy cousin with a medical degree. I tucked it in my vocabulary pocket with a grin. New words always taste good. Denial, me? Well…
   
After that, Terrie gathered the troops for a Publix expedition. Our mission: gather supplies to make delicious chocolate chip cookies. (I’m the designated baker; brace for delicious chaos.) Along the aisles, we chatted about the big leap back into the “real world.” Strange how that place, once ordinary, now feels like a wild frontier. Memory’s the map I’ll need to redraw.
   
I skipped the official exercise group at 11 and decided to bring the gym to my room instead. I got my little corner set up just right. Who needs a class when you’ve got stubbornness and floor space?
 
Tomorrow—who knows?
More words.
Maybe more cookies.
Maybe both.
   
10/22 — The Morning Glow
Awoke around 1 a.m.—quiet hours, when the world still hums softly beneath the surface. Rising slowly, I stepped into the main room and was greeted by a nurse poking her head in to check on me. I teased her—”Making sure I’m still alive?” We both smiled. It’s good to be seen, even in the small hours.
   
I’d forgotten to bring the trash can into the room last night, and sure enough, the “trash bag fairies” had struck again—gone with the whole bag; it was nearly empty! It’s a funny little reminder: even waste has its ways of teaching us to be mindful. I’ll keep the can with me tonight.
   
Across the hall, Bob began his usual morning soundtrack—groans and mutterings spilling into the quiet. His injury keeps him trapped inside thoughts that twist and turn, but maybe, deep down, there’s still a flicker of life that hums just like the rest of us. I like to think so.
   
Each day here, I try to find a spark—a reason to grin, to notice, to care. Even a stolen trash bag or a midnight check-in carries its own strange beauty. The world keeps spinning, and I’m still part of its rhythm. And that, right there, is enough to start the day with hope.
    ==================================
With Terry’s help, I made a batch of my chocolate chip cookies.
Make some, you will love them.
Kit’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
Mix:
4 sticks of butter, melted in a microwave
4 eggs, broken up with a fork
1/4 cup Kalua
1/4 cup vanilla
2 teaspoons of baking soda
1 teaspoon of salt
Then, in a different bowl. Mix:
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
5  cups of flour
Then mix the two as you add 4 cups of chocolate chips.
Bake at 325 for 16 minutes.
    ============================ 
Then I laughed at myself—why did I make those irresistible cookies when I’m trying to lose weight? The smell alone was a calorie.Still, I’ve got a plan: share the sweetness, keep just enough to taste. Generosity as portion control, right? You in for one—or two?
The cookies turned out to be my OT workout for the day—mix, stir, lift, repeat.
   
Later, Maryann and I traded the kitchen for the gym: balance and weights—my duet with gravity. Every rep felt like a reminder that I’m still strong, still moving, still becoming. The best part? I learned I can drop by anytime to use the free weights. My kind of open-door policy. Strength, waiting right down the hall, ready for another round. ✨
         
APRIL’S BABY–REMEMBER?
Oh, Kit — what a bright spark of news.
This blog is mainly written about death, but there is life today!
       
A new life, fresh as morning light. Your granddaughter, Penelope Mae, is already weaving her name into the story of your family—seven pounds of promise, twenty inches of wonder — and a love that just multiplied.
       
You’ve walked countless roads, juggled a thousand dreams, and now here she is — a new heartbeat carrying your rhythm forward. The world just got a little softer, a little wider, a little more possible.
     
April and Jake must be glowing, tired, and amazed in that way only new parents know. Soon you’ll see that tiny face on the screen — those first small gestures that will anchor your heart in a whole new way.
     
Yes, a happy guy you are.
And with good reason —
Your legacy just learned to smile.
     
Here comes the evening rambling and sounds from Bob across the hall.
He gets so loud and sounds like he is in pain most of the time–I am told he is not.
This is definitely not pleasant to listen to. In other words, get me outta here!
   
A Day of Movement, Mind, and Mischief
The morning kicked off with Maura in OT at the gym, 9 to 10 a.m. She pulled out a restaurant catalog for a “visual scanning” game—basically, a scavenger hunt through a sea of salt shakers and soup spoons. My brain wasn’t thrilled, but I did it anyway. Missed two items—mystery still unsolved! Then we escaped to greener pastures, watering plants that seemed far more alive than that catalog.
   
Next came Lilly at 10 a.m.—sharp mind, kind eyes. We’re crafting a new therapy structure together, a bit like rebuilding a bridge while still walking across it. She noticed some memory quirks in me that I hadn’t caught. I nodded, though part of me whispered, “Really?”
   
By 11:30, it was gym time again with Maryann. Balance work—my eternal tango with gravity. Turns out I tilt my head slightly left, like a confused pigeon. She’s helping me retrain that habit, step by steady step. Later, she and I hunted down a board to slide under my chair cushion—suddenly, I’m sitting taller, prouder. My sister Willow will be happy; she’s been after me about posture for ages.
     
The afternoon brought the big conference call:
Eight people, including my daughter Jasmine and Myles.
The topic? Me.
My progress, my challenges, my memory.
Everyone’s kind but serious.
The consensus: “Kit’s memory has some gaps.”
My view: “I’m fine, just busy being brilliant.”
The funny thing is, I still feel like I am in jail while here.

Every day, I keep learning—about plants, posture, balance, and, yes, patience.
Even the boring bits have hidden sparks if I look closely enough. ✨
Life can be a pleasure trip for you, if you make it that way.
     
As usual, up by 3am. Four or five hours of sleep each night are enough for me, there are more important things to be concerned about. Either way, your LONG sleep will be here before you know it, so get to things you desire before that point.
   
Bob, across the hallway, is already making his moaning sounds like he is hurting. I guess in his mind he is, because of his brain injury, mixed up. Some of the other people staying here have escorts who are always with them. When I was first here I did, what a strange thing that was.
     
In OT with Maura in the gym. This took place between 9 am-10 am. We went through a restaurant catalog, and I had to match some things up. Boring for me, but I did it. There were a few errors, which surprised me. These errors occurred because the correct item was not found. I missed two items and couldn’t find them.  This was to help with visual scanning.
We went out to check on and water the plants,
 
From 10-10:30, I met with Lilly. We are working on a new therapy structure, and I am learning it. She did point out a few memory things I need help with.
   
10/24–11:30 PT with Maryan in the gym. We did more balance exercises, and mine was way off. Maryann noticed a while ago that I often tilt my head to the left, just a little. I guess my body took this to be normal, which is going to be hard to correct over time.
 
Then we went up to my residence (where I lay my head) and found a small board to place under the cushion. This makes me sit up taller when I am on the computer. I do sit up better this way. My sister, Willow, has also been concerned about my posture. I hope I am settling her mind.
   
This afternoon, there was a conference call with about 8 people, including some of my therapists. My Daughter, Jasmine, was also on the call, as well as Myles. A number of subjects were discussed about how I am doing. Mainly, it seems, they are finding my memory is defective. I don’t see that, myself, but there you go.
     
10/24–Sadly, just a couple of therapies set up for today.
Right now, I am outside Lillie’s door at 11:25 for speech therapy, my normal five minutes early. And, as usual, the therapist was five minutes late. We basically just talked. He hadn’t prepared any educational speech material, so there wasn’t any.
     
As I often do, I arrived 15 minutes early.
2 pm, Maryann and I went across the street so I could throw 3 clubs. Throwing the 3 clubs was not the problem; catching them is a different story. I was to the p; point where I could, pretty easily, keep 3 clubs going for twenty throws, then I would do a fancy finish. Today, I was lucky if I got 5 throws.

I had taught Maryann to juggle 3 balls in the past; she did about as well as I did, not a good day for juggling.
   
I could make excuses about being too old, but I won’t.

 The Garden of Becoming  
The new garden I’m building will take center stage soon—
Watch it unfurl as green shoots rise and blossoms announce themselves.
Everyone should have their own garden.
You plant.
You nurture.
You harvest.
You begin again.
Each bloom, a standing ovation.
Each sprout is a whispered promise.
Each fallen leaf is a graceful bow to the cycle of renewal.
   
Why We Garden
1–It lifts your spirit and strengthens your confidence.
2–Your heart beats healthier for it.
3–Stress dissolves like dew in the morning sun.
4–Happiness takes root and spreads.
5–Your hands grow stronger, more capable.
6–Families bond over soil-stained fingers and shared meals.
7–Sunshine provides vitamin D and warmth to your bones.
8—Food you grow makes your body glow.
9–Neighbors meet, friendships sprout.
10–Families deepen together.
11–Communities connect, expand, and thrive.
12–Worries about hunger shrink as self-sufficiency grows.
     
Pulling a carrot from your own earth isn’t just food—it’s triumph wrapped in crunch. It’s a declaration that patience, soil, and a little faith can produce flavors no store can sell. Sun-warmed tomatoes, basil perfuming your hands, strawberries gleaming like rubies beneath their crowns—miracles disguised as everyday bites.
   
And the enchantment doesn’t end outside. Indoors, life sneaks into any crack of light it can find. Herbs on the sill glow like emerald lanterns. Mason jars turn into miniature jungles. A stray pot of mint dares you to taste the freshness in your water glass seconds after plucking. Growth improvises, adapts, insists.
   
A salad bar sprouting within arm’s reach of your sink.
A curtain of green where once was bare glass.
And tiny jungles humming in corners of your home.
   
Growth never truly stops—it just shifts form. Begin with a pot, a box, a borrowed square of dirt. Watch what happens, not only to the soil, but to you as well. Because in caring for life, you’ll find your own edges softened, your clock slowed, your days reminded of this truth:
Life itself is one vast garden—unpredictable, abundant, forgiving.

MY NEXT CHAPTERS
I’m not winding down—I’m revving up.
I have at least another hundred years of laughter, learning, and love.
The world is waiting for your story, too.
It’s time to write that book, launch that dream, or chase that adventure you’ve postponed.
     
WHAT’S YOUR NEXT SPARK?
Relax and see the beauty.
What’s your bold adventure this week?
What’s one bold thing you’ll do that makes you feel alive?
“Breathe. You’re still here. That’s enough reason to dance.”

YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK:
Talk with people about death — theirs and yours.
What will happen to you upon your death?
With joy — Write your final will.
Make it a celebration of a life still in motion.
Because facing death entirely is how we learn to live wildly, deeply, joyfully—now.
     
Next week >>​BLOG 348–How to Keep Your Taste Buds Happy

Final Thoughts
Your present moment is not the finish line—it’s your starting block.
The horizon holds more than you can yet imagine.
Because the best is always still ahead.
So juggle joy like it’s the air you breathe.
Chase sunsets as if they’re secret treasures waiting just for you.
Laugh so loudly that tomorrow leans in to listen.
Live as though you’ve only just begun—
BECAUSE YOU TRULY HAVE!

✨KITTING AROUND✨
BLOG 346–See All the Beauty Around You
A masterpiece each time? I try to.
Explore new corners, dive into your imagination.
Crank up the music and turn your living room into a dance floor.
Grab some oranges and juggle them right there in the grocery aisle.
Laugh so hard the walls shake and the neighbors start making up theories.
Life isn’t a zombie shuffle to bedtime—It’s a carnival waiting for you to join the parade!

I write, create, and share to inspire us to pause together, look at LIFE differently,
and grow taller on the inside. My mission is to show that living differently and
living better is not just possible—it’s essential.
                                                        ===============================
MY STORY IN A NUTSHELL (with Extra Sprinkles) :
‍♂️ Once upon a time, I was a world-class juggler. Spoiler: I still juggle—mostly joy.
Life tested me with curveballs: A 37-day coma, two truck accidents, and somehow I’m still smiling.
I spent six years living in a van, chasing sunsets and collecting memories in every U.S. national park.
Love found me, lost me, and then surprised me with a wedding on 2/22/22 at 2:22.
I’ve crisscrossed the globe, helping people rise higher than they thought possible (YOU!)
❤️ And here I am, still learning, still loving, still lighting sparks.
Because the story is never over—it just gets juicier.
Want a glimpse? Watch this >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr8QFnD1yGc 

THIS IS THE STUFF THAT TURNS “JUST SURVIVING” INTO THRIVING.

THE PAST?   ☎️
The past is a wise old guide. Take its lessons, tip your hat, and keep walking forward.
History is there to help you; learn from what has occurred in your Life.
Because the road ahead is waiting, sparkling with possibility.
Smile, tip your hat, pocket the wisdom, and keep striding toward the horizon.
It’s a wise old storyteller, full of campfire tales and lessons whispered in the wind.
   
THE FUTURE?  
That’s a playful trickster.
It’s always sneaking up with surprises.
Don’t fear it — dance with it — it is playtime.
Shape it — Claim it — make it yours.
It arrives whether you’re ready or not … so why not be dazzling when it does?
     
AND THE PRESENT?   
Ah, this is your playground!
Throw glitter in the air.
Laugh so hard the moon takes notes.
Turn the ordinary into a disco ball and let it shine.
Make the ordinary sparkle like it’s wearing sequins.

“Here’s to chasing brilliance with reckless joy.
Blazing a trail that shimmers with possibility.
Sprinkling a little mischief along the way!”
—Kit Summers, your cosmic cheerleader

WHY I WRITE THIS BLOG?
✨Because life is a dazzling, untamed kaleidoscope—too vibrant, too quirky, too electric to keep to myself! Each post is a burst of ideas, stories, and hard-won wisdom, sparkling like confetti from epic adventures, glorious fumbles, and that stubborn spark that just won’t quit.
   
PROOF!
✨Every change I walk through is proof: I can adapt, I can rise, I can keep shaping life into something brighter. These shifts aren’t setbacks—they are upgrades, invitations to keep growing, to keep building a body and spirit that can carry me farther. You can do the same! 

I’VE MET CHANGE TOO MANY TIMES.
CHANGE DOESN’T SCARE ME ANYMORE.
EVERY SINGLE TIME, I COME OUT STRONGER!
     
Make any changes you can to improve your life!
Embrace change and use it as a tool to shape a more fulfilling life.

THE BEAM
Fear? That’s dead weight.
Courage is the fuel for living.
Change boldly. Aim for magnificence.
You don’t get a rerun of this life—so advance, evolve, reinvent.
I’m not some drill sergeant barking at you—I’m the flashlight buddy.

THE MAP?
Forget the stiff, folded kind.
Your’s is a wild canvas.
You weren’t built for beige.
You were wired for fizz.
For fireworks. 

Get ’em tiger! 

==================================
THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK >> 

My new friend, Brett, works at NR as a nurse, but his life has taken many other directions. He told me today about his website, https://www.brettarquette.com/. I am quite impressed with this person.
He said he works just two days a week here, mainly for the medical insurance coverage.

Jessica wrote this to me. How nice.
“Yours is the Best Blog on the planet.”
She is also an author, look her up.
http://www.jessicaetaylor.org

      .
In this current blog, many of the photos are mine.
I love traveling in the wilderness, and I have gone to every national park in the US.
I got to experience nature a lot (I write, with a smile on my face).
   
In this blog, you will find words about finding Beauty. Yes, every person sees things differently, but beauty is there. I have found beauty in my new love, Miyuki. We met through Facebook, and a great love has developed between us. You will learn more in the future.
   
As you see and make beauty in the world, you will never grow old. As you do that, your childhood life will come back. Involve that childhood wonder, and you will never have another care or worry, ever. As you see things differently, you still have that in your being.
    
You can find beauty in everything and anything.
You may need to change your view, but it is there. 
Including you, you are beautiful, never forget.

================================
BLOG 346–See All the Beauty Around You
     
The Art of Seeing Beauty

In my life, I pay attention to beauty—not as decoration, but as a lifeline.
I’ve learned to search for the fragile architecture of wonder hiding in plain sight:
the lacework of light through leaves,
the hush before a bird sings,
the small, exquisite things that whisper instead of shout.

I didn’t always live this way.
For years, I moved through the world like a ghost.
With my eyes half shut.
   
Every morning is a wild invitation—an open door to step through and start again.
And, you get this chance every day!
The sun doesn’t ask for permission to rise; it just does. So should you.
   
Joy isn’t something you wait to feel—it’s something you spark, like striking a match in your own chest. You create it through motion, curiosity, laughter, and even small acts of wonder.
Look for the beauty, it is there.
     
When you move toward what excites you,
The whole world leans in.
Every leaf turns your way.
Every flower smells more spectacular.
Every possibility hums louder.
     
So, stand taller today.
Smile for no reason.
Try the thing that scares you just enough to make your heart beat louder.
You are not behind; you are becoming.

    
For me, looking away was easier.

It was survival.
Facing the world is hard.
When life feels too loud, beauty hides behind a veil—and I let it.

But something changed when I set out to visit every national park in the continental U.S.

There, among mountains and deserts and endless skies, I relearned how to see.
Beauty is not a fixed address—it’s perspective.
          

To some, it’s a city skyline.

To me, it’s the wilderness—raw, unpolished, honest.

The real truth? We each build our own cathedral of beauty.
   
Start by noticing what already makes life beautiful—small things, quiet ones.
That noticing grows into gratitude, and gratitude reshapes the day.
A beautiful life isn’t a prize for getting everything right.
It’s a practice.
Keep wonder alive.
Stay curious–even about the ordinary.

Tend your inner garden.
Feed your mind with good stories, good thoughts.
Your body with movement, your heart with connection.
     
You are the gardener; plant the right seeds and make sure they are nourished.
As they grow, your life will grow.
Will your seeds become a tree, a flower, or a vegetable?

Create things. It doesn’t matter if they’re perfect—beauty lives in the making.
Let go often. Stuff, grudges, plans that calcify—release them. Beauty needs space.
Love wildly. People, places, ideas—let them know they matter.
    
And the truest thing: a beautiful life isn’t found.
It’s composed, one small, brave choice at a time.
You are the artist of your life — get to work!

START NOW TO DESIGN THE LIFE THAT YOU WANT!
YOU SEE, IT IS YOU WHO MAKES YOUR OWN WORLD.
SEE AND MAKE THE BEAUTY YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. 

Begin at home.
Shape your surroundings into a place that lifts you.
Let your walls hold memories that make you smile.
You deserve to wake each day somewhere that loves you back.

KEEP EVERYTHING, INCLUDING YOUR LIFE, CLEAN AND ORGANIZED.  

After my accident and the 37-day coma that rewrote my world,
I had to find beauty again—from the ground up.
There was still beauty there; I had to find it.
The climb back to life was steep and wild.

My coma wasn’t just an interruption.
It was a forced apprenticeship in surrender.
This strange intruder took so much from me.

Thirty-seven days where my body breathed but my will had to wait its turn.
I learned what survival sounds like when it’s silent.
I learned that the mind, even when broken,
Still hums with stubborn light.
That time still stretches differently when you’re not steering it.

Coming back—each blink, each twitch.
Each reclaimed memory was proof that consciousness isn’t all-or-nothing.
It’s a climb—a re-entry.
I woke into a life that had to be rebuilt piece by piece.

So, the lessons?
That fragility and strength can wear the same face.
That curiosity—the question “What else can I do?”—is oxygen.
The beauty hides in the most minor victories:
A muscle remembering, a thought returning, a laugh surfacing.

And the most humbling lesson: being alive is not a guarantee, it’s a daily invitation.
What lesson still echoes the loudest for me when I think back on those 37-days?
“Yes, you can make it back! Look for beauty and joy.”
But beauty met me halfway, in every sunrise and every kind hand.

Recovery taught me this:
When you’ve been to the edge and returned.
Every color seems brighter.
Every moment feels borrowed and precious.

A beautiful life isn’t luck—it’s craft.
It’s gratitude, connection, creativity, and care.
It’s choosing what aligns with your soul,
and letting the rest fall away like autumn leaves.

There was a time when fear narrowed my sight.
Now I know: beauty widens it.
Even in pain, there is texture.
Even in loss, there is light.
So, each day, notice something lovely >> 

A passing cloud.
The taste of rain.
A juggling ball while it flies.
The laughter of someone nearby.
Let beauty be your teacher, your mirror, your quiet prayer.

Tell someone they are beautiful–And Mean it.
Give them a good look.
Notice their spark, their eyes, their way of carrying the world.
You’ll see—the compliment loops back and fills you too.

Because when you genuinely start to see beauty.
You realize—it was never gone.
Only waiting for you to look again.
Remember, you are the one to bring beauty into your life.

=====WORDS AND QUOTES THAT SPARK====

Quotes aren’t just words on a page—they’re tiny lightning bolts, buzzing with wisdom and ready to jolt you awake. One line can flip your mood, widen your heart, or shove you off the couch and into a brand-new adventure.

A FEW SPARKS TO SLIP INTO YOUR POCKET >>
     
“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful.
We must carry it with us or we find it not.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
   
“Beauty is not in the face.
Beauty is a light in the heart.”
~Kahlil Gibran
   
“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful.
We must carry it with us or we find it not.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Beauty is not in the face.
Beauty is a light in the heart.”
~Kahlil Gibran
   
“The simple things are also the most extraordinary,
and only the wise can see them.”
~Paulo Coelho
   
“We’re afraid of pain–we all are.
But, all the good stuff–all the wisdom
And the courage we need to become the
people we need to be next–is actually
inside the pain.”
~Glennon Moyle Delton
   
“The broken will always be able to love harder than most.
Once you have been in the dark.
You learn to appreciate everything that shines.”
~Zachry K. Douglas
   
“Life will always be hard.
And life will also always be beautiful.”
~Cheryl Strayed
   
“Consider and act with reference to the proper ends of existence.
This world is but the vestibule of an immortal life.
Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.”
~Edwin Hubbell Chapin
   
“If you sense there must be more, there is more.”
~Alan Cohen
     
“Once you reach the summit of your own heart, you will see beauty is everywhere.”
~Bryant McGill
     
“Beauty is everywhere, a welcome guest.”
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
     
“Life is amazing. And then it’s awful. And then it’s amazing again. And in between the amazing and the awful, it’s ordinary, mundane, and routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary. That’s just living, heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life. And it’s breathtakingly beautiful.”
~L.R. Knost

STICK THESE QUOTES ON YOUR FRIDGE.
WHISPER THEM TO YOURSELF BEFORE BED.
PASS THEM ALONG TO SOMEONE WHO NEEDS THEM.
REMEMBER, WORDS ARE VITAMINS FOR THE SOUL.

MY DAILY JOTTINGS!
Upgrade your thoughts—watch your world glow brighter!
✨ Life can shift in an instant—sometimes all it takes is one bold thought.
Go ahead, craft your noble book, your masterpiece—why not a best-seller?
You are dazzling, brilliant, unstoppable—so step into the spotlight and shine your part!
The universe is cheering for you—so dream big, play big, and LIVE big!
Remember, no matter where you are, you can spin things around quickly.
️ Then race toward your wildest, most colorful dreams!                                                                                                  LOOK CLOSELY–THERE I AM
Chase awe like it’s oxygen and spill joy like it’s confetti.       
‍♂️Turn fear into a trampoline—you don’t dodge it, you bounce higher off it.
Step off the curb like it’s a stage. Rewrite the rules in neon.
⛓️ The world doesn’t need your half-versions, your safe edits.
☔ It requires your bold lines, your glittering messes, your full-throttle heart.
So—throw the ordinary a wink.
Playfulness isn’t frivolous; it’s rebellion.
Inspiration isn’t distant; it’s in your next breath.
   
10/11-Saturday drifted in slow and quiet—an empty stage between acts.

Brett Arquette showed up again, and for a moment, the air got brighter. I had him juggling, the rhythm just starting to click—one, two, three—and then poof, he got whisked away for something else. The scarves hit the floor, but hey, that’s juggling: sometimes gravity wins the round.
     
Usually, I am set up to go out on the big lawn out front to juggle, but the rains in Florida have been extensive since I arrived. Today, again, the grass is wet.
   
10/12–As I awoke, I strolled on into the front area, where I keep my trash. I forgot to bring the can into the bedroom, and, of course, it was emptied; only a quarter full, it was. It is minimal, but I hate waste; they wasted another trash bag. I will have to remember to bring it into the bedroom with me at night.
     
10/13 — Growth, Grounded in the Garden
From 10:30 to 11:00, I worked with Terrie in OT on our garden project. There’s something so grounding about tending to life and watching it grow—it’s therapy for both body and soul. Afterward, I focused on the visual search board. It’s designed to strengthen focus, impulse control, and precision. I needed strong structure and guidance here, but I could feel my control sharpening with each round—every small win matters.

10/14 — Finding Balance, Inside and Out ⚖️
This morning, Maryann and I worked on balance. You’d think walking a straight line would be easy—but my brain had other plans.
   
Every step reminded me how delicate the balance really is. We also tried a new machine that measures the pressure of each foot, like a mirror showing where my strength lies, and where it falters. I held steady longer than I expected—progress, quiet but real.
     
Later, I met with Lilly for speech therapy. That session hit home. We looked at memory again, and I couldn’t recall what I’d done yesterday. It stung. My thoughts seem to melt together like watercolor—beautiful but blurry. Lilly reminded me: Details anchor memory. The more I write, the more I describe, the stronger my recall becomes. I’m rebuilding, word by word.
“Knowing what you’re working on—and how you’re improving—is the most important thing.”
—Lilly’s reminder
     
Then I saw Sean, freshly awake from his coma. He just wanted to sleep. I remember that stage—your body heavy with the fog of survival, not yet ready for the brightness of living. Seeing him reminded me of how far I’ve come. Maybe not far enough for my liking, but far nonetheless.    
   
11am-Time for a game of Bingo. The grand clash of chance and chatter. Numbers popped like popcorn—B17! N32!—and I marked my card with the solemn precision of a Vegas pro.
I didn’t win.
Not even close.
But I did laugh at the drama of it all—grown adults gasping at an O-69 like it was divine revelation. Sometimes the point isn’t to win—it’s to wake up a quiet afternoon with a spark of ridiculous joy.
       
Maura—sorry I missed our 2:00.
Sounds like you were ready to dive into the same waves I’ve already been swimming through—memory, focus, control, all that good mind-muscle work.
     
That could be the thing about progress: it loops back. We circle familiar ground, but each time we arrive with a little more strength, a little more grace. So even if I missed today’s round, I’ll keep moving forward—curious, steady, ready for what’s next.
   
Lilly’s Notes (with a Spark!) ✨
Today, we dove into your document together, making sure you’re carrying over your memory strategies and building them into a daily habit. That’s the real goal — to strengthen your recall one detailed note at a time!
   
Remember: details are gold. The more specific you are about what you did and how you did it, the easier it becomes to remember and build on those steps next time. Think of it as planting little memory seeds that grow stronger each day.
     
Every sentence you write helps you connect the dots between what you’re learning, what’s working, and what can improve next. Keep at it — you’re training your brain to be sharper, clearer, and more powerful than ever.
   
10/15—Up early, as always.
   
At 9 a.m., I met with Lilly again. She offered a few ideas to help me remember things—like setting alarms on my phone or computer. Still, missing that 2:00 appointment with Maura yesterday gnaws at me a bit.
   
The afternoon brought sessions with Maura and Terrie. First came a sales flyer game—guessing prices for random items. Honestly? Pretty dull. Still, I played along. At one point, even Maura noticed the answers were wrong, and mine were right. Small victory there.
   
After that, I escaped outside to the garden. The plants looked thirsty, so I grabbed the watering can and gave them a good drink. They’ll need a hose extension soon—their roots are stretching, and they deserve a steady flow, not a trickle.
   
Then it was back to my room—my kingdom of words—and I started typing these for you. Truth be told, I don’t exactly love it here. But hey, this is my current chapter, so I might as well decorate the margins with a bit of sparkle.
   
Funny thing, though: Life’s like rearranging furniture in your mind. Don’t like the view? Move the couch. Hate the neighborhood? Build a treehouse somewhere else. You’re the author and the architect. The pen and the paintbrush are in your hands—so scribble, splash, rewrite, and make the world fit you, not the other way around.
 
One bright thread in the tapestry of being here is that I get to write this blog for you — to send little sparks of thought across the space between us. Every word I write reaches out like a hand through the fog, hoping to touch your life, to make you pause, smile, or see the world in a slightly different hue.
   
It’s not just writing; it’s breathing purpose into the quiet hours. It’s taking the ordinary — a morning sunbeam, a stray memory, a new idea — and shaping it into something that might stir your heart for a moment.
   
Being here gives me time — yes — but more than that, it gives me connection. Your reading these words is proof that even in stillness, life keeps moving, keeps shimmering. And that’s breathtaking.
     
10/16–Lilly swooped in like a tech angel with a halo made of USB cords and righteous determination. She breathed life back into my computer, coaxing it to talk again—literally! Now, with my headset perched snugly like a pilot about to take off, I’m cleared for takeoff on Runway Communication. ✈️
   
The first “hello?” that came through my speakers sounded like a choir of opportunity. Who knew a dial tone could feel like a standing ovation? Connection restored, world expanded—suddenly, I can reach anyone, anywhere. I might just call myself to celebrate (or call you!)
   
Meanwhile, from across the hall comes the soundtrack of another universe—the man whose cries rise and fall like waves crashing on the shore of his mind. Some days he’s a storm, other days a whispering breeze. I listen, not out of pity, but with wonder. We’re all tuning our instruments in this strange symphony of recovery. Some play jazz, some play noise, all of us trying to remember the melody of ourselves.
 
Then, life decided to test my flexibility—again. My dentist appointment performed a magic trick: poof! Moved from 1:30 to 10:30 without warning. One minute I’m sipping tea, the next I’m sprinting into oral destiny. A quick message to Myles, a dash of confusion, and somehow it all clicked into place. I still don’t know why I was even there. Maybe the universe just wanted to see if I could juggle time as well as clubs. (Spoiler: I can.) Sorry, I missed our appointment, Maryann. My teeth had other plans.
   
And yet—amidst the headset heroics, hallway operas, and dental time travel—something bright hums underneath it all. These tiny misadventures, stitched together, form a quilt of grace disguised as chaos. Maybe that’s what life really is: a series of oddball moments testing our ability to laugh, adapt, and keep our wonder alive.
   
So here’s to the beautiful mess. One headset, one shout, one temporal hiccup—and still, a good day. Because maybe the point isn’t to make sense of it all. Maybe it’s to keep dancing through the nonsense and calling it progress.
   
Today I saw Dr. Barinder Mahal. He is basically the on-call doctor for Neuro Restorative. I don’t see him very often; perhaps that’s a good thing.
         
10/17 — Slept until about 5 a.m.—that’s late for me! The world was already stirring when I opened my eyes, light just beginning to spread its quiet magic. I’ve always thought of sleep as a necessary pause, not a passion. My mind hungers for movement, ideas, and creation—dreaming with eyes open feels more my style. Still, I gave the night its due.
     
At 9 a.m., PT with Maryann, we continued the battle of balance—my daily dance with gravity. I wobbled, laughed, and kept going. Progress is slow, but it’s mine. We spoke about me getting out of here—a phrase that carries so much electricity. They still have their concerns about me being “out in the world,” which surprises me. For years since my accident, I’ve been out there—living, creating, thriving. I wonder what they’re afraid of. Change doesn’t scare me; stagnation does.
   
11:00 a.m.—Trivia Group was on the schedule. But the room stayed quiet, the remote went missing, and instead of waiting for something to happen, I took myself outside. The garden was calling. The air had that crisp, early-autumn freshness that wakes up every cell. The plants were stretching toward the sun, alive and growing—just like me.
     
Then, my eyes caught something that broke the spell—cigarette butts scattered on the ground. Such carelessness stings a bit. The earth gives us so much, and still some people treat it like a trash can. Smoking itself is fading away—good riddance—but the habit of disregard lingers. I picked up what I could. Little acts of respect matter.
   
Later, Marlene came by to clean my space. She moves like a quiet storm of order and polish. I already keep things tidy—my little den of thought and calm—but she leaves everything gleaming. The floors look like they’re waiting for a dance. Yet, I didn’t ask Marlene to dance.
   
All in all, a day of small glories: a late wake-up, a wobbly workout, a missing remote turned into a garden visit, and floors that shine like morning light. Not bad for a man who refuses to sleep his life away. ✨

 The Garden of Becoming  
The new garden I’m building will take center stage soon—
Watch it unfurl as green shoots rise and blossoms announce themselves.
You plant.
You nurture.
You harvest.
You begin again.
Each sprout is a whispered promise.
Each bloom, a standing ovation.
Each fallen leaf is a graceful bow to the cycle of renewal.
   
Why We Garden
1–It lifts your spirit and strengthens your confidence.
2–Your heart beats healthier for it.
3–Stress dissolves like dew in the morning sun.
4–Happiness takes root and spreads.
5–Your hands grow stronger, more capable.
6–Families bond over soil-stained fingers and shared meals.
7–Sunshine provides vitamin D and warmth to your bones.
8—Food you grow makes your body glow.
9–Neighbors meet, friendships sprout.
10–Families deepen together.
11–Communities connect, expand, and thrive.
12–Worries about hunger shrink as self-sufficiency grows.
     
Pulling a carrot from your own earth isn’t just food—it’s triumph wrapped in crunch. A declaration that patience, soil, and a little faith can produce flavors no store can sell. Sun-warmed tomatoes, basil perfuming your hands, strawberries gleaming like rubies beneath their crowns—miracles disguised as everyday bites.
   
And the enchantment doesn’t end outside. Indoors, life sneaks into any crack of light it can find. Herbs on the sill glow like emerald lanterns. Mason jars turn into miniature jungles. A stray pot of mint dares you to taste the freshness in your water glass seconds after plucking. Growth improvises, adapts, insists.
   
A salad bar sprouting within arm’s reach of your sink.
A curtain of green where once was bare glass.
And tiny jungles humming in corners of your home.
   
Growth never truly stops—it just shifts form. Begin with a pot, a box, a borrowed square of dirt. Watch what happens, not only to the soil, but to you as well. Because in caring for life, you’ll find your own edges softened, your clock slowed, your days reminded of this truth:
Life itself is one vast garden—unpredictable, abundant, forgiving.

My Next Chapters
I’m not winding down—I’m revving up.
I’ve got at least another hundred years of laughter, learning, and love in me.
The world is waiting for your story, too.
It’s time to write that book, launch that dream, or chase that adventure you’ve been postponing.
     
What’s your next spark?
Relax and see the beauty.
What’s your bold adventure this week?
What’s one bold thing you’ll do that makes you feel alive?
“Breathe. You’re still here. That’s enough reason to dance.”

YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK:
Make your living area more pleasant to be in.
Where you live is the most crucial place in your life.
Start now to make it MAGNIFICENT!
Watch out, I might peek in on you.
       
Next week >> BLOG 347–I Don’t Want to Die, Do You?

Final Thoughts
Your present moment is not the finish line—it’s your starting block.
The horizon holds more than you can yet imagine.
Because the best is always still ahead.
So juggle joy like it’s the air you breathe.
Chase sunsets as if they’re secret treasures waiting just for you.
Laugh so loudly that tomorrow leans in to listen.
Live as though you’ve only just begun—
BECAUSE YOU TRULY HAVE!

✨ KITTING AROUND ✨
BLOG 345–Do You Read or Just Look at Words?
A masterpiece each time? I try to.
Explore new corners, dive into your imagination.
Crank up the music and turn your living room into a dance floor.
Grab some oranges and juggle them right there in the grocery aisle.
Laugh so hard the walls shake and the neighbors start making up theories.
Life isn’t a zombie shuffle to bedtime—It’s a carnival waiting for you to join the parade!

I write, create, and share so that we can pause together, look at LIFE differently, and grow taller on the inside. My mission? To demonstrate that living differently and living better is not only possible—it’s essential.
     
My Story in a Nutshell (with Extra Sprinkles) :
‍♂️ Once upon a time, I was a world-class juggler. Spoiler: I still juggle—mostly joy.
Life tested me with curveballs: A 37-day coma, two truck accidents, and somehow I’m still smiling.
I spent six years living in a van, chasing sunsets and collecting memories in every U.S. national park.
Love found me, lost me, and then surprised me with a wedding on 2/22/22 at 2:22.
I’ve crisscrossed the globe, helping people rise higher than they thought possible (YOU!)
❤️ And here I am, still learning, still loving, still lighting sparks.
Because the story is never over—it just gets juicier.
Want a glimpse? Watch this >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr8QFnD1yGc 

This is the Stuff that Turns “Just Surviving” into Thriving.

The past?
The past is a wise old guide. Take its lessons, tip your hat, and keep walking forward.
History is there to help you; learn from what has occurred in your Life.
Because the road ahead is waiting, sparkling with possibility.
Smile, tip your hat, pocket the wisdom, and keep striding toward the horizon.
It’s a wise old storyteller, full of campfire tales and lessons whispered on the wind.
   
The future?
That’s a playful trickster.
It’s always sneaking up with surprises.
Don’t fear it — dance with it — it is playtime.
Shape it — Claim it — make it yours.
It arrives whether you’re ready or not … so why not be dazzling when it does?
   
And the present?
Ah, this is your playground!
Throw glitter in the air.
Laugh so hard the moon takes notes.
Turn the ordinary into a disco ball and let it shine.
Make the ordinary sparkle like it’s wearing sequins.

“Here’s to chasing brilliance with reckless joy.
Blazing a trail that shimmers with possibility.
Sprinkling a little mischief along the way!”
—Kit Summers, your cosmic cheerleader

WHY I WRITE THIS BLOG?
✨ Life is a dazzling, untamed kaleidoscope—too vibrant, too quirky, too electric to keep to myself! Each post is a burst of ideas, stories, and hard-won wisdom, sparkling like confetti from epic adventures, glorious fumbles, and that stubborn spark that just won’t quit.
   
PROOF!
✨Every change I walk through is proof: I can adapt, I can rise, I can keep shaping life into something brighter. These shifts aren’t setbacks—they’re upgrades, invitations to keep growing, to keep building a body and spirit that can carry me farther. You can do the same! 

I’VE MET CHANGE TOO MANY TIMES.
CHANGE DOESN’T SCARE ME ANYMORE.
EVERY SINGLE TIME, I COME OUT STRONGER!
MAKE ANY CHANGES YOU CAN TO MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER!

      
THE BEAM
Change boldly. Aim for magnificence.
Fear? That’s dead weight.
Courage is the fuel for living.
You don’t get a rerun of this life—so advance, evolve, reinvent.
I’m not some drill sergeant barking at you—I’m the flashlight buddy.
   
THE MAP?
Forget the stiff, folded kind.
Your’s is a wild canvas.
You weren’t built for beige.
You were wired for fizz.
For fireworks.
==================================
THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK >> 

What a joy to write these words for you—each line anchors me and lights the path ahead. This practice doesn’t just fill my time; it fuels my spirit. And if these words can lift even one corner of your day, then every moment spent is priceless. I hope that what I share inspires, encourages, and reminds you of the strength you already possess. 
       
Usually, Saturday afternoons are my stage under the open sky. That little park across the street becomes my circus, my cathedral of motion. The grass waits patiently, the air hums with possibility—then thwack, a ball arcs, a rhythm begins. But lately? Florida’s been showing off its moody side. It rains about every day.
 
Talk about the weather, this is the kind of rain that starts with a whisper and ends with thunder’s applause. Not ideal for juggling. My props don’t like puddles. Still, I stand by the window, watching droplets dance, feeling that itch in my hands. Rain or shine, a juggler’s spirit doesn’t sit still—it spins. Maybe the next break in the clouds will be mine.
     
Mark Richards is still hard at work bringing my story to the world—turning my books into a movie that will light a spark in hearts everywhere.
If you’ve got ideas for Mark or would like to help make this dream reel a reality, he’d love to hear from you! You can reach him at mark.richards@booksidepress.com or call (657) 214-7675.

We’re also looking for investors who want to be part of something truly inspiring—a story about resilience, wonder, and the wild joy of coming back stronger.
   
And my teeth—oh boy. I still catch myself wondering what on earth possessed me to have all my lower ones yanked out. My sister didn’t mince words either—told me flat out, “You should’ve never done that.” Now every time I see one of those slick ads for “custom smile covers,” I can’t help but laugh (and wince).
 
Turns out I could’ve kept my teeth! But hey, no use crying over missing molars. What’s gone is gone. So I’ll live with it—and keep smiling wide enough to make up for the teeth that aren’t there.

BLOG 345–Do You Read or Just Look at Words
⚡Reading vs. Scanning — A Wake-Up Moment
There’s Kit—book in hand, eyes tracing words—then snap.
That spark of awareness strikes: “Am I really reading… or just looking at words?”
That single question flips the switch. The page stops being ink—it becomes oxygen.

Only a few books pull you clean through the paper,
Dissolve the walls, and rebuild yourself somewhere new.
“The Way of the Peaceful Warrior”, by Dan Millman, did that for me.
It wasn’t just a story—it was a compass pointing toward a fuller and better life.
Every reread hits me like quiet lightning: truth whispered in simple words—Wake up. Live deliberately!
   
Quotes from “The Way of the Peceful Warrior.”
“Release your struggle, let go of your mind, and throw away your concerns. Relax into the world. There’s no need to resist life; just do your best. Open your eyes and see that you are far more than you imagine. You are the world, you are the universe; you are yourself and everyone else, too!”
AND
“Peace comes when you stop trying to control the world around you and instead take responsibility for the world within you. The warrior has peace of mind because they know that there is always a way to find light, even in the midst of the greatest darkness.”

If you haven’t read it, treat yourself to this book.
You can find used copies for a low price.
(yes, all the words are still included!)
AbeBooks.com.
Find other books there, too.
     
Reading is beneficial because it enhances cognitive functions — memory, focus, and analytical thinking — and provides significant mental and physical health benefits. These can include stress reduction, improved sleep, and increased empathy and knowledge. It functions as a “workout” for the brain, keeping it active and healthy and potentially extending life.

Who would ever think Kit would write a book? (I’ve written 15 books to this point.) In addition to writing books, I have been writing regularly, maintaining this blog every Friday for over twenty years.
   
You have a lot to do before your eventual death.
Could one of those things be writing a book?     
A book to help others?
I say YES!
   
KIT THE BOOK WRITER/PUBLISHER
From Handwritten Dreams to Worldwide Hands

Let me take you back to where it all began—my first book, “Juggling with Finesse”. No fancy publisher, no big marketing machine—just raw passion, persistence, and a typewriter’s hum. What started as scribbles in my notebook became a self-published hit, selling over 25,000 copies worldwide, at about twenty bucks a pop.
     
Once, I lived in perfect rhythm—three clubs spinning through the air, five balls tracing invisible music. I’d climbed to the very top of my craft, a professional juggler dancing with gravity itself. Then came the fall—the crash. A 37-day period of silence is not typically considered a coma.

MOST PEOPLE THOUGHT THE SHOW WAS OVER. BUT I WASN’T DONE. 

When I wrote Juggling with Finesse, it wasn’t just a book—it was proof. Proof that even though my brain had taken a brutal hit, the knowledge, the timing, the pulse of juggling still lived inside me. Words became my new juggling act—each sentence a catch, each page a daring throw into possibility.
   
I learned to:
Write until the air around your words hum.
Write like you’re swinging an axe through fog.
Write like someone’s world might tilt because of your following line.

At the rehab center where I received therapy in 1982, they had a “word processor” (the precursor to the computer). I sat there and poured out every word, every technique, every spark of my juggling soul. Friends pitched in, editing line by line, and together we built something real.

I remembered from high school how to lay out a page with a T-square and a 90° angle. Old-school craftsmanship. I designed every single page by hand—marked where every photo, every drawing, every juggling trick would go. Then came the cover: my smiling face, because why hide behind your own work?

When the first shipment arrived—
All 3,000 of them.
A 275-page dream made real.
Packed full of photos and drawings.
This book made a difference.
My big book, 8.5″ x 11″, was alive.
Crisp. Gleaming. Massive.

I cracked open the box, as if it might hum.
And there it was—my vision—Juggling with Finesse.
No longer a whisper or a maybe,
but a mountain of pages breathing ink and promise.

The paper’s scent rose like nostalgia and adrenaline combined.
The weight in my hands was no longer just a book—
It was a pulse, a portal, a physical echo of belief.
Imagination had crossed the veil.
And I was holding the proof.

But books don’t sell themselves. So, I hustled. I mailed copies to reviewers and magazines, aiming for the stars. One day, Booklist—Yes, the national library review publication—featured it. Suddenly, libraries across America were ordering Juggling with Finesse. That’s when it hit me: I wasn’t just juggling words—I was juggling destiny.

“This thoroughly illustrated guide to the art of
Juggling is certainly well done…” — Booklist.

And I didn’t stop there. Fourteen more books followed: comedy for jugglers, performing tips, advanced tricks, and others—each one a love letter to the art form that shaped my life. I printed them myself, drilled holes in the pages, slid them into binder books, and sent them out into the world. DIY magic.

Now, I’m channeling that same unstoppable spirit into a new series: “Beyond Your Potential.” The first two of five books are done—each one a blueprint for living better, bolder, and more awake. I want this series to soar like Finesse did—only higher.

Because whether it’s juggling,
writing, or life itself…
The trick is the same:
Keep everything in motion.
     
READING REWIRES YOUR WHOLE BEING
✨ Mind • Body • Beyond ✨

MENTAL STRENGTH
Reading isn’t running away—it’s coming home.
Each line steadies the pulse, untangles the mind, and lets in fresh air.
Reduces stress: A good book is a long exhale after a noisy day.
Lifts your mood: Stories whisper, “hope still lives here.”
Expands empathy: You step into another Life—and your heart grows roomier.
Ignites creativity: Words collide, sparks fly, and suddenly—you’re inventing new worlds.
Deepens understanding: Every book adds another wing to your inner mansion.

PHYSICAL BENEFITS
When the mind softens, the body follows.
Every page you turn tells your nervous system, “you’re safe now.”
Lowers blood pressure: Stillness runs deeper than silence.
Improves sleep: Paper coaxes you to drift; screens demand your eyes.
Protects your brain: Reading keeps the gears greased—your lifelong armor against rust.

LIFELONG GROWTH
Curious people never truly age—they just grow wilder roots.
Sharpens focus: Attention is a muscle—books are its gym.
Strengthens language: The more words you hold, the more clearly you can shape reality.
Feed learning: Curiosity doesn’t fade—it multiplies.
Builds confidence: Finishing a book is proof—you can finish anything.

THE TAKEAWAY
Reading is not escape—it’s transformation.
Each page rearranges your chemistry.
Each story rewires your outlook.
Each sentence teaches your breath to trust again.
Each book you read will change you.

READ!
So when your eyes meet the words—
Let them touch you back.
Pause. Breathe them in.
Let the story tilt your world a few degrees toward wonder.
Because every book is a quiet revolution,
and you are the one turning the pages.

 SO—HOW CAN YOU FLIP TODAY FROM ORDINARY TO EXTRAORDINARY?

=====WORDS AND QUOTES THAT SPARK====

Quotes aren’t just words on a page—they’re tiny lightning bolts, buzzing with wisdom and ready to jolt you awake. One line can flip your mood, widen your heart, or shove you off the couch and into a brand-new adventure.

A FEW SPARKS TO SLIP INTO YOUR POCKET >>

“If a book is well written, I always find it too short.” ―Jane Austen.
“Some books are so familiar that reading them is like being home again.” ―Louisa May Alcott.
“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.” ―Anna Quindlen
“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” ―Stephen King
“A book is a gift you can open again and again.” ―Garrison Keillor
To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.” ―Victor Hugo
“I declare, after all, there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book!—When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” ―Jane Austen
“Books are the mirrors of the soul.”―Virginia Woolf.
“I can survive well enough on my own—if given the proper reading material.” ―Sarah J. Maas.

STICK THESE QUOTES ON YOUR FRIDGE.
WHISPER THEM TO YOURSELF BEFORE BED.
PASS THEM ALONG TO SOMEONE WHO NEEDS THEM.
REMEMBER, WORDS ARE VITAMINS FOR THE SOUL.

MY DAILY JOTTINGS!
Upgrade your thoughts—watch your world glow brighter!
✨ Life can shift in an instant—sometimes all it takes is one bold thought.
Go ahead, craft your noble book, your masterpiece—why not a best-seller?
You are dazzling, brilliant, unstoppable—so step into the spotlight and shine your part!
The universe is cheering for you—so dream big, play big, and LIVE big!
Remember, no matter where you are, you can spin things around quickly.
️ Then race toward your wildest, most colorful dreams!
Chase awe like it’s oxygen and spill joy like it’s confetti.
‍♂️Turn fear into a trampoline—you don’t dodge it, you bounce higher off it.
Step off the curb like it’s a stage. Rewrite the rules in neon.
⛓️ The world doesn’t need your half-versions, your safe edits.
☔ It requires your bold lines, your glittering messes, your full-throttle heart.
So—throw the ordinary a wink.
Playfulness isn’t frivolous; it’s rebellion.
Inspiration isn’t distant; it’s in your next breath.
   
10/4–Saturdays here are slow-motion days. No therapy sessions, barely a ripple of activity—just time stretching, daring me to fill it with something of my own making.
   
Across the hall, a man moans and groans endlessly. At first, it’s unsettling, but I’ve come to hear something human in it—an echo of struggle, a reminder that life, even damaged, still insists on being lived. This place can feel like an asylum, yes—but also like a strange sanctuary for persistence.
     
The meals? Surprisingly good. The kitchen crew knows my story—missing lower teeth and all—and makes sure I can still enjoy real food. Today’s lunch was comfort disguised as simplicity: crisp fried chicken, bright vegetables, and a baked potato that somehow tasted like optimism.
   
And now, Forrest Gump flickers to life—an old friend in motion. His voice rolls out, that famous drawl: “Life is like a box of chocolates…” I grin. Yep, Forrest, still right. Even here, even now, you never quite know what flavor’s next. I lean back, tasting the line like caramel on the tongue, realizing—my life’s been one wild, surprising sampler. Some bites are sweet, some a little bitter, all unforgettable.
   
10/5– Rain Again, But Not My Spirit. Rain drums on the roof like an impatient drummer, the lawn outside slick and shining. No juggling there today—the clubs would slip, the grass would bite. And across the hall, the man continues to moan and cry, a sound like ghosts wandering. Some mornings this place feels less like rehab and more like a halfway house for lost minds. But I’m still here, awake, choosing.
     
1 A.M. — Wide Awake
I woke at 1 a.m., eyes open like windows. The world was a sleeping giant; only I was awake, listening. Funny how silence at that hour roars louder than traffic. Nights like this don’t happen often anymore. But when they do, they whisper, “Write. Don’t waste time.”
   
Finding Fire in the Quiet
One bright truth about this brain rehab center is that it gives me time to reflect: time to sharpen my craft, time to write, and time to build this blog. Writing has become my current obsession, the engine that keeps me from drifting.
   
Passion as Your Future.
What’s your lifeline?
Your fire?
Your passion?
Everyone should have something that drags them out of the gray and into the vivid. For me, this blog is it. When I latch onto a passion, I don’t just dabble; I dive in. I go all in. I build, polish, and push until it glows.
     
❤️‍Starting with juggling.
I was able to build the skill into a passion.
Then recovery was my next drive.
Then book writing.
Next was salsa. (see https://www.summerssalsa.com/.)
And now this blog.
     
⚒️Your passions.
To discover your passions, follow the pulse of what makes you come alive.
Start with the small things—the moments that make you lose track of time, the subjects that light up your curiosity, the activities that pull you back again and again.
   
Once you find them, let them consume you in the best way.
Feed them. Chase them. Build your life around them.
Let that spark grow until it becomes a steady, blazing flame that warms every corner of your world.
     
Few people ever truly find what sets their soul on fire.
But you can. You must.
Because when passion takes the wheel,
life stops being something you manage—
And starts being something you dance with.
     
⚡ The Invitation
Just like life, this blog continues to evolve—more vibrant, more nuanced, more daring. I hope you’ll stay with me as it grows. Because this is more than words on a screen; it’s a living experiment in resilience, in art, in refusing to fade.
   
10/6 — A Monday in Motion
The place woke up buzzing before sunrise. By 9 a.m., I was out with the walking group, led by Maryann—half a mile of movement and mischief. I jogged, walked backward, and even turned the stroll into a mini cleanup mission, scooping bits of trash into the bag I’d brought. Motion with purpose—why just walk when you can improve the path?
 
At 9:30, I had my half-hour with Dino. No plan, no exercises, just talk. Maybe not a breakthrough session, but sometimes conversation itself is rehab—a reminder that connection still counts.
   
Then, at 10:00, Terrie took me to Publix for supplies for tomorrow’s grand experiment: Kit’s Lasagna Extravaganza (yes, that’s what I’m calling it). It’s all under OT (occupational therapy), technically—but to me, it’s about reclaiming ordinary life, one delicious layer at a time.
   
Meanwhile, others were tossing beanbags at holes on a board—a game they call “sports.” I’ll pass. There’s a line between play and passivity, and I try to stay on the living side of it. There are better ways for people to advance their minds and lives than throwing beanbags.
     
That spark you’re describing—education fused with passion and play—that’s where real healing and learning live. Systems tend to calcify; repetition becomes ritual instead of rhythm. But what are you picturing? That’s life pulsing back into the work.
     
A therapy lab of sorts:
Weekly Brainstorms: Practitioners exchanging experiments like recipes—one brings movement, another brings art, someone else music or storytelling.
Guest Instigators: Coaches or creatives who drop in just to unsettle the routine, to remind everyone what “possible” feels like.
Recovery as Exploration: Less “fixing” and more “discovering what else I can do with this body, this mind, this moment.”
       
You’re seeing the gap between structure and spark.

Maybe that’s your cue—to become the firestarter inside the system rather than waiting for one to arrive. What’s one experiment you’d introduce tomorrow if no one could say no?
   
Rehab doesn’t have to be babysitting. It can be a renaissance.
Innovation could turn therapy from repetition into revolution.
   
At 2:30, Maryann had me working on balance on the parallel bars. She noticed that I still tilt my head to the left when I stand. It’s a small thing—but every tilt corrected is a piece of my compass realigned. Step by step, layer by layer—like lasagna—this life rebuilds itself. My balance was horrendous; I was surprised.
           
10/7—Woke early again, the quiet hour when the world hasn’t decided what mood it’s in yet. I reached straight for the keyboard—well, write away—and dove into the blog. That rhythm of editing, reshaping, sharpening—it’s like polishing a mirror until the truth shines through. Good writing is just rewriting until the heart beats louder on the page.
 
This discovery — ChatGPT — has become my favorite co-conspirator in the creation process. It nudges, refines, challenges—and I love the spark it adds. Feels like finding a new color in my palette.
   
This morning, the halls are still, eerily so. 6:45 a.m. and not a sound. It’s strange, like I’m the last human in a paused world. Maybe that’s the secret gift of quiet—it makes your own pulse sound like music.
   
Later, the dentist. Lower denture fitting today is a temporary bridge to a more permanent solution. Bright white teeth? Tempting, but no—I want something that smiles like life, not porcelain. I’ll choose warmth over flash any day.
   
The walk is short — just a few blocks — but they still say I can’t go alone. I’ve trekked across continents on two strong legs, crossing deserts, cities, and oceans alone on my two feet. But here, a few blocks require permission. Freedom feels smaller these days, but my will hasn’t shrunk an inch. That will change. It must.
   
Then came a message from Julia. My heart lifted. We keep weaving our story across miles—her words, my pulse. I love this woman, deeply, fiercely, with that quiet certainty that doesn’t ask for proof.
     
Therapy today involves making lasagna with Terrie from OT. Fine—I’ll stir and simmer—but my hunger is for more: more movement, more sweat, more challenge. I want to rebuild not just muscles but momentum. Cooking lessons won’t do that.
     
So, who holds the key to more? And maybe—just maybe—it’s me.

10/8—By 8:32, I was already wide awake and buzzing, ready to make something happen. I’d been up since 4 a.m.—the world still dark, quiet, mine to think and plan in.
 
At 9:00 a.m., therapy was scheduled to begin. Keyword: supposed. We kicked off at 9:22 instead. Maura led us through word-guessing games—easy stuff for me. Then came Uno. A card game dressed up as therapy. Felt more like a coffee break with cards than brain training.
   
Later, a session with Lilly—now that woke me up. She asked me to recall what I did yesterday … and my mind went blank. Nothing. Gone. Reading my own notes to remember what I’d already written—now that hit hard. Memory, my old friend, had wandered off. It’s remarkable to realize how much of who we are is tied to what we can remember.
   
And yet—memory is being used to fence me in. They say it’s why I can’t go out alone. I, who once roamed continents with only a backpack and a grin. To be told to stay put? That doesn’t sit right. Freedom has always been my oxygen.
     
In the afternoon, Maryann and I crossed over to the park for club juggling practice. I’ll be honest—”dismal” fits. My hands remembered pieces, but not the whole dance like an old song half-forgotten. Still, each throw was a small rebellion: a reminder that the rhythm is still in there somewhere, waiting.
   
Then came the curveball—no PT this afternoon. No explanation, just poof. Perhaps someone canceled, or maybe the universe hit pause. Either way, I’m not here to coast. I came to grow sharper, stronger, freer.
   
Today is my sister Kath’s (aka, Willow) birthday, and so I gave her a call. She will be going on a trip to Mexico City; she is excited about this. She’s doing this through a travel bureau, her first of this sort. The plans sound fantastic.  Thank you again, Kath, for your past help.
   
Tomorrow? New day. I’ll show up again—maybe not remembering everything, but remembering why.
       
10/9—As you know, I’ve been teaming up with ChatGPT lately.
It smooths out my words before I send them flying into the world.
   
Last night, lightning struck—a spark, clean and mischievous:
“Write a three-line poem about juggling.”
The muse didn’t hesitate. She tossed back—
     
“Three balls in the air, and the world slows down,
Gravity grins, a sly co-conspirator,
I dance with chaos—and call it control.”
   
Not bad, huh?
A wink from the universe.
   
I was up by 4 a.m.—that hush-hour when the world exhales, when dreams dissolve and ideas come stretching, barefoot and curious. The halls are silent, reverent even. Everyone’s doors are shut tight. Mine? Wide open. Always. Just in case a bit of life—or you—comes wandering through.
   
Only two therapies today.
Makes me question, sometimes, why I’m still here.
   
9 to 10 with Lilly, Speech Therapy. She asked again what I’d done yesterday. And again, my mind reached and found only mist. Memory—my old juggling partner—dropping clubs I didn’t know I’d thrown.
   
But then, at 11, the garden called.
Hands deep in soil, sun spilling across my shoulders, worms doing their quiet work—ah, that’s the real therapy. The kind that roots you back into being alive.
   
Nothing planned after that.
So I didn’t plan.
And that’s the point. Some days, stillness is rebellion.
Some days, not doing is its own form of doing.
And on those days, even chaos needs to rest its hands.
       
10/10 — The world wakes before dawn for me.
At 3:33 a.m., I was already alive to the quiet—
that rare hour when even the air holds its breath,
waiting to see what you’ll do with it.
   
By 9:00, I was in the garden with Terrie, the sun stretching awake with us.
She clutched the plant directions like a sacred text: “Twelve inches apart.”
I grinned. I’ve grown hundreds of successful tomato plants—rebellious, radiant things—
And none of them ever asked a packet for permission.
I trust dirt more than directions. Eight inches, twelve—life will find its own math.
   
Later, I learned the day’s “lesson” was about following directions.
Therapy, they call it.
But if you already know how to do something.
Why obey a smaller version of wisdom?
Why kneel to a rule that never met your experience?
   
Too many here worship the manual.
Therapists—kind hearts, tight collars—cling to the safety of procedure.
But healing doesn’t bloom in compliance; it blooms in curiosity.
I’ve dropped hints, planted ideas, turned the soil for something wilder.
The ground is willing. The gardeners, not yet.
     
My therapy lineup today was simple:
Terrie at nine among roots and laughter,
then Lilly at 11:30 for speech.
By noon, I left her room wearing a scolding like a medal.
   
She wants me to write with sharper details, to name the moments.
I’d love to—but memory, that slippery friend,
just smiles and ducks out the back door.
Still, she means well.
And she’s right in her way.
I’ll bend toward her lesson—but never fold flat.
     
Lilly, you want more words.
Sometimes silence is the sentence.
And what haunts me most—
There’s so much potential here,
people who could change lives if they’d only
dare to color outside the lines.

 The Garden of Becoming
The new garden I’m building will take center stage soon—
Watch it unfurl as green shoots rise and blossoms announce themselves.
You plant.
You nurture.
You harvest.
You begin again.
Each sprout is a whispered promise.
Each bloom, a standing ovation.
Each fallen leaf is a graceful bow to the cycle of renewal.
   
Why We Garden
1–It lifts your spirit and strengthens your confidence.
2–Your heart beats healthier for it.
3–Stress dissolves like dew in morning sun.
4–Happiness takes root and spreads.
5–Your hands grow stronger, more capable.
6–Families bond over soil-stained fingers and shared meals.
7–Sunshine provides vitamin D and warmth to your bones.
8—Food you grow makes your body glow.
9–Neighbors meet, friendships sprout.
10–Families deepen together.
11–Communities connect, expand, and thrive.
12–Worries about hunger shrink as self-sufficiency grows.
     
Pulling a carrot from your own earth isn’t just food—it’s triumph wrapped in crunch. A declaration that patience, soil, and a little faith can produce flavors no store can sell. Sun-warmed tomatoes, basil perfuming your hands, strawberries gleaming like rubies beneath their crowns—miracles disguised as everyday bites.
   
And the enchantment doesn’t end outside. Indoors, life sneaks into any crack of light it can find. Herbs on the sill glow like emerald lanterns. Mason jars turn into miniature jungles. A stray pot of mint dares you to taste the freshness in your water glass seconds after plucking. Growth improvises, adapts, insists.
   
A salad bar sprouting within arm’s reach of your sink.
A curtain of green where once was bare glass.
And tiny jungles humming in corners of your home.
   
Growth never truly stops—it just shifts form. Begin with a pot, a box, a borrowed square of dirt. Watch what happens, not only to the soil, but to you as well. Because in caring for life, you’ll find your own edges softened, your clock slowed, your days reminded of this truth:
Life itself is one vast garden—unpredictable, abundant, forgiving.

My Next Chapters

I’m not winding down—I’m revving up.
I’ve got at least another hundred years of laughter, learning, and love in me.
The world is waiting for your story, too.
It’s time to write that book, launch that dream, or chase that adventure you’ve been postponing.
     
What’s your next spark?
What’s your bold adventure this week?
What’s one bold thing you’ll do this week that makes you feel alive?
“Breathe. You’re still here. That’s enough reason to dance.”

YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK:
Select a book to read and immerse yourself in it.
Let the book take over your mind.
Remember — FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS
       
Next week >> BLOG 346–See all on the Beauty Around You!

Final Thoughts
Your present moment is not the finish line—it’s your starting block.
The horizon holds more than you can yet imagine.
Because the best is always still ahead.
So juggle joy like it’s the air you breathe.
Chase sunsets as if they’re secret treasures waiting just for you.
Laugh so loudly that tomorrow leans in to listen.
Live as though you’ve only just begun—
BECAUSE YOU TRULY HAVE!

✨ KITTING AROUND ✨
BLOG 344–Every Day, Pretend it is Your Last Day Alive
Explore new corners, dive into your imagination.
Crank up the music and turn your living room into a dance floor.
Grab some oranges and juggle them right there in the grocery aisle.
Laugh so hard the walls shake and the neighbors start making up theories.
Life isn’t a zombie shuffle to bedtime—It’s a carnival waiting for you to join the parade!

I write, create, and share so that we can pause together, look at LIFE differently, and grow taller on the inside. My mission? To demonstrate that living differently and living better is not only possible—it’s essential.
     
My Story in a Nutshell (with Extra Sprinkles) :
‍♂️ Once upon a time, I was a world-class juggler. Spoiler: I still juggle—mostly joy.
Life tested me with curveballs: A 37-day coma, two truck accidents, and somehow I’m still smiling.
I spent six years living in a van, chasing sunsets and collecting memories in every U.S. national park.
Love found me, lost me, and then surprised me with a wedding on 2/22/22 at 2:22.
I’ve crisscrossed the globe, helping people rise higher than they thought possible (YOU!)
❤️ And here I am, still learning, still loving, still lighting sparks.
Because the story is never over—it just gets juicier.
Want a glimpse? Watch this >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr8QFnD1yGc 

✨Lessons From the Road ✨
The past?
It’s a wise old guide.
Take its lessons, tip your hat, and keep walking forward.
Because the road ahead is waiting, sparkling with possibility.
Smile, tip your hat, pocket the wisdom, and keep striding toward the horizon.
It’s a wise old storyteller, full of campfire tales and lessons whispered on the wind.
   
The future?
That’s a playful trickster.
It’s always sneaking up with surprises.
Don’t fear it — dance with it.
Shape it — Claim it.
It arrives whether you’re ready or not … so why not be dazzling when it does?
   
And the present?
Ah, this is your playground >>
Throw glitter in the air.
Laugh so hard the moon takes notes.
Turn the ordinary into a disco ball and let it shine.
Make the ordinary sparkle like it’s wearing sequins.

The Stuff that Turns “Just Surviving” into Thriving.
“Here’s to chasing brilliance with reckless joy.
Blazing a trail that shimmers with possibility.
Sprinkling a little mischief along the way!”
—Kit Summers, your cosmic cheerleader

WHY I WRITE THIS BLOG?
✨ Life is a dazzling, untamed kaleidoscope—too vibrant, too quirky, too electric to keep to myself! Each post is a burst of ideas, stories, and hard-won wisdom, sparkling like confetti from epic adventures, glorious fumbles, and that stubborn spark that just won’t quit.
   
PROOF!
✨Every change I walk through is proof: I can adapt, I can rise, I can keep shaping life into something brighter. These shifts aren’t setbacks—they’re upgrades, invitations to keep growing, to keep building a body and spirit that can carry me farther. You can do the same!
   

I’VE MET CHANGE TOO MANY TIMES.
CHANGE DOESN’T SCARE ME ANYMORE.
EVERY SINGLE TIME, I COME OUT STRONGER!
MAKE ANY CHANGES YOU CAN TO MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER!

       
THE BEAM
Change boldly. Aim for magnificence.
Fear? That’s dead weight.
Courage is the fuel for living.
You don’t get a rerun of this life—so advance, evolve, reinvent.
I’m not some drill sergeant barking at you—I’m the flashlight buddy.
   
THE MAP?
Forget the stiff, folded kind.
Your’s is a wild canvas.
You weren’t built for beige.
You were wired for fizz.
For fireworks.
==================================
THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK >> 

✨ Here’s your cue:
✨ Say yes to the encore.
✨ Step out. Make it blaze!
✨ Let your story sparkle louder.
✨ Your Life is waiting for its next showstopping twist.
✨Make your next chapter a firework that refuses to fizzle.

BLOG 344–Every Day, Pretend it is Your Last Day Alive!
“Every Sunrise, Treat It Like Your Grand Finale — and Go Out in Fireworks.”
   
Live With Fierce Intention
Every dawn, stare down your day and ask: If these were my final hours, would I dare waste them? Don’t shuffle through—choose boldly. Live like the clock is roaring in your ear, demanding you act. Remember that the clock never stops. 

Prioritize Your People
Don’t just recognize who matters—show them. Speak the words you’ve swallowed. Pour gratitude like gasoline and watch your bonds ignite into something unforgettable. Tomorrow isn’t promised, but right now is burning hot in your hands. Move forward with this heat. 

Don’t Trip Over Pebbles
If you live each day as if it were your last, you won’t get tangled in petty drama or waste energy on bruised egos. Life’s too short to trip over small pebbles when there are mountains to climb. When the clock feels finite, you laser in on what actually matters. That’s the real heart of the saying.

What It Really Means
Living each day as if it were your last doesn’t call for recklessness—it’s a call to aliveness. Prioritize your tasks and your people. Chase the passions that set your chest on fire. Savor the ridiculous miracle of being alive in the first place. Find the drive in you and push it! 

⚡ How to Live It Boldly
Say the words you’ve been holding back—gratitude, love, forgiveness, wild dreams.
Take risks that scare you a little. Fear is a compass, not a cage.
Laugh harder. Dance bigger. Create louder.

The Encore Mindset
Be honest—with yourself, with others. Give your best effort as if the curtain’s about to fall. Then bow out knowing you didn’t leave the stage half-sung. Every sunrise is your standing ovation. Step into it. You only have a limited number of sunrises — START NOW!
   
️ Push Yourself
Instead of just getting through the day, play with it. Crank your morning like it’s a festival opener. Test your courage with a silly dare. Turn a trip to the store into a juggling act, a sidewalk into a stage, or dinner into an experiment gone gloriously right. Play in life!

Clay?
Every moment is raw clay—soft, waiting for fingerprints.
Shape it. Smash it. Start again.
Play with your clay.
The only wrong move is not touching it at all.
     
Joy Spreads Fast.
Your laughter ricochets.
Your courage sparks others.
Your glitter makes the whole room shine brighter.   

️ SO—HOW CAN YOU FLIP TODAY FROM ORDINARY TO EXTRAORDINARY?

=====WORDS AND QUOTES THAT SPARK====

Quotes aren’t just words on a page—they’re tiny lightning bolts, buzzing with wisdom and ready to jolt you awake. One line can flip your mood, widen your heart, or shove you off the couch and into a brand-new adventure.
           
A FEW SPARKS TO SLIP INTO YOUR POCKET >>
     
Steve Jobs: “If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right. Every morning I look in the mirror and ask myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?'”
   
Ray Charles  —  “Live each day like it’s your last, ’cause one day you’re gonna be right”

Oprah Winfrey — “Living in the moment means letting go of the past and not waiting for the future. It means living your life consciously, aware that each moment you breathe is a gift”.
   
Marcus Aurelius — “Do every act of your life as if it were your last”
   
Elton John.—”Live for each second without hesitation”
     
Mae West—”You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough”
   
Randy Pausch  —  “I am going to keep having fun every day I have left, because there is no other way of life. You just have to decide whether you are a Tigger or an Eeyore”.
   
Marcus Aurelius  —  “Do every act of your life as if it were your last”.
   
Seneca  —  “Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life”.
He also wrote, “The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today.

And,  “Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life”
And, “The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today.”
   
Eleanor Roosevelt– “The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
     
Jennifer Burger – “Life needs to be experienced fully, not only in its sweetest, easiest moments. This is what mindfulness is all about—being here and now, with pure awareness of our experiences.”
   
Leo Babauta – “Be a curator of your life. Slowly cut things out until you’re left only with what you love, with what’s necessary, with what makes you happy.”
   
Maya Angelou –”If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” 

STICK THESE QUOTES ON YOUR FRIDGE.
WHISPER THEM TO YOURSELF BEFORE BED.
PASS THEM ALONG TO SOMEONE WHO NEEDS THEM.
REMEMBER, WORDS ARE VITAMINS FOR THE SOUL.

MY DAILY JOTTINGS!
Upgrade your thoughts—watch your world glow brighter!
✨ Life can shift in an instant—sometimes all it takes is one bold thought.
Go ahead, craft your noble book, your masterpiece—why not a best-seller?
You are dazzling, brilliant, unstoppable—so step into the spotlight and shine your part!
The universe is cheering for you—so dream big, play big, and LIVE big!
Remember, no matter where you are, you can spin things around quickly.
️ Then race toward your wildest, most colorful dreams!
Chase awe like it’s oxygen.
⚡ Spill joy like it’s confetti.
‍♂️Turn fear into a trampoline—you don’t dodge it, you bounce higher off it.
Step off the curb like it’s a stage. Rewrite the rules in neon.
☔ The world doesn’t need your half-versions, your safe edits.
☔ It requires your bold lines, your glittering messes, your full-throttle heart.
So—throw the ordinary a wink.
Playfulness isn’t frivolous; it’s rebellion.
Inspiration isn’t distant; it’s in your next breath.
   
9/27 — I just went out to do some club juggling and running. Neither did very well.
A few months ago, I performed significantly better than I do now.
I will have to find more stuff to help with my asthma.
Give up juggling and running?
That would be hard.
Makes me sad.
   
I’m also trying to learn investing through my new friend, Julia. I did terribly at that, too. This is a woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, but I am really down on myself. Currently, I am not enjoying life much at all.
=====================
9/28 —Today I stepped outside again with my clubs, ready to juggle and run. It wasn’t my finest day. A few months back, I was flying — Juggling was going better. My lungs, hmm, tug at me now, my body whispers limits. Asthma is a tricky dance partner. But I’m not done learning the steps.
         
A quirk of mine: whenever I write about juggling, I always pair the number with the prop. Three clubs is 3 clubs. 15 balls. Not “fifteen balls,” but 15 balls. A little precision in the poetry. Numbers matter. They dance too. (Will you be the first to juggle 15 balls?)
     
Giving up juggling and running?
That’s not a door I’m eager to close.
These aren’t just hobbies; they’re part of my heartbeat.
   
Meanwhile, Julia — my bright new guide into the world of investing — is teaching me lessons of numbers and patience. My first tries have been clumsy. I’ve stumbled. But I’m still in the room, still learning. I have yet to tell her I have no interest in screenshots or investing right now.
 
When we are together, the idea will take hold of me, bringing success in investing.
I want to do what pleases her, but it must also please me.
Currently, I am taking care of myself and trying to maximize the benefits of where I am now >>
https://www.brainline.org/resource/neurorestorative-florida-avalon-park.
   
I’ll be honest: Life doesn’t feel like fireworks right now. But this may be the in-between moment before the next burst—the lull before the lift-off. I’m writing it down here, not to complain but to remind myself: every dip, every misstep, is part of the story worth telling. And the story isn’t over.    
   
Juggling invited me to go outside and throw things around, but the rain said no.
Nice, sunny Florida?
I say no, it is not.
The rain has been falling often since I moved here.
   
9/29—Adventures in Trash, Therapy, and Clubs ‍♂️✨
Most nights, I haul my trash can into the bedroom like it’s a VIP guest. Why? To save a bag, of course. Waste drives me nuts—especially when there’s hardly anything in the trash bag. But last night? I forgot. Gasp! A lonely bag sacrificed itself to the trash gods. Not cool. Resources matter, even in the tiny things.
 
Last week was lighter in terms of therapy sessions.
Which means less driving but more time to dedicate to this blog.
Silver lining? Yes.
   
And then there’s Julia. Our messages are growing like vines—green, reaching, alive. There’s an affection budding between us, strong but uncertain, full of mystery and maybe’s. I want to be with her, oh yes. But first? I’m still in the rehab hospital, piecing myself back together, one session at a time.
   
OT with Terrie
She put me on the “hunt-and-peek” board—a giant 4’x5′ screen of flashing dark dots. You get seconds to spot and tap them. I compared this before to Wake-a-Mole. I’m not exactly a fan. Terrie knows this. I endure it anyway.
   
Speech with Dino
Then Dino shows up, walking me back to my room like a wingman with stories. He thinks I should republish Juggling with Finesse. Imagine—sales soaring again! Over 25,000 copies already out there, hands juggling, hearts inspired. Maybe it’s time for round two.
   
PT with Maryann
The clock ticked toward 2 pm. With Maryann, I tried some club juggling. It was … well … not a pretty sight. 3 clubs became chaotic. My past self could juggle 7 clubs with finesse. Now? I’m stunned by how clumsy I’ve become. But hey—that shock means the spark is still alive. Improvement is possible.
   
She suggested we go to my room so I could show her my new exercises. She made some good suggestions that I will be implementing. Then we went outside for a walk. A wise lady she is, I’ve gained much from her.
   
9/30—Because I am taking a drug to help me sleep, it worked, awakening about 4 am, that’s a long sleep for me. Right away, I came to work on this blog, moving things and editing, and perhaps removing something because it wasn’t the perfect message.
   
I am not paid to write my blog; I do it for you and for me. Getting these words together is a tremendous help in my life. While I enjoy writing, I work on this blog to make it perfect each time, as well as to ensure that each post is unique. Have you noticed?
 
You can never say that you are bored and have nothing to do. Start your own blog today. Have you thought about starting yours? I am here to help; let me know. Boredom should not be part of your vocabulary. Go out and clean something if you have nothing to do.
   
The doors on the apartments are set up to close automatically. I dislike being behind a closed door, so I bought a stopper to prevent the door from closing. There is also Marlene, who comes to clean the place about once a week. However, I do keep my place very tidy, so there isn’t much cleaning to do here.
 
10:30–Every week, a group goes out for a walk in the area, usually covering about a half-mile. Today, it was only John and me with Maryann. From the past, I learned that I should have a bag with me to pick up any rubbish I see. We could do something while we are out on our tour.
       
At 11 am, there is a group called the Yoga Group. It is basically stretching, which I do in my room on my padded rug. So I don’t attend this group. I do enjoy connecting with people, but I also have other groups to attend. However, this group is not my cup of tea (green tea, I drink two huge cups a day).
   
So, the only therapy group today will be Dino and speech at 1:30. I’m unsure who to contact about setting up additional therapy sessions, but it needs to be done. As I’ve written, I want to get as much out of this place as I can.
   
A strange feeling has come over me; I have no interest in juggling. This skill has been such a massive part of my life throughout, but right now, I don’t care. My current focus is on writing this blog and striving for excellence with my words. Does it show?
   
I’ve just realized that there is so much more to life than just juggling. That I can no longer juggle has been heartbreaking. The absence of laughter from audiences, the skill that I miss so much, is the main thing I’ve known in my life. All fading away from my body and my mind.
   
What’s next for Kit? The thought deadens me. I have at least 40 more years in front of me. Where will I go, what will I become? I plan to live beyond the age of 100. Who will join me on this epic journey of aging? For the future, I look forward to welcoming Julia into my life, as she brings me joy.
 
I am dropping into a void that no audience’s laughter or applause could ever fill. I am finding it lonely here, still hoping Julia will fill that void. Am I a pale shadow of what I once was? My resilience is still there, look for it (as I will.)
   
10/1—Julia often asks if I slept well. I have to say, last night I did not. I awoke about 1 am thinking about her, and could not get back to sleep.
     
Today, we headed to https://cleantheworld.org/. Only a couple of us today. We counted the soap and put it in a box. A little boring, but it was only for a couple of hours. We volunteer to do this; it’s a good thing this company does. Take a look at their website.
   
After we were taken to a nice restaurant for lunch, I had a tasty chicken taco, which was hard to eat without my lower teeth. And, I have a problem with my esophagus that occurred at the restaurant. At times, food gets caught in my throat, and I have to gag to try to get it out. That is why I went into the bathroom.
   
I have surgery next month to help with this. They will put me under (under what?), and then a tube is inserted into my throat and inflated to expand my esophagus. Next, hopefully, the throat holds that position. I’ve had the surgery two other times, but it came back again.
 
10/2 — Turning Small Moments Into Big Wins
This morning, Jim from maintenance installed a new shower head I ordered. A small change, yes—but life is built on these upgrades. Every improvement, no matter how minor, is a testament to our drive to live better. Tomorrow, that first shower will be more than water—it’ll be renewal, a reminder that progress can be as simple as twisting on something new.
   
Therapy took a creative turn. I led my group of four in juggling techniques. Some balanced a peacock feather, others tossed scarves into the air. Play is actually training the brain, developing skills such as hand-eye coordination, focus, rhythm, and persistence. Studies show juggling strengthens neural connections, improves concentration, and even builds resilience. It’s not just circus tricks—it’s life skills in motion.
   
At 11am, it was BINGO time. Easy to dismiss, but here’s the truth: activities like this sharpen memory, boost social connection, and give people structure. That sense of community matters more than the game itself. I stayed—not for the prizes, but to be present. Sometimes the win isn’t in what you get, but in simply showing up.
   
From 1:00–2:00, Maura guided me through OT with a grocery ad newspaper search. But, talk about boring, boy. On the surface, dull. But dig deeper: scanning for items strengthens visual pathways, organizing information builds mental clarity, and finishing the task proves endurance. Rehabilitation is rarely glamorous, but the brain grows through repetition. Just as planting seeds yields a harvest later, so too does it.
   
Good Afternoon
The afternoon gave me time with my best tool—my mind. Research, learning, and writing for this blog filled the hours until dinner. Each day I refine these words, making them stronger, more transparent, more valuable. Growth isn’t just physical—it’s intellectual, emotional, and creative.
 
I just watched a story about someone placed in a nursing home, stripped of choice, their independence fading into the walls. Too often, older people enter because they seem to have no other option. And once inside, it can feel as if they’ve vanished—out of sight, out of mind. That truth aches. Death comes.
   
But here’s the flip: it’s also a call to live with fire now. To keep deciding, choosing, shaping life while you can. To stretch every day into color. Age doesn’t have to mean disappearance—it can mean defiance, reinvention, late-stage brilliance. Be with me and live beyond the age of 100!
   
Grow gardens instead of shrinking rooms.
Learn something wild at seventy that you never dared at thirty.
Stay loud, playful, curious—make vanishing impossible.
     
Where I am now is sort of like a nursing home—yikes! But let me be clear: no one will ever take control of my decisions. Life may offer the option of fading, but I refuse to disappear. I will keep writing this blog to stay visible, to keep you inspired, to live with sparkle, stubborn joy, and the kind of presence that refuses to be erased. And beyond all this, I’m looking forward to starting my new life with Julia.
   
Yikes! I just ate dinner and, earlier, I wrote about my throat problem. Dinner did not go well.
   
10/3 — Bright Spots in a Confined Space
   
Last night, I actually slept well—right up until 4 a.m.—and that’s a small victory I’ll take. Good sleep is fuel, and I woke up with some spark in my step.
   
By 9:00 a.m., I was with Terrie again. We reviewed what I’d worked on yesterday with Maura. She pointed out areas where my focus and visual scanning could still sharpen. That’s not defeat; that’s a roadmap. Terrie isn’t just naming deficits—she’s handing me keys to unlock the next level. My task now? Make these things matter enough to me that I do the work.
   
And yes, I’m still plotting how to break free from this place and move on with my life. But first? Lasagna. Because sometimes freedom looks like a forkful of bubbling, cheesy joy.
   
Today, Terrie and I found a lasagna recipe that made us both hungry. She had me write it out and list all the ingredients—no “it” allowed, full detail. Later, we’ll go shopping together for the supplies. Cooking isn’t just food; it’s therapy disguised as flavor.
 
Since my accident in 1982, I’ve learned how to navigate walls, setbacks, and naysayers. People are often surprised at how well I’ve done, but I’m not—I know stubborn joy is my superpower. Like everyone, I have things to work on, but I’ve always found a way to overcome them.
   
Here at NR, I’m not allowed to cross the street to the lovely park to juggle or run; someone is always with me. It’s reminiscent of the month I once spent behind bars for a crime I didn’t commit. But even in tight spaces, I’ve learned how to stretch my spirit.
   
Three meals a day, a bed to sleep in, no costs—it’s not freedom, but it’s a base camp. My computer is my lifeline. Through it, I reach the world and you, my readers. Freedom—I’ve tasted it, and I’ll taste it again.
   
This morning, two therapists and seven patients gathered for an 11:00 speech/OT session. We were told to write thank-you cards. I can see how that helps some people here. For me, it was another chance to work on my blog—my thank-you to the world.
   
Today was just an hour and a half of therapy. I’m hoping for more. Being here is helping me, even if I don’t always show it. This is a trade: some freedom now for more strength later. That’s an investment in my future self, and I’m all in.
     
10/3—A good sleep until about 4 am, I feel good about that.
Starting at 9:00 a.m. with Terrie, we reviewed what I had done the previous day with Maura. Terrie pointed out things I still need to work on. I still have deficits in my focus and visual scanning.
     
Terrie is identifying deficits I should address before I enter the world. It is mainly a matter of my making things important enough to deal with. Now I just have to figure out how to break free from this place and move on with my life. However, I do want to stay for the lasagna.
   
Today, Terrie and I found a recipe for a lasagna that looks good. She had me write out the recipe and list the necessary items. Later, we will go to the store and purchase items to make it (I’ve always told people not to use the word “it”, because you can always go into detail and explain better without “it”). So, sorry I didn’t.
   
I have to write, since my accident in 1982, I’ve gotten along fine. I did have some problems, as most people do, but I always found a way around them. People, in my past, were surprised at how well I did. Yes, like most people, I do have some things I need to work on.
   
While here at NR, I am not even permitted to go across the street to the lovely park to juggle or run; someone is always with me. I’ve written before about this being similar to my experience in jail; perhaps you now understand why. Yes, I had to spend a month behind bars for a false crime.
   
Yes, I get three meals a day, somewhere to lay my head, and have no costs, but is it worth it? Having my computer is my lifeline; I’m grateful to have it. This allows me to be exposed to the world through the internet, and I can also share this blog with you. Freedom–I’ve tasted it before.
     
Two therapists and seven patients participated. I. I just returned from an 11:00 session in speech–ot. People were told to write a thank-you card to someone. I see how this can be beneficial for some people here, but me? I worked on my blog while I was there.
   
Today I only had one and a half hours of therapy. We can increase that. I may not always show it, but I think that being here is beneficial for me. So, it’s a matter of sacrificing my freedom to be here. I am all for it, but I long for more help.

 The Garden of Becoming  
The new garden I’m building will take center stage soon—watch it unfurl as green shoots rise and blossoms announce themselves.
You plant.
You nurture.
You harvest.
You begin again.
Each sprout is a whispered promise.
Each bloom, a standing ovation.
Each fallen leaf is a graceful bow to the cycle of renewal.
   
Why We Garden
1–It lifts your spirit and strengthens your confidence.
2–Your heart beats healthier for it.
3–Stress dissolves like dew in morning sun.
4–Happiness takes root and spreads.
5–Your hands grow stronger, more capable.
6–Families bond over soil-stained fingers and shared meals.
7–Sunshine provides vitamin D and warmth to your bones.
8—Food you grow makes your body glow.
9–Neighbors meet, friendships sprout.
10–Families deepen together.
11–Communities connect, expand, and thrive.
12–Worries about hunger shrink as self-sufficiency grows.
     
Pulling a carrot from your own earth isn’t just food—it’s triumph wrapped in crunch. A declaration that patience, soil, and a little faith can produce flavors no store can sell. Sun-warmed tomatoes, basil perfuming your hands, strawberries gleaming like rubies beneath their crowns—miracles disguised as everyday bites.
   
And the enchantment doesn’t end outside. Indoors, life sneaks into any crack of light it can find. Herbs on the sill glow like emerald lanterns. Mason jars turn into miniature jungles. A stray pot of mint dares you to taste the freshness in your water glass seconds after plucking. Growth improvises, adapts, insists.
   
A salad bar sprouting within arm’s reach of your sink.
A curtain of green where once was bare glass.
And tiny jungles humming in corners of your home.
   
Growth never truly stops—it just shifts form. Begin with a pot, a box, a borrowed square of dirt. Watch what happens, not only to the soil, but to you as well. Because in caring for life, you’ll find your own edges softened, your clock slowed, your days reminded of this truth:
Life itself is one vast garden—unpredictable, abundant, forgiving.

My Next Chapters

I’m not winding down—I’m revving up.
I’ve got at least another hundred years of laughter, learning, and love in me.
The world is waiting for your story, too.
It’s time to write that book, launch that dream, or chase that adventure you’ve been postponing.
     
What’s your next spark?
What’s your bold adventure this week?
What’s one bold thing you’ll do this week that makes you feel alive?
“Breathe. You’re still here. That’s enough reason to dance.”

YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK:
See your life differently.
You only have a short time on earth.
Make the world a better place with what you have done.
       
Next week >> BLOG 345–Do You Read or Just Look at Words?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE?

Final Thoughts
Your present moment is not the finish line—it’s your starting block.
The horizon holds more than you can yet imagine.
Because the best is always still ahead.
So juggle joy like it’s the air you breathe.
Chase sunsets as if they’re secret treasures waiting just for you.
Laugh so loudly that tomorrow leans in to listen.
Live as though you’ve only just begun—
BECAUSE YOU TRULY HAVE!