BLOG 358–​Build Your Life as you Build Your House

✨KITTING AROUND✨
🌟 BLOG 358–​Build Your Life as you Build Your House. 🌟
This Blog is Best Read on a Laptop, Rather than a Phone.
Thoughts from Kit to Make Your Life Smile at Your Better Future
By KIT SUMMERS — World-Class Juggler to World-Class Comeback

To Learn More about Kit, Go Here >> https://kitsummers.com/about-kit/

Once upon a life, I was the guy who made gravity break a sweat.
Headlining at Bally’s in Atlantic City, I wasn’t just on top of the world—
I was tossing props in the air and catching them with a grin. 😄
 
Clubs flew like they had minds of their own—
Alive, rebellious, thrilled to be part of the act.
Seven of them.  A world record.
Because why juggle five when you can politely insult physics?
   
Life back then?
✨ Dazzling. ✨ Sparkly. ✨ Roaring with applause. ✨
The kind of acclaim that makes your bones hum and
Your heart says, Yes… this. This is it. 🎉
   
Then came the truck…
The coma…
My long nap…
The long, silent hallway of nothingness.
37-days where the world kept turning, but I wasn’t in it.
   
And yet—look at me now.
Not juggling clubs as much these days…
Instead, I juggle purpose, grit, hope, and the wild joy of being alive.
I toss resilience into the air and catch courage behind my back.
I balance healing on my chin and possibility on my toes.
   
My mission?
Oh, it outgrew the stage a long time ago.
Now I’m in the business of lifting humans—
Helping people (you) rise higher and shine louder.
Dreaming braver than you ever thought you could.
       
Because the show’s not over.
Not by a long shot.
And this version of me?
Helping you to reach a higher level.
I’m carrying more magic than ever.
   
I need a connection to the world.
Writing this blog fulfills that desire.
It helps me more than it helps you.
I write exactly how I feel.
I hope my words please you.
         
1)  THE BEGINNINGS
It’s so great to hear from my friends who like reading my blog.
Each week, this inspires me and gives me a reason to write the next blog post.
     
This week, the blog is very special — the place where you live; you must love it. Get in the habit of, every day, fixing up and cleaning up one of the rooms in your home. Make it a habit to do this regularly, and you will be happy you did.

Thanks for your words, Judy Finelli >>
“Kit, as usual, your blog is full of lots of great things to keep in mind, and thank you so much for being there. I realize that you are in a conflicted place. I hope you find whatever it is you need—wishing you a delightful New Year with many unexpected new treasures! Thank you for being! Take good care.”

So strange, I feel like I have no friends here, and I am alone.
But I know you are there and will write to me.
   
        2)  THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK
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12/27 — The YouTube Rabbit Hole (and Other Human Things)
Most of today slipped by while I watched YouTube videos.
There. I said it. 😅
   
It embarrasses me a little—because I know I can do better. I know my time is valuable. And yet… down the algorithm rabbit hole I go. (Those videos are sneaky. One minute it’s “just one,” the next it’s an hour and a half, and someone is explaining how to survive a bear attack with a paperclip.)
   
I did work on the blog—some.   But it’s not done.   Not yet.
   
There are still tweaks calling my name. Sentences that need polishing. Ideas that need more breathing room. That’s the thing about writing—it’s never really finished, it just reaches a moment where you say, “Okay… for now.”
   
And that’s the real secret to excellent writing: fearless editing. These words didn’t arrive fully dressed. They were written, reread, reshaped, added to, trimmed back, and loved into their final form. Writing isn’t about getting it perfect the first time—it’s about being willing to change for a better ending.
Stay open. Stay curious. Keep refining.
Yes—you can write with magnificence! 🌟✍️
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12/28 — Plastic Teeth, Patience, and Cigarette Butts
I don’t wear my retainer every day—but I am wearing it more often. Today included. 👍
The last time I wore it, it hurt. Not a whisper of discomfort—more like a full-on protest.
But right now? It’s behaving. This is one of those slow lessons:
Getting used to something uncomfortable takes time. Patience. And a willingness to keep showing up.
   
Later, I went out to clean the grounds—my unofficial daily service project. And what did I find? A chair was parked right next to a large trash can… and four cigarette butts were tossed neatly on the ground beside it.
Right. Next. To. The. Can. 😑
   
Why is it that so many smokers seem to think littering is just part of the habit?
Is it included in the starter kit? Smoke. Flick. Walk away. How do we stop this?
Education? Shame? A smoking-butts fairy who appears at night and tapes them to foreheads?
I don’t have the answer—but I do have two hands, a trash bag, and a sense of responsibility.
So I cleaned it up. Again.
=====
12/29 — Quiet Halls, Big Questions, and Bob
Many people are out because of the holidays. I truly hope they’re having a wonderful time—full of laughter, rest, and perhaps pie. 🥧
   
I spent most of the day working on this blog for you. You’re welcome. 😄
(And yes, I really do mean that.)  Do you like this one?
 

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At 1:00 p.m., I had my half-hour speech session with Dino. He suggested I write another book. Interesting idea. Tempting idea. Slightly terrifying idea.
   
I showed him how much ChatGPT already knows about my background—and how easily it could help pump out a book. The tools are there. The story is there. The experience is there.
But am I there?    That’s the question.
   
Bob—across the hall, survivor of a brain injury—has been broadcasting his inner universe at full volume all afternoon. His sentences charge out of the gate with confidence, take a scenic detour through confusion, forget their mission entirely, and never quite circle back home. It’s oddly athletic. Linguistic parkour. This man is extremely hard to understand.
   

Days like this remind me that this place isn’t just a facility—it’s a living laboratory of human unpredictability. No clipboards required. Case study in real time.
Then Bob took a stroll down the hallway with his walker.
     
Completely naked. No warning. No context. No emotional seatbelt.
Some images do not ask permission before branding themselves onto your soul.
That was one of them. It will be hard to forget. And, yes, his was bigger than mine.
   
Meanwhile, in my own quieter battle, I’ve had my retainer in all day—heroic commitment, questionable wisdom. My mouth aches. My teeth are protesting. The pain has crept north and settled into a steady headache, like it’s unpacking for an extended stay.
   

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So here I am:
Dodging unsolicited nudity.
Enduring dental rebellion.
And reminding myself—through the noise, the pain, the absurdity—
That surviving isn’t always graceful…but it is still surviving.
   
And today, that counts. 💥
This may not be my next direction.
I don’t know what it is.
And so—what’s next for Kit?
Honestly? I don’t know–yet.
     
But I’ve learned something significant over the years:
You don’t have to see the whole path to take the next step.
I’ll get there.
I always do. 🌱✨
(I’m glad you’re with me.)
======
12/30  Someone came by at about 3:30 am and knocked on my door. Said she was, “Making her rounds.” I knew I wouldn’t get back to sleep, so I let her know. I asked her not awaken me again because I will not get back to sleep. She said ok, but I could tell she wasn’t listening. I didn’t get back to sleep.
     
My trash can was only about a quarter full. I forgot to bring it into the bedroom with me last night. Of course, I had a brand-new bag in the can this morning. I must remember to bring my can into the bedroom at night, so it’s my fault. That’s the last I will write about the trash can bag waste.
   
Yesterday, I wore my dentures all day. By evening, my mouth was very painful. When I was young, the idea of dentures was beyond me; I thought I would never have them. But here I am, looking at a different picture of myself. This morning, the denture went in at 4:12 am, and there is no pain — yet.
   
Bob—across the hall, survivor of a brain injury—has been broadcasting his inner universe at full volume all afternoon. His sentences charge out of the gate with confidence, take a scenic detour through confusion, forget their mission entirely, and never quite circle back home. It’s oddly athletic—linguistic parkour.
   
Days like this remind me that this place isn’t just a facility—it’s a living laboratory of human unpredictability. No clipboards required. Case study in real time.
Then Bob took a stroll down the hallway with his walker.
     
Completely naked. No warning. No context. No emotional seatbelt.
Some images do not ask permission before branding themselves onto your soul.
That was one of them. It will be hard to forget. Yes, his was bigger than mine.
   
Meanwhile, in my own quieter battle, I’ve had my retainer in all day—heroic commitment, questionable wisdom. My mouth aches. My teeth are protesting. The pain has crept north and settled into a steady headache, like it’s unpacking for an extended stay.
   
So here I am: Dodging unsolicited nudity.
Enduring dental rebellion.
And reminding myself—through the noise, the pain, the absurdity—that surviving isn’t always graceful…
But it is still surviving. And today, that counts. 💥
Once again, no breakfast was available to anyone this morning.
   
From 10-11 am, I was with Terrie for OT. She covered things like, “What do I remember from the past year that was good?” I could not think of anything. I like the blogs I write. What do you think? I’ve not heard from you.
======

12/31   I slept in until about 4:00 this morning—though “slept” might be generous. Mostly, I lay there, drifting, thinking, listening to the quiet. Eventually, I got up and began the gentle ritual of starting another day.
   
Being here at NeuroRestorative is a constant whisper from my past, a reminder of the brain injury I survived so many years ago. Some days it presses harder than others.
   
Today, oddly, it felt almost like a quiet vacation—hardly anyone around, the halls hushed, the world moving softly. I did manage breakfast, which counts as a small win. Small wins matter. 🌱
   
Outside, the grounds were surprisingly clean this morning.
Not many cigarette butts.
Not much litter.
I paused and smiled—could it be that things are actually getting better? Or maybe the universe just wanted to give me a little nod, a silent “thank you” for caring. Either way, I’ll take it.
 
Today’s schedule was feather-light—once again, just a single therapy session. Speech. Thirty minutes at 1 p.m. with Dino, a man who knows. And that was it. I shrugged. Oh well.
     
The therapists are away for the holidays, and honestly—I get it. Everyone deserves time off. Time to rest. Time to breathe. Time to remember they’re human beings, not just job titles or clipped lanyards moving from room to room. Sometimes doing less is precisely what allows us to refill what matters most.
   
Later, there was a retirement celebration for Ann Marie—15 years here, and 32 years in nursing. Think about that. Decades of showing up. Decades of helping people at their most vulnerable. A life of service; she will be missed.
   
I found myself craving a Corona Light.
A flicker of the old me.
Not the place.
Not the time.
   
The room filled with people, laughter, and more cakes than any one room truly needs (though many tried valiantly). Folks returned from their Christmas break just for this, and that alone said everything: love brings people back.
   
And then something quietly extraordinary happened.
A few people came up to me and thanked me for the garden.
Just like that.
   
They didn’t thank me for juggling, or words, or ideas—just for planting something and tending it. And it stopped me in my tracks. Because in that moment, I realized I’m leaving something behind. Not a trophy. Not a title. But a living thing. A place of beauty. A reminder that someone cared enough to make this corner of the world a little better.
   
That got me thinking…
When you’re gone from a place—any place—what remains because you were there?
What small kindness, what quiet effort, what living “garden” will whisper your name long after you’ve moved on?
     
You don’t need to be loud to be remembered.
You need to love something into existence.
And when you do—its echo carries farther than noise ever could. ✨💚
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1/1 Happy Nude Year! (I always wanted to say that. You will be wearing clothes, though, yes?)
Last night was New Year’s Eve. I hope you made your New Year as fantastic as you are.
   
The first thing I hear this morning is Bob from across the hall. They have the door closed today, but I still hear his anger and frustration with life. I want to help, but how can this man keep going?
   
Put my retainer in today–hoping it will not become painful to the end of  the day.
   
Many people say, “Happy New Year.” For me, it’s just another day.
   
I’ve written a few times about John, who lives across the hall from me. He is the guy who has trouble walking without sliding his feet. I barely got to say goodbye. I think they should celebrate the person living the day before they depart.
 
I just found out that John will be moving into
https://celebrationvillaofwestpalmbeach.com/ 
Sounds like it will have much more freedom that we get here.
I’m glad for John and asked the person with him to look into Celebration for my future.
======
1/2  

I worked on the computer most of the day.

But I did find another place to live. 

I will let you know

3) 🌟BLOG 358–Build Your Life as you Build Your House.
   
Build Your Life as You Build Your House
This isn’t just a metaphor.
It’s a blueprint for intentional living.
And yes, you can make your life magnificent.
   
A strong life, like a strong home, begins with a solid foundation.
It’s shaped by thoughtful planning, built with quality materials—
Your values, your character—and designed with one undeniable truth in mind:
Storms will come.
   
You don’t toss a house together and hope it survives the weather. You build it on purpose.
In the same way, a meaningful, resilient life is constructed through deliberate choices, sound principles, and steady effort—so when the winds howl, and the rain comes sideways, you’re not scrambling.
   
You’re standing. Grounded. Prepared. Still standing tall. 🌧️➡️🏠✨
Because storms don’t define the structure—The foundation does.
And, you’re never too old (or too young) to start to change.
   
No one wakes up one morning and accidentally builds a great house.

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You don’t fling lumber into the air, whistle a tune, and—poof!—a dream home appears with granite countertops and perfect lighting.
   
No. You plan. You measure. You argue with blueprints. You sweat. You adjust.
And sometimes… You rip something out and start again.
Life works the same way.
   
Yet so many people try to live in a mansion built on sand—then act surprised when the walls start whispering, “We’re not feeling so stable today.” So let’s make this thing right. You must begin again and get the foundation right.
   
Step One: The Foundation (Who You Really Are) 🧱
Before a single wall goes up, a competent builder obsesses over the foundation.
Is it level? Is it strong? Will it hold when storms arrive uninvited?
     
Your foundation is your values. Your character. Your integrity—especially when no one is watching. You can decorate over cracks for a while. Throw rugs over weak spots. Paint happiness on the walls. But eventually—crack. Life leans on you. And what’s underneath matters.

A solid foundation looks like:
Honesty, even when lying, would be more straightforward.
Kindness, even when bitterness feels justified.
Responsibility, even when excuses are plentiful.
Pour this concrete carefully. It sets faster than you think.

Step Two: The Blueprint (Dreams with Direction) 📐
No builder starts without a plan—unless they enjoy chaos and crooked doorways.
Your blueprint is vision. Not wishful thinking. Not “someday-ish.” A real plan.
   
What kind of life do you want to live? What kind of person do you want to be inside that life?
Where are the windows—joy, curiosity, love—supposed to let the light in?
A blueprint doesn’t mean you won’t make changes.
It means you won’t wander endlessly wondering why nothing fits. Dream boldly—but label the rooms.
 
Step Three: Framing (The Choices That Hold Everything Up) 🔨 Framing isn’t glamorous.
No one tours a half-framed house and says,
“Wow. This two-by-four is breathtaking.”Please tell me if you don’t think framing is necessary.
The roof collapses.  Every time.  Your framing is your habits.
The small, ordinary, repetitive choices you make daily.
   
How do you start your mornings? What you feed your mind.
Who you allow into your inner rooms. How do you speak to yourself when you mess up?
Strong lives aren’t built on grand gestures. They’re built on ordinary days done intentionally.
Hammer by hammer. Choice by choice.
   
Step Four: The Materials (What You Build With Matters) 🪵
Cheap materials look fine—until the weather shows up.
Same with beliefs. Same with shortcuts. Same with the people you trust to help you build.
   
Are you building with Truth or convenience? Patience or panic? Courage or comparison?
Using flimsy materials to save time almost always costs more later—emotionally, spiritually, relationally.
Choose quality even if it takes longer. Especially then.
   
Step Five: Weatherproofing (Because Storms Are Coming) 🌧️🌪️
Every house faces storms. Every life does, too.
Loss. Failure. Illness. Loneliness. Plot twists that don’t ask permission.
   
Weatherproofing is resilience. It’s learning how to bend without breaking.
Repair without quitting. Please don’t hesitate to ask for help without shame.
Strong houses aren’t storm-free. They’re storm-ready.
   
Step Six: Renovations (Growth Is Not Failure) 🔧
Here’s the secret no one tells you:
Even beautifully built houses need remodeling.
Walls come down. Rooms change purpose. What once fit… doesn’t anymore.
That’s not failure. That’s evolution.
   
You’re allowed to outgrow old versions of yourself. You’re allowed to redesign.
You’re allowed to say, “This worked once—but not now.”
Rip it out. Build again. With wisdom this time. You can start again, again.
   
Step Seven: The Home You Invite Others Into 🏡❤️
A house becomes a home when people feel safe inside it.
Your life should feel like that, too.
Warm. Welcoming. Honest. Not perfect—absolute.
   
When someone steps into your presence, do they feel seen?
Encouraged? Lifted?
Could you leave the lights on?
Could you open the door?
   
The Final Walkthrough 🚪✨
At the end of the day, you don’t just live in your life—You live your life.
So, could you build it with intention? With patience. With joy.
     
Remember—no masterpiece was ever built in a rush.
Brick by brick. Breath by breath.
You are building something that will hold.
Your life is a continuous build, all your life.
And it’s going to be a beautiful place to live. 🏠💙. 🎉🏠💛
     
4) 🔥 A FEW SPARKS TO SLIP INTO YOUR POCKET
      ✨ THE MAGIC OF QUOTES ✨
Quotes are tiny magic lanterns—glimmers of wisdom that light our way. They contain big truths in small packages, offering comfort, clarity, and courage when we need it most. A single line can steady a trembling heart, clarify a foggy thought, or remind us to keep moving toward our dreams with a whisper that says, “Keep going—there’s more ahead.”
   
“The best way to turn a house into a home is to fill it with love and laughter.” –  William J. Bennett
   
“Love in your life should show through your home.” – Kit Summers
   
“Home, sweet home. There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” – Jane Austen.
   
“Home, sweet home. There’s no place like it.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder.

“A house is no home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.”  –  Robert Southey.
   
“Home, sweet home. This is the place to find happiness. If one doesn’t find it here, one doesn’t find it anywhere.” – M. K. Soni.
   
“Home, sweet home. This is where the heart is. Some go to Mecca. Some go to Disneyland. But everyone wants to come home at the end of the day.” – Harlan Coben.
   
“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.” – George Moore.
   
“To me, a home is where you feel loved, safe, and cherished.”  –  Mal ala Yousafzai.
   
“A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.”  –  Dalai Lama.
   
“A happy home is one of the most important places on earth.”   –  Billy Graham.
   
“One never reaches home, but wherever friendly paths intersect, the whole world looks like home for a time.” –   Hermann Hesse.
   
“There is no place like home.”  – Frank Baum.
     
“Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do but how much love we put in that action.” – Mother Teresa.
   
“Home is where you can make a mess and not get in trouble.”   –  John le Carré.
   
“Home is where you can find comfort in the kitchen and create beautiful memories around the table.” –  Rachael Ray.
   
“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors.”  –  Terry Pratchett
   
“Your home is your larger body. It grows in the sun and sleeps in the stillness of the night, and it is not dreamless.” –  Kahlil Gibran.
     
“Home is where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.”  –  Joseph Brodsky.
   
“Home is where you can relax, be yourself, and find peace amidst the chaos of life.” –  Tony Stewart.
 
“Home is the place where you become yourself, where you can be, and where you don’t have to pretend.” –  Henning Mankell.
     
“Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.”   –  Oliver Wendell Holmes.
   
“A home is more than a house. It’s a history, a legacy, and a sanctuary of the heart.”  –  James Patterson.
   
“Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave and grow old wanting to get back to.”  –  John Ed Pearce.
   
“Home isn’t where you’re from, it’s where you find light when all grows dark.” Pierce Brown:

5) YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK >>
It’s time. Every day this week, clean a different section of your house.
Start a habit of always making your place look magnificent!  

6) NEXT WEEK–BLOG 359–You Still Matter!
I know you’re out there, my friend. How about sending some words to me?
kitsummers@gmail.com

🌟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.
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.
Live as though you’ve only just begun—
BECAUSE YOU TRULY HAVE!