*✨KITTING AROUND✨
BLOG 397, WHAT IS NORMAL?
This blog is shorter and happier.
Read every word; things have changed.
Always Keep Getting Better than Yesterday!
Read This Entire Blog; It’s Good for Your Brain.
The full blog is here — https://kitsummers.com/blog/
This Blog is best read on a laptop rather than Your Phone.
By KIT SUMMERS—World-Class Juggler to World-Class Comeback
Learn More About Me >> https://youtu.be/eQBnUJgTXts?si=1Qik7VdzscvHsfpS
====================
ONCE UPON A LIFE…
I made gravity nervous—Seven clubs soaring through the air.
A world record. Because physics loves a good insult.
Kit continued his drive for excellence in every area. 😄
Then came the truck. The coma.
Thirty-seven silent days offstage.
But I returned—Balancing healing,
tossing hope sky-high, and
juggling purpose, grit, and joy. 🤹♂️
Now, I lift people.
That is bigger than applause.
Writing is how I breathe.
If these words help you breathe a little easier, too—
That is magic catching air. 🎉
What comes next on Kit’s journey?
Back to juggling? Back to the stage? Back to life?
Stay with me and find out. I’ve been up and down.
Life can get better. Life will get better! ✨
My new address is:>>
The Legacy at Highwoods Preserve
18600 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy, #217, Tampa, FL 33647
(A love letter would be dandy.) kitsummers@gmail.com
kitsummers.com https://www.legacypreservetampa.com/
Call me >> 610-400-3233
=======================
NONE OF US WILL LIVE FOREVER—SO MAKE YOUR PLANS NOW!
EVERY DAY IS A NEW DAY—A CHANCE TO BEGIN A NEW LIFE.
DON’T LIVE IN THE PAST OR WAIT FOR THE FUTURE.
NOW IS THE ONLY MOMENT YOU HOLD!
MAKE THE MOST OF THIS MOMENT.
I FEEL THIS IS MY BEST BLOG YET!
A quick directory >>
Part 1—The Beginnings — Obvious.
Part 2—Things that Happened This Week.
Part 3—THE BLOG.
Part 4—Inspirational Quotes.
Part 5—Your Challenge.
Part 6—Blog for Next Week.
Part 7—Final Thoughts — Obvious.
ALWAYS REMEMBER >>
When your life nears its end,
what will you want to remember?
The dreams you chased? The people you loved?
I’m still planning to live beyond age 100; will you join me?
Remember the moments when you chose courage over comfort?
READ PAST BLOGS HERE —
kitsummers.com/blog
If even one sentence in this blog inspires you to make a positive change, face a challenge with greater courage, or appreciate the wonderful life already dancing around you, then every hour at the keyboard has been worthwhile.
<< EVERY DAY >> 
- Feel the sunshine.
- Enjoy a good meal.
- Speak more kindly.
- Care for your body.
- Learn something new.
- Make the right choices.
- Laugh whenever possible.
- Improve one little thing today.
- Treasure a friendly conversation.
- Then improve another tomorrow.
- Keep going, and those tiny steps may grow.
- Spend time with people who lift your spirits.
- And become something absolutely phenomenal!
- Keep moving toward the person you want to become.
- Celebrate every bit of progress—even when it arrives late.
Small choices may seem insignificant in the moment, but never underestimate their power. When repeated with purpose, patience, and persistence, they become strong habits that quietly shape the direction of your life.
You do not have to transform everything overnight; simply make one positive choice today, then make it again tomorrow. Step by step, those tiny victories build momentum, strengthen your confidence, and create a brighter future—because every remarkable journey begins with one small decision to move forward.
Happiness is not having everything you want; it is appreciating what you already have. There will always be another goal to pursue and another mountain calling your name. Just do not become so focused on tomorrow’s summit that you miss today’s magnificent view.
WORDS FOR YOU—AND FOR ME?
I write these words for you—and for myself. We are all works in progress, and none of us has life completely figured out. That is perfectly all right. Life does not demand perfection; it asks us to stay involved, remain willing, and keep trying.
====================
PART 1: THE BEGINNINGS
Keep smiling. Keep growing. Keep believing in yourself.
YES—YOU’RE GETTING THERE!
Friday has arrived again, and once more I send this week’s blog out into the world—a collection of my thoughts, struggles, adventures, lessons, and hopes, traveling through cyberspace in search of someone who might need these words today. I never know exactly who will read them or where they might land, but if one thought brings a smile, sparks an idea, offers a little courage, or helps someone see life differently, then every word was worth writing.
==============================
1) LIFE IS WAITING FOR YOU. STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT.
2) RAISE THE CURTAIN. TAKE A BREATH. AND START YOUR ACT. 🎪🔥
3) DO NOT WAIT FOR MONDAY. TAKE ONE SMALL STEP TODAY.
4) YOUR BETTER LIFE BEGINS NOW — ADD TO THE WORLD IN A GREAT WAY.
5) DO SOMETHING WONDERFUL!
6) YOU ARE IMPORTANT — TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF.
7) WILL YOU BE THE FIRST TO REACH 200 YEARS OF AGE?
8) LIFE IS WAITING FOR YOU — CATCH UP!
9) LIVE FOR NOW! NOT YESTERDAY! NOT TOMORROW! NOW IS THE TIME!
Go to the wilderness when you can. Breathe deeply. Think freely. Listen carefully.
You may return without a single mosquito bite—yet with a fresh idea, a calmer heart, and a clearer path forward.
==============================
WILL I HEAR FROM YOU NEXT WEEK?
I CERTAINLY HOPE SO!
I HEARD FROM SOME PEOPLE ABOUT LAST WEEK’S BLOG >>
Kim Ranson wrote >>
“Thank you, Kit, for this wonderful blog. And the reminder that I need to be in nature. There is a beautiful lake by my house. It has been so warm here I haven’t thought of going. But…I have it on my calendar for the next overcast morning. My dog Emma and I like to walk down a dirt path by the water’s edge and watch the ducks and fishermen. I will send you a pic. Have a good weekend.”
I wrote this back:
Plan to go out to the lake early,
even before the birds are up, Kim.
LOVE>>>>>>Kit
==============================
2–Larry sent these words:
“You’re a brilliant writer and philosopher!
Your blogs are truly amazing!!!”
My best to you! Larry Zeiger
Thanks, Larry; what a special guy you are.
==============================
3–And then, lovely Phyllis Lynch >>
“Wow, so many great, positive things you share, Kit, but I just am so sad that the place in which you live offers nothing fun for you to look forward to! Glad you got out to do some weeding, though! You need to do that more. Your computer will always be there when the sun goes down. Your blogs just amaze me! And I’m even happier that April called you!! I hope you let her know how much that means to you (as I’m sure you do). Do you ever hear from Jasmine? I sure hope so!
Thanks for sharing and for all the amazing things you say that always inspire me!
I hope things get better for you!
Thanks again for all the inspiration!
With love, Me 🙂
https://www.zillow.com/profile/PhyllisLynch
Here is Phillis and (big) family
====================
PART 2) THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK
Kit’s Daily Delights—Inspiration Served with a Smile!
Good morning! Or perhaps it is good afternoon… or even good evening!
Whenever these words find you, consider them right on time.
Inspiration never checks the clock—it simply arrives when your heart needs it most,
usually carrying a smile, a warm hug, and occasionally juggling three bright ideas! 🤹♂️
That is one of the marvelous things about words: they never complain when you arrive late, glance impatiently at the clock, or lose their loving sparkle. With readers scattered across time zones around the world, I may not know what time it is where you are—but I know this: you are here, you matter, and these words have found you at exactly the right moment. ✨
So, welcome, my friend! There is always time for fresh inspiration, a hearty laugh, a little more love, and one joyful step toward a brighter, happier life. Yes, you can get better! Let’s take that step together—and if we wobble, we’ll call it dancing! 💛
>>>>> SEPTEMBER 26
As usual, I’ve been working hard on this blog. It’s 5:55 in the morning, and I’ve been moving words around since last night. Apparently, my brain put the writing crew on the night shift!
Lately, another idea has been bouncing around upstairs: two blogs a week. Should I try it? More importantly, would you read them? I certainly have enough stories, mistakes, victories, and life lessons to keep the words coming.
As the sun rises, I look at the clear blue sky and wish I could put on my shoes and go for a run. My mind wants to run. My legs want to run. Unfortunately, my lungs have other plans. I tried yesterday, but almost immediately my breathing said, “Not now, Kit.” Apparently, my lungs forgot to read the itinerary.
Maybe you’ve experienced your own version of this. Something you desperately want to do gets blocked by health, age, money, responsibilities, or circumstances. Sooner or later, life looks at our carefully prepared plans and says,
“Nope. We’re doing something different today.” That’s when we have a choice.
WE CAN STARE AT THE ROAD WE CANNOT TRAVEL—OR LOOK FOR ANOTHER PATH.
Yesterday, when my lungs stopped my plans, I noticed some weeds that needed pulling. So I pulled them. Nobody handed me a medal for elite competitive weeding, but I got outside, moved my body, accomplished something useful, and left one little corner of the world better than I found it.
MAYBE THAT’S ENOUGH FOR SOME DAYS. 
We often measure success by whether we accomplished our original goal. But sometimes success is smaller. It might be walking around the block, making a phone call, writing a paragraph, helping someone, or simply refusing to surrender the day.
Don’t confuse changing the plan with abandoning the goal.
Life will interrupt you. Bodies change. Circumstances change. Doors close. Plans collapse. We cannot always control what happens, but we can decide what we do next. When life says, “Not now,” listen carefully. It did not necessarily say, “Never.”
Adjust. Improvise. Do what you can today, and tomorrow, try again. Progress doesn’t always look the way we expected. Sometimes moving forward means slowing down or changing direction. Little progress is still progress.
If today isn’t going according to plan, ask yourself: What can I do with what I have, where I am, right now?
Pull the weeds. Write the paragraph. Make the phone call. Take the shorter walk. Encourage someone. Learn something. Laugh at something ridiculous. Leave one little corner of the world better than you found it.
A MEANINGFUL LIFE IS BUILT FROM THOUSANDS OF SMALL
CHOICES THAT SAY, “I AM STILL PARTICIPATING IN MY LIFE.”
I may not be running beneath that beautiful morning sky today, but I haven’t stopped moving forward. We can become so focused on what we cannot do that we overlook everything we can do. If one door closes, look for another—or, knowing my luck, a unicycle leaning against the wall.
Whatever obstacle stands in your way, don’t give it permission to write the rest of your story. Life may change the plot and add chapters you never expected, but you still hold the pen.
Improve one thing. Help one person. Learn one lesson. Take one step. Find one reason to laugh. You don’t have to change your entire life today. You just have to keep participating.
And remember to notice the good things along the way. Dinner tonight was spaghetti and meatballs, and it was fabulous. Happiness often hides in wonderfully ordinary places: a beautiful sky, a good conversation, a few weeds pulled, a paragraph you’re proud of, a laugh—and apparently, a terrific plate of spaghetti.
You may not be exactly where you hoped you would be today.
Neither am I. But today is still ours to use.
Pull a weed. Take a step. Write a paragraph. Help somebody. Enjoy the spaghetti. Keep moving forward. There is still more of your story to write.
It’s 6:14 now, and I’m finally getting close to finishing. I’ve been moving words around, hoping something I write might encourage someone to smile, think differently, or keep going. I think I’m finished—but I’ve learned not to trust myself when I say that. My fingers may be ready to quit, but apparently my brain hasn’t received the memo.
Then Grease came on.
Well, that settled it. Writing could wait.
Sometimes life changes your plans because something gets in the way.
And sometimes it changes them because a good movie comes on.
Either way, enjoy the show.
>>>>> SEPTEMBER 27
Boy, I really did write a lot yesterday! I’m trying to keep these blog posts shorter, so tell me: What should I leave out? What could I change to improve them? Even walking about 200 meters to lunch can cause my asthma to flare up, forcing me to use my inhaler. It seems to be getting worse, and I’m trying to figure out what to do. I don’t want my lungs deciding how much of the world I get to enjoy.
Yes, I really do read your comments—so please write.
At lunch, I asked for half a ham-and-cheese sandwich—and ate only half of that. So, mathematically speaking, I conquered one-quarter of a sandwich. Not exactly an Olympic eating event! My appetite simply isn’t what it used to be. I rarely feel hungry, and even small portions seem like plenty. I know my body needs nourishment to keep me strong and moving forward, but apparently my stomach didn’t get the memo. I’m still curious what happened to the other half of that sandwich.
Recently, I completed a seven-day fast, drinking only green tea. Surprisingly, I never felt hungry. I did it because I’ve always loved a challenge. When something is difficult, a little voice in my head immediately says, “Well, Kit, let’s see what you can do with this one!” That attitude has carried me through juggling, business, recovery, travel, writing, and plenty of other crazy adventures. Next comes a month-long fast; will you join me?
But life has also taught me that challenging yourself and endangering yourself are two very different things. Even extraordinary machines need fuel, and there’s no trophy for ignoring the warning lights on your dashboard. Perhaps the greater challenge is knowing when to push yourself and when to listen to your body. My goal isn’t to discover how long I can go without eating. It’s to discover how much living I can squeeze into this remarkable life.
And that brings me to something harder to admit: I’m not very happy right now. I’m not even sure exactly what would make me happy again. Something is missing—purpose, connection, excitement, companionship, freedom, or simply something meaningful to look forward to. Living here sometimes feels like Groundhog Day. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. The same dining room, familiar faces, familiar routines, and the dependable question, “How are you?” Sometimes I’m tempted to answer, “Give me a minute—I’m waiting to see if anything has changed since yesterday!” There’s nothing wrong with the people around me or the lives they’re living. I simply don’t feel that I belong here. I don’t want my days to become an endless loop of meals, small talk, sitting in my room, and waiting for bedtime.
I still want challenges. I want meaningful conversations, laughter, adventure, friendship, companionship—and perhaps even a little romance. I want people to inspire, things to accomplish, places to go, and reasons to wake up excited about tomorrow.
I don’t want to simply pass the days. I want to live them.
Tonight, I watched Pretty Woman again, and it reminded me how much I miss having a special woman in my life—someone to laugh with, talk with, hold, and simply enjoy being beside. Now I’m sitting here with a glass of wine. The wine is fine, but I suspect it would taste much better shared. Sometimes two people talking, laughing, holding hands, or simply sitting together can turn an ordinary evening into a beautiful memory.
Yes, I miss companionship. I miss affection. I miss love. But I haven’t given up on finding them again. Life has surprised me far too many times to believe its best chapters are behind me. I’m grateful to Greg and Selective for making it possible for me to stay here, but I still wonder: What comes next for Kit? I don’t know yet, and perhaps I don’t need to know.
Maybe happiness begins with one small change, one new friendship, one fresh challenge, one unexpected adventure, or one reason to smile that I haven’t discovered yet. So I’ll keep looking, writing, dreaming, and reaching toward whatever comes next. Because one thing I know for certain is that I am not finished living my life. Not even close.
>>>>> SEPTEMBER 28
As the day begins, I look out the window and see the faithful sun making its daily appearance. It looks like another bright, beautiful day—the kind that makes me want to lace up my shoes, head outside, run a few miles, or toss some juggling clubs into the air. Just seeing that sunshine reminds me that every morning arrives carrying another chance to live.
Unfortunately, my asthma has other plans for me right now. My lungs may be telling me to slow down, but they don’t get to tell my spirit to stop. That part of me is still ready to run, juggle, explore, laugh, and squeeze every bit of possibility out of this new day. Sometimes moving forward simply means changing the pace—and that’s something we can all remember when life refuses to cooperate with our plans.
So today, changing the pace meant a quieter day, spent mostly at my computer. I’ve written so much over the last couple of days that perhaps my fingers—and my brain—have earned a little vacation. But even when I take a break from writing, the thoughts don’t necessarily stop. In fact, slowing down sometimes gives me more time to think about the people who matter most.
That brings me to my daughters, Jasmine and April. Each week, my blog goes out to them with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of words about my life, my thoughts, and what I’m going through. In many ways, those words are little pieces of me that I’m sharing with them (and you). Yet I rarely hear anything back from either of them, and I have to admit that hurts.
I’m not asking for long conversations or lengthy replies. Sometimes a simple text, a quick phone call, or even a few words saying, “Dad, I read your blog,” would mean more to me than they might realize. I’m not exactly sure how we change this, but I know I don’t want the distance between us to grow. Life is too precious, and family is too important. I love my daughters, and more than anything, I want us to stay connected—to share not only words on a screen, but the love that makes those words worth writing in the first place.
>>>>> SEPTEMBER 29
Even a simple walk down the hall—about 400 meters to the restaurant—can cause my asthma to flare up. I use my inhaler, and it helps, but sometimes the relief lasts only a few minutes. It’s reached the point where I’m hesitant to venture too far from my room, so I find myself staying inside far more than I want to.
And that bothers me, because I don’t want asthma to make my world smaller. I want to walk, get outside, juggle, exercise, explore, and enjoy life without constantly wondering whether my lungs will stop me. There’s a better way to manage this. If anyone has dealt with something similar, I’d love to hear what has helped you.
HERE ARE APRIL AND JASMINE
Perhaps that feeling of being physically limited is also making me think more deeply about where I am in life. Sometimes it’s almost frightening to live here and wonder what my future holds. I just finished lunch—meatloaf and mashed potatoes, delicious as usual. I eat well here, I’m treated well, and I’m grateful for that. But I’m discovering that being cared for and truly living are not quite the same thing.
That leaves me with a question I don’t yet know how to answer:
What comes next?
I haven’t heard much from my daughters or from many people on the outside, and sometimes that silence makes these walls feel a little closer. Some days I feel as though I’ve been safely tucked away while the rest of the world keeps moving forward without me.
AND COME TO THINK OF IT—I NEVER HEAR FROM YOU, EITHER!
I’m still here, still thinking, still writing, still dreaming, and still very much alive. So don’t just read these words and disappear. Drop me a note. Tell me what’s happening in your world. Sometimes a few simple words from another person can open a window when life begins to feel a little too closed in.
But maybe that question—What comes next?—is exactly the one I need to keep asking. I don’t want my life to become nothing more than waiting for the next meal. I still have ideas to explore, words to write, people to meet, laughter to share, and adventures waiting somewhere beyond these walls.
My lungs may be limiting how far I can travel today, and my circumstances may be limiting where I can go, but neither gets to decide how much life is left inside me. I may not know what comes next yet—but I know this:
MY WORLD IS NOT FINISHED GROWING,
AND THIS IS N OT THE FINAL CHAPTER OF MY STORY.
I’m sorry to write this, but I need to be honest about how I’m feeling. Some days, living here makes me feel as though I’m simply passing time rather than truly living my life, and that’s difficult for me because I’ve always wanted my days to have purpose, possibility, and something meaningful to look forward to.
At the same time, I have to admit that I don’t know what the alternative would be or exactly what I would do if I weren’t here. Maybe that’s the hardest part—not knowing what comes next. I don’t have the answer yet, but I do know one thing: I don’t want the rest of my life to be about simply filling the days. I want to keep living them.
IN THE BACK OF MY MIND I HEAR MYSELF
SAYING, “GET ME OUTTA HERE!”
>>>>>SEPTEMBER 30
As usual, I was up before the birds—apparently, they like to sleep in. Before lunch, I spent most of my time working on the blog post that comes after the one you’re reading right now. I try not to get too far ahead of myself, but ideas have a habit of showing up uninvited, and once they start bouncing around in my head, I have to give them somewhere to land.
My right elbow still has that strange swelling—well, that’s just swell. Fortunately, it doesn’t hurt much. Mostly, it serves as a little extra padding whenever I rest my chin on my hand. Who knew my body would start manufacturing its own cushions?
The lasagna for lunch today was absolutely marvelous! Rich, flavorful, and cooked just right—it was one of those meals that makes you slow down and enjoy every bite. I have to give plenty of credit to the kitchen staff here.
With the broccoli and potatoes, it was a perfect meal—and that makes me happy. The kitchen staff here consistently does an excellent job. Nearly everything I’ve eaten has been delicious, thoughtfully prepared, and something to look forward to. When a simple meal can put a smile on your face, you know they’re doing something right!
Cooking for so many people every day certainly can’t be easy, yet they somehow manage to keep the food tasty and enjoyable. Today’s lasagna was another reminder that while there may be things about living here I would like to change, I certainly can’t complain about the food. My compliments to the chef—and perhaps I should have asked for seconds!
They’re finally hearing me when I say, “Please, don’t give me very much.” I’ve noticed my portions getting smaller and smaller—and that’s a good thing! I’d much rather finish a small meal than stare down a mountain of food and wonder if I’m supposed to eat it or climb it.
RIGHT NOW, I HAVE A VERY STRANGE FEELING ABOUT BEING HERE.
SO MANY QUESTIONS RUNNING THROUGH MY MIND.
WHY AM I HERE? IS THIS REALLY WHERE I NEED TO BE?
AND IF NOT HERE, WHERE?
Since my accident in 1982, I have done remarkably well taking care of myself. I rebuilt my life, regained my independence, traveled, worked, wrote, performed, and found ways to keep moving forward. That history makes me question my situation even more. How much help do I actually need today? Could I be living somewhere that gives me more independence, freedom, purpose, and connection?
Perhaps I don’t need to figure everything out today. I need to start asking serious questions. Being safe and cared for is important, but so is living. I want something to look forward to. I want companionship, challenges, freedom, laughter, and reasons to get excited about tomorrow.
One thing that troubles me deeply is not hearing from either of my daughters, Jasmine or April. I love them, and their silence hurts more than I probably let on. I’m not looking to blame anyone; I simply want them in my life. Right now, especially, I could use their voices, their thoughts, and their help figuring out what comes next.
I don’t know where this road will take me yet, and perhaps that’s okay. I’ve traveled plenty of roads without knowing exactly where they would lead. Some of my wrong turns became my greatest adventures, taking me to magnificent places I never would have discovered if I had stayed on the planned route. Maybe getting a little lost isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes, it’s how we find a place—or a life—we never knew was waiting for us.
As I’ve written, the meals here are fabulous. But having meals be the biggest thing to live for is just wrong.
Maybe I’m not at the end of a road at all.
Maybe I’m simply looking for my next turn.
Feeling very trapped, I am.
Am I wasting my life?
I hate life right now.
Can you help?
I just returned from dinner, and the shepherd’s pie was excellent. They consistently serve nutritious, well-prepared meals here, and I certainly can’t complain about the food. As you know, I always ask for a smaller portion than everyone else gets—and usually don’t even finish that. You would think I’d be getting skinnier by the day, but apparently my waistline hasn’t received the memo.
Jasmine on the left and April with Penelope.
>>>>> OCTOBER 1
Every Thursday, I carefully read through my blog, making those final little changes—a period here, a space there, a word that could be just a bit better. Is that normal? Maybe. Most readers will never notice those tiny changes, but I do. I’ve always believed excellence lives in the details. Perhaps my normal is simply trying to make today’s work a little better than yesterday’s.
But that raises an interesting question: What is normal?
Normal is different for everyone. One person is perfectly happy saying, “Good enough.” Another keeps tinkering until good becomes great. Neither person came with an instruction manual explaining exactly how to live. We each get to discover our own normal—and, better yet, improve it.
EXCELLENCE—FIND YOURS!
Breakfast this morning was excellent, and once again, the kitchen did a fine job. Around here, having someone else prepare every meal has become my new normal. Strange, because for much of my life, normal meant cooking for myself. I’ll spare you the delicious details of breakfast—I seem to write about food often enough already. At this rate, my blog may eventually need its own restaurant section entitled “What Did Kit Eat Today?”
Speaking of food, I truly miss cooking. For years, my normal was choosing fresh ingredients, experimenting with flavors, and turning ordinary foods into something delicious. Cooking was never simply about eating. It was another opportunity to create.
And my cooking style certainly had its own definition of normal. I chopped, stirred, tasted, and tossed in a little more of whatever seemed right. I rarely measured much. A pinch of this, a splash of that, and somehow dinner appeared. To me, recipes were helpful suggestions—not legally binding contracts.
Of course, the greatest reward came when someone took that first bite, smiled, and said, “Wow, Kit, this is really good!” I would casually nod as though everything had gone precisely according to plan. And if nobody complimented the meal? No problem. I considered that excellent news—more for me!
Eventually, my unusual way of doing things became something much bigger. I started my own salsa business and successfully ran it for more than 20 years. What began as my recipe—my particular combination of ingredients, flavors, and ideas—became something countless customers enjoyed. Even food experts praised my salsa.
Summers Salsa became part of my normal for more than two decades. I created it, built it, worked at it, and took enormous pride in it. Happy customers kept coming back for another jar. Apparently, I knew how to make taste buds dance! And perhaps that is the point.
Your normal does not have to look like anyone else’s normal.
Normal can change. Mine certainly has—many times. What felt normal twenty years ago is not what feels normal today, and what feels normal today may be completely different tomorrow.
So don’t spend your life trying to squeeze yourself into somebody else’s definition of normal. Experiment. Create. Improve. Add a pinch of this and a splash of that. Make mistakes. Adjust the recipe.
After all, life doesn’t come with a legally binding recipe either.
CREATE YOUR OWN NORMAL—AND MAKE IT EXTRAORDINARY!
HOW TO MAKE SALSA! www.summerssalsa.com
Now you can make your own salsa; it’s easy >>
In a 16-quart bowl, mix:
One 15-ounce can of corn
One 15-ounce can of black beans
One large can of peaches, chopped
One bunch of cilantro, chopped
Two large red onions, chopped
One jalapeño pepper, finely chopped
½ cup of diced garlic
½ cup of lime juice or three limes
½ cup of lemon juice or two lemons
½ cup of garlic salt
Two pounds of plum tomatoes
Chop everything in the food processor into 1-centimeter pieces.
Keep the blender running on and off throughout.
FOR HOT SALSA >>
Leave out the maple syrup and peaches.
Add 1 habanero pepper and 2 jalapeño peppers.
Or enough peppers to suit your desired heat level.
For all my cooking, I rarely followed a recipe exactly. To me, recipes were more like friendly suggestions than strict laws. I’d add a little of this, toss in a little of that, taste it, and keep going until my buds gave approval. Pizza was one of my specialties, and people seemed to love what I created. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who thought the recipe book was merely optional.
My chocolate chip cookies have a wonderful habit of making people smile. They’re rich, delicious, perfectly textured, and dangerously easy to eat—stopping at one cookie may require more self-control than I possess! If you’d like to try them yourself, contact me (kitsummers@gmail.com), and I’ll happily send you the recipe. Just don’t blame me when the cookie jar mysteriously empties so quickly.
HOW TO MAKE TOAST (The fun version.)
A Recipe for Highly Trained Professionals.
Making toast is not something to take lightly.
People have been warming bread for generations,
and somehow civilization has survived.
Step One: Find bread.
This may require a dangerous expedition to the grocery store.
Remain calm. Bread is usually hiding in the bread aisle.
Step Two: Select one slice. Choose carefully.
Your entire breakfast can depend on this decision.
Step Three: Approach the toaster and smile.
Do not show fear. Toasters can sense weakness.
Step Four: Insert bread.
Push down the mysterious little lever.
At this point, there is no turning back.
Step Five: WAIT . . .
Do not wander away. Do not write a novel.
Do not go and practice juggling 7 balls.
Your bread is undergoing a magnificent transformation.
Then suddenly—POP!
Try not to scream. You have just created—TOAST!
For advanced chefs, add a butter coating. If you have years of culinary experience, maybe add jam, too. But know your limits. Finally, place your masterpiece on a plate, stand back, admire it, and proudly announce:
“I COOKED!”
And if you burn it?
Scrape off the black stuff and call it Artisan Toast.
You have to start somewhere—
and toast seems pretty darn safe.
The afternoon turned gray and dreary, with one of those dull skies that seems to drain a little energy out of the day. Nothing outside was calling my name, so I stayed in my room and took it easy. I worked on my computer for a while, looked out the window now and then, and generally accomplished nothing earth-shattering. The world somehow kept spinning without my assistance.
And you know what? Maybe that’s perfectly fine. Not every day has to be packed with excitement, adventure, or great accomplishments. Sometimes life hands us a quiet afternoon and seems to say, “Kit, sit down for a while. You’ve done enough.” So that’s exactly what I did. Adventure apparently decided to take the afternoon off, too—leaving me with the next big event of the day: dinner.
Dinner tonight was chicken Alfredo, paired nicely with delicious mashed potatoes. Then came chocolate pudding with a little whipped cream on top—certainly no complaints from my taste buds! I honestly can’t remember having a bad meal here. The food is consistently excellent, and I’m grateful for the people who prepare it. Still, as wonderful as dinner may be, even great mashed potatoes are not enough reason to spend the rest of my life somewhere.
And that brings me to the struggle that keeps circling through my mind. At times, I feel trapped here, unable to see the road that leads somewhere else. I’m treated well, cared for, and fed exceptionally well, and I appreciate all of that. Some people here seem perfectly content with this way of life, and I respect that. But what works beautifully for someone else doesn’t necessarily make it right for me.
I still feel that I have something to contribute. I want to write, inspire, teach, laugh, explore, connect with people, and make a difference. I don’t want the highlight of my day to simply be wondering what’s for dinner—no matter how good the chocolate pudding might be. I want something beyond the next meal to anticipate. I want purpose. I want possibilities. I want more life.
Maybe I can’t see the road ahead yet, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one. I’ve been lost plenty of times before, both on the highway and in life, and some of those unexpected roads led me to remarkable places. Perhaps this is simply another stretch where the map hasn’t been drawn yet. I believe there is still more life waiting for me. My job now is to keep looking until I discover where it leads.
For tonight, though, that search will have to continue from my room. It’s only a little past six, and already I’m wondering what to do with the rest of the evening. I get bored easily, especially when there isn’t much happening around here. I’ll spend a little more time on the computer, perhaps watch some television, and try to stay awake until at least ten. Most nights, however, my body has its own schedule and eventually orders me to surrender.
You already know how I feel about sleep—I consider it a terrible waste of perfectly usable time! There are things to write, ideas to explore, people to help, adventures yet to have, and a whole world still waiting for me. Unfortunately, my brain apparently didn’t get that memo. Every night it insists on shutting everything down for routine maintenance.
So eventually I’ll sleep—not because I particularly approve of the arrangement, but because apparently even Kit Summers needs a nightly recharge. And when morning arrives, I’ll switch myself back on and continue searching for that road ahead.
I MAY NOT KNOW WHERE I’M GOING NEXT,
BUT I WILL KNOW I AM NOT FINISHED YET.
OCTOBER 2
Early in the morning, while the rest of the world was still hitting the snooze button, I switched myself back on. My body may have preferred a few more hours of sleep, but my brain had already flipped the sign to OPEN FOR BUSINESS!
I start my new blog later today, after this one is sent out (I hope you like it). It’s hard to imagine finding enough material for a full blog, but I thought that for this one. Somehow the ideas and the words creep into my mind (and boy, is it creepy)The next blog? Almost finished already! I keep trying to give my fingers a break, but apparently, they have other plans. An idea pops into my head—BAM!—my fingers attack the keyboard, and off we go again. At this point, I’m not sure who’s in charge: me, my brain, or these ten overactive fingers.
But I love writing, especially when I can turn something I’ve lived through into words that might help someone else. I’ve had enough adventures, accidents, mistakes, successes, wrong turns, right turns, and downright strange turns to keep me writing for a long time. There always seems to be another story hiding somewhere in my brain, waiting to escape through my fingertips.So I’ll keep writing as long as the ideas keep coming. And I hope you’ll keep chasing whatever makes you feel alive. Maybe it’s writing, painting, traveling, learning something new, helping someone, or finally going after that dream you’ve been putting off.
DON’T WAIT FOR SOMEDAY.
YOUR LIFE IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW—GO LIVE IT!
====================
PART 3—BLOG 397, WHAT IS NORMAL?
Be Different—find your own way.
For years, I wondered what it meant to live a “normal” life. Was it normal to wake up at the same time every morning, go to work, pay the bills, watch television, go to bed, and then get up and do it all over again? If so, I missed the train—and knowing me, I was probably waiting at the airport.
I COULD NOT LIVE MY LIFE LIKE THAT!
Maybe I was never headed toward normal in the first place. It started with a unicycle when I was thirteen. Once I learned to balance on that single wheel, I was hooked. I loved the challenge, the freedom, and probably the fact that most people thought it was a little crazy. When I discovered something I loved, I wanted to find out just how far I could take it.
Key Benefits of Change >>
- Go Beyond the Normal: Life can get better and better—yet it is up to you to make it happen. Never settle for “normal”.
- Personal Growth: Stepping out of your comfort zone helps you gain fresh insights and learn new skills as you move forward.
- Learn to Challenge Yourself: Without challenge, life can be boring and mundane. There is more to you than that—face the challenge!
- Flexibility and Adaptability: Facing unexpected shifts trains your mind to stay calm and handle future surprises. Change with the changes.
- New Opportunities: Stepping off a familiar path opens doors to choices and experiences you might otherwise miss. Never be afraid of what lies beyond the next turn.
- Inner Strength: Overcoming difficult transitions reveals your true capabilities and builds self-trust. You are better than you ever imagined.
- Don’t change too much! Always keep your inner child front and center. Look for joy; it is there. Keep your eyes open.
- Breaking Routines: Changing your daily habits can shake you free from an uninspired rut and awaken new possibilities. Don’t sit around waiting for life to become different.
- Look for change. Find change. Create change. Sometimes one small change is all it takes to send your life in an exciting new direction.
- Find the joy! Laugh often. Play freely. Find joy everywhere you can—and never become too grown-up to be a little silly!
That attitude became a pattern throughout my life. Halfway was never much fun for me. Whether I was learning to juggle (again), building a successful Salsa Business, or fighting my way through rehabilitation, I discovered something important: we often have more ability inside us than we realize. Sometimes we never discover how much strength we possess until life gives us a reason to use it.
As a young juggler, I didn’t simply want to keep three balls in the air. I wanted to discover how far I could take the skill. That determination eventually carried me around the world as a professional juggler, performing before thousands of people. While other people carried briefcases to work, I carried juggling clubs. While they worried about meetings and deadlines, I worried about whether seven objects would come back down in approximately the right places. It was unusual, certainly—but it was normal to me.
That same determination carried me in other directions. In high school, I discovered the pole vault—and once again, I was hooked on the challenge. I practiced relentlessly, pushed myself beyond what I thought I could do, and kept raising the bar—quite literally. Eventually, I cleared 18’6″, setting a school record and, at one point in the past, a world record. Looking back, I suppose gravity and I started having disagreements long before I became a professional juggler. Gravity kept insisting that I come down. I kept asking, “Why?”
Looking back, whenever I discovered something I truly loved, I didn’t just dabble in it—I jumped in with both feet and gave it everything I had. Passion has always taken over my life. Of course, looking back, I probably should have been a little more selective about applying that same all-in philosophy to some of the women in my life! Life teaches us lessons in some very interesting ways.
A few more ideas >>
1. Follow Your Interests. 
Explore what excites you.
Read, practice, volunteer, experiment.
A small curiosity today may become a lifelong passion tomorrow.
2. Explore Your Dislikes.
Don’t automatically avoid what you dislike.
Look deeper.
Challenges can teach you something, open unexpected doors, or even reveal a new interest.
3. Ignore the Doubters.
Not everyone will understand your dreams. They don’t have to.
You are not a résumé. You are a human being.
Your Life is yours. Explore all aspects as you go forward.
4. Keep Searching.
You don’t have to know your passion yet.
Try something new. Follow your curiosity. Take chances.
Passion isn’t always something you find—sometimes it’s something you create.
STAY CURIOUS. KEEP EXPLORING. KEEP INVENTING.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE THE NEXT STEP MIGHT LEAD.
Through all those experiences, I learned that we have choices about how we approach life. We can do just enough to get by, or we can challenge ourselves to discover what we are truly capable of doing and becoming. Excellence doesn’t require perfection. It asks us to keep learning, growing, stretching, and reaching a little beyond where we were yesterday. Yes, Beyond Your Potential!
After my accident, nearly everything I had once considered “normal” had vanished. Excellence was no longer about how high I could jump or how brightly I could shine. It had become something far more meaningful—the courage to start at the bottom again, the determination to take one difficult step after another, and the refusal to stop climbing simply because life had knocked me down.
My definition of success changed because my definition of normal had changed. Excellence was no longer about applause, bright lights, or mastering another difficult juggling trick. Excellence became taking another step, saying another word, catching another ball, and trying one more time. Catching one ball could make me feel as though I had just won an Olympic gold medal.
I discovered that excellence can wear many faces. Sometimes it is standing beneath brilliant stage lights while an audience rises in applause—and sometimes it is simply finding the courage and strength to stand again after life has knocked you flat.
One victory may earn applause; the other may happen quietly, with no audience at all. But both require determination, both represent progress, and both deserve to be celebrated. Sometimes the quietest victories reveal just how strong we truly are.
For a while, however, all I wanted was my old normal back. I wanted to be the person I was before the accident. I wanted my strength, coordination, independence, and old life back. I wondered whether I had been permanently exiled from the Kingdom of Normal. Eventually, though, I began asking a much better question:
YOUR JOB IS TO DISCOVER JUST HOW FAR YOU CAN GROW—
AND HOW EXTRAORDINARY YOU CAN BECOME!
The more I thought about that question, the more I realized there is no single measuring stick for what a life is supposed to look like. We each begin in a different place, face different challenges, possess different strengths, and travel our own road. Perhaps one of the greatest mistakes we can make is measuring our progress with somebody else’s ruler.
For one person, normal might be running five miles before breakfast. For another, it might be standing up without assistance. One person remembers every detail of yesterday; another writes things down so precious moments will not disappear. One person travels the world, while another discovers adventure in the neighborhood just outside the front door. Neither life is more normal—or more valuable—than the other.
Remember this because comparison can quietly steal the joy from the progress we are actually making. If you continually compare yourself with someone else—or even with the person you were ten or twenty years ago—you may overlook the victories happening in your life right now. Your accomplishments don’t have to impress anybody else to matter.
Perhaps normal is not some imaginary standard we are supposed to reach. Perhaps normal is simply where we are today—and what we choose to do from here. Life changes us. Accidents change us. Aging changes us. Love changes us. Loss changes us. Sometimes we choose those changes, and sometimes they arrive like a speeding truck without asking permission. We cannot always control what arrives, but we can decide what we do next.
I have learned that the goal is not always to get back to the person we once were. Sometimes life closes that door and quietly opens another one. The greater challenge—and perhaps the greater opportunity—is to step through that new door and discover who we can become next. Growth does not always mean getting back what we lost. Sometimes it means building something new with what remains.
Some Kit successes AFTER the accident >>
Married for 23 years, with daughters who are now in their thirties.
Running a successful salsa business for 20 years.
Back to running and bicycling again, my joy.
Traveling the world coaching juggling.
Driving across the US multiple times.
Writing 15 books to help people.
Speaking before thousands.
This shows you that you can—
YES, find success after any change.
Now I am doing much the same thing with this blog—only instead of juggling clubs, I am juggling words, ideas, and lessons from a lifetime of unexpected twists and turns. I write to help you see your life differently and, hopefully, live it a little better.
Through these words, I hope to open your mind to possibilities you may not have considered. Question the limits you have placed on yourself, challenge what you accept as “normal,” and recognize the potential still waiting inside you.
If something I write inspires you to try something new, change an old habit, revive a forgotten dream, laugh a little more, or simply believe in yourself again, then these words have accomplished exactly what I hoped they would.
There is still so much life waiting for you—more to discover, more to experience, more to love, and more of yourself yet to become. Keep your heart hopeful and your mind open. Your next adventure, opportunity, friendship, or dream may already be making its way toward you. 
Keep moving forward!
Your next possibility could be closer than you think.
Maybe your next victory is making the phone call you have been avoiding. Maybe it is walking around the block, applying for a job, apologizing to someone, beginning that book, making a new friend, asking for help, or trying something you are afraid you might fail at. Your victory does not have to look impressive to anyone else. It only has to move you forward.
I am still learning this myself. My own normal continues to change. Some days, three juggling clubs move smoothly through the air, almost as if they remember the old days. Other times, they crash to the ground as though gravity still has something personal against me. That is okay. I may not be the juggler I once was, but I am still a juggler. I may not live the life I once lived, but I am most certainly still living.
The longer I live, the more I suspect that none of us is truly “normal.” We are all strange and wonderful collections of dreams, scars, mistakes, memories, peculiar habits, disappointments, hopes, and unexpected victories. Some people are simply better at hiding their weirdness than others. Beneath the surface, every person carries challenges the rest of us may know nothing about.
In other words, everyone is juggling something. Maybe it is a career, a relationship, money, health, loneliness, family, aging, uncertainty, or a dream that refuses to leave you alone. Sometimes everything stays beautifully in the air. And sometimes, it drops.
Sometimes the whole mess comes crashing down around your feet. When that happens, pick it up and try again. You do not have to pick up everything at once. Start with one thing. One ball. One step. One decision. One small improvement today.
That may be one of the most normal—and courageous—things a human being can do. Excellence doesn’t mean being perfect; it means refusing to stop growing. Aim high, work hard, stumble now and then, laugh when you do, and keep reaching beyond what you thought was possible. Excellence isn’t about never falling.
IT IS ABOUT DISCOVERING HOW MUCH
DETERMINATION YOU HAVE EACH TIME YOU RISE AGAIN.
I no longer want to spend much time worrying about whether my life is normal. I want a life filled with courage, curiosity, challenge, purpose, laughter, adventure, friendship, and love. I want to keep learning, creating, helping people, and discovering what might be waiting around the next corner. I don’t need my life to look like anyone else’s. I simply want it to remain unmistakably mine.
And I hope you will give yourself permission to do the same. Stop measuring your life against someone else’s ruler. Stop believing you are behind simply because your road looks different. You have your own starting point, your own challenges, your own abilities, and your own possibilities. Your job is not to become “normal.”
YOUR JOB IS TO DISCOVER JUST HOW FAR YOU CAN GROW—
AND HOW EXTRAORDINARY YOU CAN BECOME!
So, I’m ready to dance like a ballerina! If that makes my life unusual, wonderful. I have spent too much of my life discovering what is possible to waste time worrying about fitting into someone else’s definition of normal. Normal is overrated anyway. I would rather be curious, adventurous, occasionally ridiculous, and fully alive.
Wherever life takes me next, I plan to keep learning, laughing, writing, juggling, exploring, dancing, and inspiring others. I may not know what the next chapter holds, but that is exactly what makes life an adventure. And, of course, I’ll keep a few juggling clubs nearby.
AFTER ALL, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT LIFE MIGHT TOSS YOUR WAY—
AND I INTEND TO CATCH AS MUCH AS I CAN. 🤹♂️💃😊
====================
PART 4) 🔥 THE MAGIC OF QUOTES ✨
Inspirational quotes are mental spark plugs. 💥 They wake up the mind, shrink problems down to size, and give your spirit a running start. One powerful sentence can turn “I can’t” into “Why not?”—a small flashlight guiding you through a dark hallway. 🔦
But the real magic comes through repetition. The more you repeat a truth, the more deeply you believe it—and the more your life begins to reflect it. A quote hanging on the wall is decoration. A quote put into action becomes transformation.
Simple truth:
A quote on a page is nice…
A quote you live by?
Now that’s power. ✨
==========
1) “Normal is an illusion.
What is normal for the spider
is chaos for the fly.”
— Morticia Addams
2) “NORMAL?”
“Yes, I’m not.”
— Kit Summers
3) “Do what you can,
with what you have,
where you are.”
— Theodore Roosevelt
4) “Life isn’t about finding yourself.
Life is about creating yourself.”
— Maya Angelou
5) “Success is not final, failure is not fatal:
It is the courage to continue that counts.”
— Winston Churchill
6) “Do what you can,
with what you have,
where you are.”
— Theodore Roosevelt
7) “Normal isn’t a rule to follow—
it’s a life you define.
Be wonderfully, courageously YOU!”
— Kit Summers
8) “It always seems impossible
until it’s done.”
— Nelson Mandela
9) “Normal isn’t a destination—
it’s simply where you are before
you decide to grow.”
— Kit Summers
10) “You are never too old to set another
goal or to dream a new dream.”
— C.S. Lewis
====================
PART 5—YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK >>>>>
This week, challenge your idea of normal. Are you living the life you truly want—or simply following the path everyone else seems to follow? Try something new, break a routine, take a different path, and be curious, adventurous, even a little ridiculous. Forget normal. Create a life that makes you excited to be alive. Your next great adventure may begin with one small step—or one ball tossed into the air.
That is your challenge for the week.
That is the challenge for YOUR LIFE!
====================
====================
WOODSIDEMOTION!
Thank you to Christopher and everyone at Woodside Motion for helping me explore the possibility of bringing my extraordinary life story to the screen.
Always remember Christopher Jones—the man who can help introduce you and your story to the world.
Christopher, thank you for believing in me and recognizing the potential of my journey. I am deeply grateful to you and everyone at Woodside Motion for helping to share my story with the world and for bringing the movie about my extraordinary life to life.
Together, we can inspire countless people to overcome adversity,
discover their strength, and create a better future.
Website: https://woodsidemotion.com/
Email: christopher@woodsidemotion.com
====================
====================
CINDY MARVELL
At this point, I must recognize the marvellous Cindy Marvell.
This amazing woman founded and runs https://bouldercircuscenter.net.
There, she helps others dream big and take flight.
She is also an extraordinary performer in her own right—take a look >>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNbKaLV4I9Q
Throughout this movie project, she offered her encouragement and help in countless ways. Having someone believe in your story makes the journey even more meaningful. For one thing, she is the only woman to ever win the International Juggling Competition.
Thank you, Cindy, for your remarkable talent, generous heart, and unwavering support—both personally and financially. I am deeply grateful to have you beside me, helping keep this dream in the air. Every great dream needs someone who believes in it, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have you juggling this one alongside me! 🤹♂️💛
I’ve visited Cindy in Boulder a number of times. She likes how I take care of her garden. Thatis one of my skills, making the out-of-doors nicer. S
HERE IS CINDY SHAKING HANDS IN THE WILDERNESS.
====================
PART 6) NEXT WEEK>>>>>BLOG 398—YIKES, I CAN’T TURN AROUND!
=====================
🌟 PART 7) FINAL THOUGHTS 🌟
Because the best is always still ahead.
So juggle joy like it’s the air you breathe.
The horizon holds more than you can yet imagine.
YOU CAN DO THIS IN ALL AREAS. YOU CAN BE MORE—YOU ARE MORE!
Your present moment is not the finish line—it’s your starting block.
Chase sunsets as if they’re secret treasures waiting just for you.
Laugh so loudly that tomorrow leans in to listen.
Write me today—kitsummers@gmail.com
Live as though you’ve only just begun—
🌟BECAUSE YOU TRULY HAVE! 🌟
