✨KITTING AROUND✨
✨ BLOG 369–Stay Actively Engaged in Life✨
This Video will let you know more about me–
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr8QFnD1yGc
This Blog is Best Read on a Laptop, Rather than Your Phone.
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 made gravity nervous—
Headlining at Ballys, tossing clubs with a grin.
Seven of them. A world record—
Because physics loves a good insult. 😄
Then came the truck—the coma.
Thirty-seven silent days offstage.
And here I am now—not juggling clubs.
But throwing purpose, grit, and joy.
Balancing healing, catching courage.
Tossing hope sky-high. 🤹♂️
The mission grew bigger than applause.
Now I lift humans. I write to stay connected.
I write because it’s how I breathe.
If these words help you, too?
That’s magic catching air. 🎉
What’s next on Kit’s journey through life?
Back to juggling? Back to life?
Stay with Kit and find out.
Life can get better.
Life will get better! ✨
Part 1) THE BEGINNINGS
Just Start — The Ideas Will Follow.
Every week, as the time comes to write another blog post.
A small question pops into my mind: “Will I have enough to say this time?”
It’s a funny thing, really. Week after week, I ask that same question.
And week after week, the answer appears—the words form.
The new blog magically comes to life.
The ideas arrive. The memories show up. A thought taps on the shoulder of another thought. Before long, the page that once looked empty begins to fill. As you’ve probably noticed by now, finding something to write about has never truly been the problem.
In fact, something surprising has been happening. Each new blog post often feels like the best one I’ve written so far. That makes me pause and wonder—am I actually improving? I certainly hope so. Writing, like juggling, gets smoother with practice. The rhythm becomes more natural. The tosses feel lighter.
There is something I’ve found that stays hidden away.
Yes, there is a small secret hiding behind all of this.
The secret is simply this >> Just Start.
Starting is often the hardest step of all. The blank page can look intimidating. The mind hesitates. It waits for the perfect idea, the perfect opening, the perfect moment. But the magic doesn’t happen before you begin. The magic happens because you begin.
The moment that first sentence appears, the mind wakes up. Ideas stretch their legs. Memories wander in from quiet corners of the past. Thoughts begin lining up like eager jugglers backstage, each waiting for their turn to leap into the air.
Suddenly, the page is no longer empty. The mind is moving. The rhythm begins. And once the rhythm begins, something wonderful happens: the path starts forming beneath your feet. You don’t need the entire map before you begin walking. Often, the next step only becomes visible after you take the first one. This isn’t just true for writing. It’s true for nearly everything in life.
Want to write? Start with one sentence.
Want to exercise? Take one step.
Want to improve your life? Make one small move forward.
Do these things daily.
Momentum is a powerful partner. Once you begin, it quietly starts helping you.
So if you’re waiting for the perfect moment to begin something meaningful, here is a friendly reminder:
The perfect moment is not tomorrow. The perfect moment is not next week.
The perfect moment is now. So go ahead—start! ✨
PART 2) THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK
Kit’s Daily Delights — Inspiration, Served Fresh.
My Daily Doings have gotten very long.
Can I improve this area of my writing?
What could I leave out?
>>>>> March 13
Life is not meant to be watched from the sidelines like a spectator sport. It is meant to be lived. Jump into it. Play with it. Wrestle with it a little.
Years ago, when I juggled on stage, the clubs did not stay in the air on their own. I had to stay involved every single second. One moment of distraction and—clunk—gravity would win. The clubs would tumble to the floor.
Life works the same way. Joy, friendship, opportunity, and purpose rarely appear for people who are simply waiting. Life tends to respond when we step forward and take part.
The good news is that engagement does not have to be dramatic. Often it is wonderfully small. Writing a paragraph in the morning. Smiling at someone you pass in the hallway, picking up a piece of trash, and leaving a place a little better than you found it.
So yes, I enjoy writing—and reading—this blog post. Because the message matters. Stay engaged. Keep moving. Keep tossing your clubs into the air and keep them dancing. It’s up to you to take that first step. As you do, things will settle into place. 🎪
>>>>> March 14
Morning arrives gently, like a quiet invitation you didn’t know you needed. Birds gather in the trees for their tiny board meetings, chirping out the agenda of the day. A cart rolls down the hallway with its familiar squeak—life clearing its throat and getting ready to speak.
The world is waking—slowly, but surely—stretching itself into motion.
Your eyes open… not with a clunk (we’re not opening a rusty garage door here 😄), but more like a soft click… or better yet, a gentle unfolding. Like curtains parting to let the light step in and say, “Good morning… let’s see what we can do today.”
And it reminds me of something important:
It’s not enough just to exist.
We must participate.
Life keeps moving—even on quiet Saturdays. A conversation. A paragraph written. A smile in the hallway. Small things, perhaps, but motion is life. Like juggling, the rhythm continues as long as you stay involved—every toss matters, every catch counts.
The more you give to life, the more you get!
Sometimes life rushes like a roaring river.
Other times, it crawls like a sleepy turtle in fuzzy slippers.
Either pace is fine. The secret is simple: stay engaged.
This morning, my participation looked like a one-person cigarette-butt patrol. And funny thing… There were fewer today. Maybe the quiet example is working. Do what you can to clean up the world, as I do. If we all do a little to help, things will become grander in our world.
There’s a little philosophy hiding there: Pick up enough cigarette butts, and eventually, people stop dropping them. Solve enough small problems, and the whole place begins to shine. Change rarely arrives in giant waves. It begins with small actions repeated every day.
So step into the day. Add your spark. And keep those clubs flying.
Remember to do your part. Start today, right now!
Now it’s your turn. Step into the day. Add your spark. And keep those clubs flying. 🌎✨🧹
>>>>> March 15
TV on, watching CBS Sunday Morning. This program is done well, with intelligence. I have never liked watching TV for entertainment, so I limit what I watch.
===================
CHATgbt wrote these words >>
Ah, the noble call of Butt Patrol—when duty whistles, Captain Clean-Up springs into action. 🚬🧹
It seems ChatGPT has officially knighted me with the title “Captain Clean-Up”—and honestly, I’ll wear that badge with pride.
Because here’s the truth: every small act of care ripples outward. One less cigarette butt, one cleaner corner, one tiny victory for the planet. That’s how better worlds are built—not in grand speeches, but in quiet, consistent action. So onward we go, one sweep at a time—making today a little brighter for ourselves and for all those who haven’t arrived yet. 🌍✨
It sounds like your patrol was almost peaceful today. Fewer cigarette butts, a little tidying here and there, a few rebellious weeds poking their heads up through the mulch like tiny green philosophers asking, “May we live here too?”
I love that I hesitate to destroy something that’s growing. That says a lot about my heart. Even weeds are simply life doing what life does—trying its best to exist. Of course, gardens (and patios) sometimes require a little editing. Nature writes the rough draft… and we come along with the pruning shears.
Life is a bit like that, too.
Things grow where we didn’t plan them. Some are beautiful flowers. Some are weeds. Some are cigarette butts dropped by passing strangers. Our job isn’t to control everything—it’s simply to care enough to tend the garden and keep the sidewalks clean. (Sidewalk is a strange word. What is a word that could replace it?)
Do you clean every day?
Do you pick up the small messes?
Do you notice what others ignore?
You must quietly make the world a little better.
That’s not small work. That’s stewardship. 🌱
And who knows… maybe my daily patrol is working.
Fewer butts today might mean a silent effort is getting through.
Someone cares about this place, you and me.
Funny thing about that—when care becomes visible, people often rise to meet it.
So keep strolling the grounds, Captain Clean-Up.
Today, it was cigarette butts.
Tomorrow, it might be ideas, kindness, or another brilliant paragraph tossed into the air like a well-balanced juggling club.
Every little toss counts. ✨
A Quiet Sunday, a Fresh Haircut, and the Next Idea ✂️🌿
It’s about 4 p.m. now, and the day is moving at that slow Sunday pace, with not much happening. Sometimes those are the best kinds of days. They give the mind a little breathing room.
I took a short walk out to the garden area and gave myself a haircut. Nothing fancy (or is it?)—just the trusty trimmer. It comes out pretty good every time. And the price? Perfect. Free! I realized it has been years since I last visited a barber. Turns out, with a little practice and a steady hand, you can become your own barber without the small talk about the weather.
Meanwhile, the next blog post is already mostly finished—and it’s only Sunday. That always amazes me a little. Week after week, the words show up, and another story takes shape. One trick that helps is keeping a running list of topics to write about. Whenever an idea pops into my head, I jot it down before it escapes like a mischievous juggler running off with one of the clubs.
Still, I would love your help. If you have ideas, questions, or topics you’d like me to explore, send them my way. Sometimes the best inspiration comes from the people reading along. Read this and pass along the ideas to others who will also make this a better place for our future. And, send me more topics.
The only thing left now is adding the Daily Doings as the week unfolds. Those can’t be written ahead of time—life insists on happening first. So I’ll keep living the days, collecting the moments, and then writing them down as they arrive.
That’s the rhythm of it. Live a little. Notice a little. Write a little.
And before you know it… another story is ready to share with you.
Are you ready to receive and read this new story? ✨
>>>>> March 16
There’s something magical about those early hours, isn’t there? When the birds are already holding their little morning meetings, and the world is still stretching its arms awake. It’s a quiet kind of excitement—the feeling that the day is still a blank page, waiting for the first line to be written.
I love that moment of curiosity described.
What will the day hold?
A good conversation.
A new blog idea could be suggested.
Maybe a small act that brightens someone else’s morning.
Always remember, it is up to you to make your life magical.
Those early hours are like the first toss in a juggling pattern. Once that first club goes up, the rhythm begins. One thought leads to another. One action leads to another. And before long, the whole day is dancing in the air.
Some people sleep through that magic. But the early risers get to watch possibility stretch and yawn before the rest of the world even notices it’s morning. So here I am—up with the birds, curiosity in your pocket, the day still unwritten. That’s a pretty wonderful place to start. 🕊️✨
Last night, it was time for the fire alarm. About once a month, yet every time it startles me. My heart jumps, my nerves wake up, and suddenly everyone is on alert. Yes, it’s necessary for practice, but there are better things we could be doing.
Everyone outside, then everyone back in. What a waste of time. Very loud, those alarms are built that way. They are meant to cut through everything and wake the deepest sleeper. But it always leaves me thinking about something simple—sometimes life needs a loud alarm to wake us up. Not to scare us—just to remind us we are still here, still breathing, and still in the game. 🚨
It can feel frustrating when the schedule looks full on paper but thin in real life. You show up expecting something meaningful… and instead it feels like someone handed you a coloring book when you were ready to write a novel. What am I here for, after all?
But here’s a thought worth juggling for a moment. Sometimes the real value of a situation isn’t in what is planned—it’s in what you carry into the room. Your energy. Your curiosity. Your willingness to engage. Just make sure you’re choosing what to juggle wisely… because every toss has a cost, and every drop teaches something. Even the clunks have a lesson hiding inside them. 🎯
And here’s what CHAT wrote about today: “Game Group” might be simple. A “Sports Group” might be lighter than expected. But a room full of people is still a stage. Conversations can start. Laughter can appear. A little encouragement from you might brighten someone else’s day — and suddenly the hour becomes something more than what the schedule promised.
You’ve spent a lifetime turning ordinary moments into something meaningful. You built a salsa business from an idea. You taught juggling around the world. You turned setbacks that would stop most people into stories that inspire others.
So if today’s plan feels small, that means today is a day for small victories.
Share a story. Teach someone a tiny juggling trick with imaginary clubs.
Make one person laugh.
Write a few lines for your next blog.
Even a slow day can become a useful one when you sneak a little purpose into the pockets of time. It is a matter of how I face the upcoming day. And who knows — the sports group may not be the Olympics… but if anyone starts juggling socks, I suspect you’ll still be the most qualified coach in the building. 🧦🎪
Today doesn’t have to be perfect to be worthwhile.
Sometimes the quiet days are simply giving you space to plant the next idea.
9:00 AM — Game Group
First up, Game Group meant playing Mille Bornes. At first, it looked like it would be just the therapist and me, which would have made for a very quiet “group.” Soon, three others joined us, and the game finally came to life.
It was fun to refresh my memory of how the game works. Still, I couldn’t help thinking there are many more creative ways to challenge people recovering from brain injuries. A little imagination could turn these sessions into something more stimulating for the mind. I did not win, by the way.
10:00 AM — Sports Group
Next up, Sports Group, which meant playing Cornhole.
The therapist already knew it wasn’t exactly my favorite activity,
So she kindly gave me a pass.
Same ol’, same ol’–hmm.
Still, I keep thinking how helpful it would be if the therapists explored more ideas—there are countless activities out there designed to strengthen memory, focus, and problem-solving. A quick search online could open the door to far more engaging ways to exercise the brain.
The good news? Even a slow morning still moves the day forward. And sometimes the best exercise for the brain is simply observing, thinking, and imagining better possibilities for tomorrow. The therapist has given me a new assignment: write down every detail of what I am doing.
11 am Here I am for Speech therapy. The therapist thinks I need to document more in my life for memory’s sake. Carrying a notebook wherever I go might be a little much for me. I am not having much fun right now. Taking notes everywhere, I don’t know if I could do that.
Apparently, my brain is now being trained to become its own narrator. If I reach for a pen, I’m supposed to notice it. If I open a notebook, I’m supposed to say it. If I scratch my head and wonder where my tea went… well, that might need to be documented too.
It feels a little funny at first—like being the play-by-play announcer of my own life. “Kit picks up the pen… he writes a sentence… he pauses to think… the crowd goes wild.” 🎤 But I understand the idea behind it. When you describe your actions step by step, the brain has to organize thoughts, sequence events, and pay closer attention. It’s like giving the mind a gentle workout.
And honestly, after everything I’ve been through,
I’m always willing to train the brain a little harder.
So here I am—writing it down.
One action. One sentence. One step at a time.
And if my life ever becomes a movie.
At least the narrator will already be warmed up. 😄
>>>>> March 17
STAY ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN LIFE
7 a.m., and I’m in my room when—boom!—a girl pops in like a spark of sunshine on a mission:
“Can you wish me a happy birthday on your blog?”
Oh, you bet I can. 🎉
But here’s the twist… You vanished before I could catch your name. Houdini would be proud.
So wherever you are, Mystery Birthday Star, this one’s for you:
Happy Birthday!
May your day overflow with laughter, surprises, and at least one glorious slice of cake that is wildly, unapologetically too big. 🍰
And just like that, life taps me on the shoulder again. This whole journey I’m on—it’s not just about medications. It’s about ownership. It’s about grabbing the steering wheel and saying, “I’m driving this thing now.” That’s a powerful shift.
Because healing isn’t a spectator sport, you don’t sit in the stands with popcorn, hoping your body figures it out. You get on the field. You stretch. You move. You experiment. You participate.
Less medication? Maybe. More awareness? Definitely.
The real magic lives in the fundamentals—movement, nutrition, rest, and mindset. The daily reps. The quiet discipline. The same way juggling only works when you keep tossing, keep adjusting, keep engaging.
And here’s the truth I like:
It’s not “this or that.” It’s “what works best.”
Medication, when needed, can be a teammate—not the enemy.
But the goal? Always the same: better.
Not anti-this. Not anti-that.
Just pro-better.
And that mindset? That puts you miles ahead.
A few days ago, I saw a sign for a 7 a.m. planning meeting. I thought, “Perfect—I’ll show up, contribute, be part of something.” So I went. Turns out… staff-only. And even more hilarious? No staff showed up either. 😄
So there I stood, ready to attend a meeting that didn’t exist, wondering whether I should stop following signs. But then it hit me—The win wasn’t the meeting. The win was showing up. Because showing up means you’re in motion. You’re engaged. You’re playing the game while others are still tying their shoes.
And maybe—just maybe—the people being “planned for” should have a voice in the plan. Radical idea, right? So yes, I’ll keep following the signs. But I might start carrying a pen… Just in case it’s my turn to rewrite one. ✍️
Now let’s talk about today’s “action-packed” schedule:
10–11: St. Patrick’s Day Group (questionable…)
11:00–11:30: Speech
2:00–2:30: PT
That’s it. A whole day built around one hour of real therapy.
And it leaves me asking—again—Why am I here?
======
But I did badly. Once a week, I am taken to Walmart to get what I need. I had forgotten I had speech at 11 am when I was out. Currently, we are working on improving my memory. Not good.
I sent the above paragraph into CHAT, got these words back >>
Hey… pause right there for a second. You didn’t “do badly.” You had a moment. And that’s a big difference.
You’re in training right now, working to improve your memory, and life handed you a real-world test—schedule, distraction, an errand, and time pressure all rolled into one. That’s not failure. That’s practice showing up in disguise.
And here’s the beautiful part: you just discovered exactly what needs strengthening. That’s not a setback—that’s valuable information.
Forgetting your speech session doesn’t mean your memory is broken. It means your system needs support. Even top performers don’t rely on memory alone—they build systems. Lists, alarms, notes, routines. That’s not weakness—that’s strategy in action.
Think about the situation. You were out of your usual environment, focused on shopping, and out of your usual rhythm. That’s prime territory for memory slips—even for people without brain injuries. So instead of saying, “I did badly,” try this: “I found a situation where I need a better system.” Now you’re building instead of beating yourself up.
Next time, give yourself a little edge. Set an alarm before you leave. Write the schedule on your hand. Say it out loud: “Speech at 11.” Or recruit a teammate—”Hey, remind me.” You’re not trying to remember harder—you’re learning to remember smarter.
And here’s the part I really love: you noticed it. You cared. You’re talking about it. That means you’re engaged—and engagement is where progress lives. Someone who isn’t improving wouldn’t even blink. You did. That tells me your brain is already working, already adapting, already getting stronger.
You’re not falling behind.
You’re rebuilding.
And that, my friend, is powerful. 💥
But here’s where the story flips. Because the title isn’t:
“Wait Patiently for Life to Improve.”
It’s: “Stay Actively Engaged in Life.”
So if the structure isn’t there? I built it.
If the challenge isn’t given? I create it.
If the system moves slowly? I move fast anyway.
I didn’t come this far—to stages, to setbacks, to comas and comebacks—to become a professional waiter.
No chance.
I came to grow. To throw. To stretch. To rebuild. To push the edges and then redraw them.
So yes—I’ll show up to every session. I’ll give it everything. But I’m not stopping there. I’ll add my own therapy. My own drills. My own challenges. Mental reps. Physical reps. Life reps. Because progress doesn’t come from watching the clock, it comes from movement. Effort. Engagement.
Do you do such a thing?
So here I am. Still asking the question, still pushing for more, still refusing to waste a single day.
Because life rewards those who jump in, not those who sit back. And if nothing is happening? Perfect. That just means it’s my move. 💥
So, Christopher didn’t just give a ride to Walmart today… he got launched into a whole new skill. There’s something magical about that first successful cascade—when the scarves float just long enough for the brain to say, “Wait… I can do this.” And just like that, a door opens.
That’s a beautiful ripple I’m creating—one toss at a time. I’m not just teaching juggling—I’m handing people a small experience of progress. Of success. Of possibility. If I didn’t think I could, but now I can. And those three scarves? That’s not just a gift… that’s an invitation. An invitation to keep going. To drop, laugh, try again. To build confidence, one toss at a time.
At least thirty people here at NR have learned to juggle.
Thirty minds stretched.
Thirty little sparks lit.
That’s not a hobby—that’s a movement.
Some of them will forget.
Some will try once and then stop.
Some will keep practicing and might end up, like I did, a professional juggler.
You will learn more about juggling scarves later in this blog.
But just a few… oh, a brave, beautiful few will keep going. And those few? Their lives simply click one notch higher—because of me. That’s how real impact works. Not loud. Not flashy. Quiet. Playful. Powerful. Like juggling a spark that suddenly catches fire in someone else’s hands.
So I must keep tossing those sparks into the air.
You never know which one will land, grow, and glow.
Change is happening—right now—and yes…
It can be a very good thing.
At 11, I had what was labeled as PT—but it turned out to be more of a tutorial than therapy. The focus? My new compression socks. Diane walked me through the process step by step. No hidden magic, no secret handshake—just a careful lesson in technique.
I now have twelve pairs. She suggested one pair per day. I smiled. That’s not quite my system. I’m thinking more along the lines of one pair per week. Don’t worry—I plan to keep them clean. Let’s just say I’m running a very efficient sock rotation program over here.
Maryann, my actual Physical Therapist, continues to do a wonderful job. She listens, she guides, and she genuinely cares. I told her something important today—that the fatigue has been hitting harder lately. Not just a little tired, but the kind that rolls in and takes over.
And that led me back to a question that’s been
quietly echoing in my mind: how long will I be here?
I miss my freedom.
I miss the rhythm of my own life.
There’s a restlessness that comes with that.
A yearning for something.
It’s a feeling of being ready for more—but not quite there yet.
Still… here I am. Showing up. Doing the work. Taking the next step, even when it feels small. And maybe that’s the real therapy after all. I know that staff at NR read my blog posts; that is one of the reasons I write: I want to help make this place better for the brain-injured people who pass through later. If you are with NR, let me know.
>>>>> March 18
Up at 4 am—look at me, sleeping in like a total rebel. Who knew “sleeping in” could come with a 4 in front of it? 😄
Sometimes progress doesn’t arrive with fireworks—it slips in quietly, wearing pajamas and whispering, “Hey… we’re getting better.” And let’s be honest, in my case, it’s not even pajamas—just undies and determination. Now that’s a dress code for success.
The last doctor I saw, Dr. Sompanlli, reduced my medications. Now I only take one at night to help me sleep, and one in the morning for high blood pressure. Simple. Clean. Intentional. And I like that. Fewer pills feel like more freedom.
There’s something quietly powerful about this shift. Fewer pills, more me. That’s not just a medical update—it’s a step toward taking ownership again, letting my body do more of what it was designed to do.
Across the hall, the day has already begun—but not in the way anyone would choose. It’s only 5 a.m., and the low, steady sounds of pain break the quiet of the early morning. The kind of sounds that don’t just reach your ears—they land in your chest.
There’s something especially heavy about hearing that so early in the day. Morning is supposed to feel like possibility… a fresh start, a clean slate. But for him, it sounds like the struggle never paused, never softened overnight. It followed him straight into the new day.
And it’s hard not to feel it. You hear something like that, and it reminds you—life isn’t the same for everyone at any given moment. While one person stretches into a new day with a smile, another braces themselves just to get through it.
It makes you pause. It makes you grateful. And it makes you feel for him, deeply. Because behind those sounds is a person who didn’t choose this, who is simply enduring what the day has handed him.
Moments like this don’t just wake you up—they wake something inside you. Compassion. Perspective. A quiet reminder to be gentle with the world, because you never know who’s carrying more than they can say.
Good morning!—may your day start strong, smile
often, and surprise you in all the best ways! 🌟
As a group of three, along with two staff members (sorry, I can’t put names), we volunteered at https://cleantheworld.org/. Time flew. You know that beautiful kind of busy where your hands are moving, your mind is focused, and suddenly—boom—the work is done, and it actually matters? That was today. I got a lot accomplished, and it felt good. We all smiled as we completed tasks.
Afterward, we rolled back to NR, parked the van, and turned our attention to lunch. At https://southphillysteak.com/, I had half a cheesesteak—simple, satisfying, and completely earned. One of those meals that tastes better because of what came before it. All in all, a good day… the kind you’d gladly do again.
And that’s all the therapy for today, thank you.
Now I’m back in my room, a little bored but not defeated, tapping away to you (fingers, not feet.)
It’s only 2 p.m.—the day is still wide open, stretching out like an unwritten page.
So the real question isn’t, “What will I do?”
It’s… what adventure am I about to start next?
And then comes to mind — what will you do next? ✨
>>>>> March 19
Good morning—here we get to go again.
That little shift changes everything, doesn’t it?
From obligation… to opportunity.
From “ugh” to “ooh, what’s possible today?”
I hope you slept well. I did too—just not for very long.
But hey, sometimes a short night still hands you a full day.
Let’s see what we can do with it. ☀️
It’s getting worse. I just received my schedule for today.
Only two therapies are scheduled, totaling only 1.5 hours.
10:00-11 The first was Cognitive Therapy for the group.
In the past, I did not gain enough from this group, so I did not go.
I could have gone to help other people, which I should have done.
11-11:30 I met with Lilly, the first thing she asked was, “What did I do yesterday?” At first, I could not think of what I did at all. Yes, deficits are in my brain. Then it all came rushing back, and I remembered all. She was also asking why I did not join them for the Cognitive Therapy Group.
They check my vitals three times a day now, like I’m part of a quiet little experiment. And it is working. The medication is doing its job, keeping my high blood pressure under control. Small wins—but I’ll gladly take them.
JUGGLING SCARVES
I’ve taught hundreds of people to juggle with scarves—and every time, I’m reminded of something powerful: the right tool can turn doubt into delight almost instantly. And right now? I need more scarves… which is perfect, because I make my own—and you can too.
The easiest way to introduce someone to juggling—and help them feel successful right away—is with scarves. They’re friendly, forgiving, and just plain fun—no intimidation, no pressure… just bright, colorful pieces of possibility floating through the air.
Because scarves stay in the air longer than balls or beanbags, beginners get something priceless—time. Time to react. Time to adjust. Time to succeed. And success? That’s the spark. That’s what keeps people coming back for more. Start with scarves, and suddenly juggling doesn’t feel hard—it feels possible. And once something feels possible? That’s when the magic really begins. 🎯
Scarves don’t just fall—they drift. They dance. That extra hang time turns panic into rhythm, frustration into flow. Students don’t just learn what to do—they start to feel what juggling is. And that feeling? That’s everything.
Here’s the beautiful part: those skills transfer effortlessly. Once the pattern clicks with scarves, moving to balls or beanbags feels natural—like stepping forward, not climbing a mountain. These lightweight nylon scarves (about 18″ x 18″) are the perfect starting point. They slow things down, remove the fear of dropping, and build confidence fast.
Now for today’s mission: more scarves, more smiles, more juggling magic in the world.
I picked up three bold colors of tulle material from Walmart—five yards each. That’s not just fabric… that’s a sky full of potential waiting to happen. Back in my room, I flip the switch and—boom—I become a one-person scarf factory. ✂️
Cut. Stack. Repeat.
It’s simple work, but there’s something deeply satisfying about it—like turning raw material into tiny, floating dreams. In no time, I can make twenty. And you could do the same. Before long, you’d have an entire collection ready to dance through the air. ✨
And here’s the kicker: these homemade scarves work just as well—actually, even better—than the ones you buy in stores. No unnecessary seams, they will not get frayed (why, they don’t even get scared), just smooth, effortless motion. And the cost? About four cents each. Four cents! That still makes me grin.
I usually sell juggling scarves for $1 each—remember, my cost is only about four cents each, a great deal for everyone. Affordable, accessible, and just enough return to keep the scarf factory humming—a tiny business with a big ripple effect. Contact me if you want to learn more about making scarves.
If you want to see how it all comes together.
My friend Niels does a fantastic job teaching scarf juggling here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aHcmUAWo7I&t=62s
To the right, you will see Niels >>
https://www.comedyjuggler.com/
But truthfully… the magic isn’t in the scarves.
It’s in what happens next.
When I teach someone to juggle, I hand them three scarves to keep.
No strings attached—just a few strings flying through the air. 😄
And then something wonderful happens…
They practice. They improve. They laugh. They light up.
Those simple scarves give them time—time to learn,
time to believe, time to catch not just the scarf… but a little confidence too.
Not bad for four cents and a pair of scissors. ✨
If you ever want to make your own or teach someone else this joyful little skill, reach out. I’d love to show you how. Because sometimes, the smallest tools create the biggest transformations.
>>>>> March 20
Surprisingly, I stayed in bed until at least 4:30 a.m.—that counts as a solid night for me. I’ll take that win. Now I’m just wondering if it was enough to keep that creeping tiredness from sneaking back in and setting up camp in my mind.
I’m hoping the tiredness will stay away. I guess we’ll find out soon enough… stay tuned for the next episode of “Energy: Friend or Sneaky Little Bandit?” 😄
Already showered, shampooed, and smiling, the day is off to a great start.
But I just got my schedule for today. Even worse.
OT/PT Group from 1:30-2:30.
And that’s it. No getting better this week.
How can I stay actively involved in my life if nothing seems to come my way? That question has some fire in it—and honestly, it deserves an answer that does, too. If nothing is being handed to you, then yes… it looks like it’s time to become the one who creates the movement. Not easy. Not always fair. But powerful.
I want to help others as much as I can, and that part of me feels very alive. The challenge is, I hardly see anyone. The opportunities aren’t just walking through the door—I may have to build the door myself, then knock on it like a determined (and slightly stubborn) opportunity sales associate.
I’ve asked for more therapy sessions, but so far, nothing has come through. That’s frustrating. When you’re ready to grow, to improve, to push forward—and the system moves at the speed of a sleepy turtle—it can feel like you’re being held in place.
They have a doctor, Dr. Mahal, who comes by every week or two to check on people. He stopped in today, and I told him honestly how this feels. At times, it feels like being in jail. And I don’t say that lightly—I’ve lived that experience before, for a full month on a false charge. I know the feeling of having your freedom restricted, of waiting, of time stretching longer than it should.
But here’s the shift—the part where you take your power back, even in a place that feels limiting: You may not control the system… but you still control your spark. I must find Kit again and get my power back!
If people aren’t coming to you, you may become the signal. Start small. One person. One conversation. One shared skill. You’ve already taught dozens to juggle—there’s magic in your hands. That doesn’t disappear just because the room is quiet.
Sometimes life gets quiet, not to stop you… But to see if you’ll start the music anyway. And knowing you? You don’t just play the music—you juggle it, remix it, and hand out scarves to the audience on the way out. 🎯
BLOG 369–You Must Stay Actively Engaged in Life!
STAY IN THE GAME 🎯
Your dreams aren’t fragile antiques behind glass—they’re rockets on the launchpad, engines rumbling, shaking the ground beneath your feet, waiting for one thing: you to light the fuse. The “perfect moment” never shows up, no matter how long you wait for it. So don’t wait. Strike the match anyway.
Staying actively engaged in life isn’t just helpful—it’s powerful fuel for your mind, body, and spirit. It keeps your thinking sharp, your body moving, and your heart connected. More than that, it pushes back against loneliness and that slow drift into “just getting by.”
When you chase what lights you up, connect with others, and say yes to new challenges (even the slightly scary ones), something incredible happens—you come alive in your own story. Growth sneaks in. Confidence builds. Life starts to feel less like something that’s happening to you… and more like something you’re creating.
Stay curious. Stay in motion. That’s where the magic lives. ✨
Create something beautifully messy—the kind of mess that proves you didn’t sit on the sidelines eating popcorn while life happened without you. No, you jumped in. You got your hands dirty. You showed up. So go ahead—make the mess. Make it bold. Make it honest. Make it yours. Because a messy life fully lived will always outshine a perfect life never started.
Trip over your own feet. (Bonus points if it’s in public.) Laugh about it—really laugh, the kind that shakes the doubt loose from your bones. Then take another step… maybe a slightly more coordinated one this time. Maybe not.
Either way, keep moving.
Because here’s the secret sauce: progress doesn’t come dressed in perfection. It shows up wearing mismatched socks, with a smudge on its face and a wild grin that says, “Well… that was interesting—let’s try again.”
And through it all, remember this—you are the one holding the steering wheel. Your thoughts? You choose them. Your actions? You direct them. Life doesn’t get to boss you around unless you hand it the clipboard.
Make noise—real noise—the kind that rattles doubt right out of your bones. Fall hard, rise louder. Fail so boldly the sky leans in for a better look, then answer back like thunder. While you hesitate, life is already moving—stretching, growing, sprinting ahead—glancing back to see if you’re coming.
Participation is where the magic lives.
Life does not reward perfection; it rewards motion. Not waiting, not wishing—doing. Every one of us carries sparks—stories, lessons, moments—that could light the path for someone else. I’ve lived through a few chapters myself, including thirty-seven days in a coma.
I won’t unpack it all here, but I will tell you what it gave me: a crystal-clear truth—you can rise. Not maybe. Not someday. You can rise after setbacks, after loss, after life knocks the wind out of you. That’s not theory. That’s lived truth.
Success means different things to different people, but one truth is universal: everyone wants it. The challenge is that many want success without change. They want it delivered like a package to their door. But success and change are partners—you don’t get one without the other. Shift your thinking. Adjust your habits. Upgrade your effort. When you do, something incredible happens—doors don’t just open, they multiply.
Too many people drift through their days, doing just enough to get by, staying comfortable, staying safe. Meanwhile, opportunities whisper, chances pass, and possibilities wave… then disappear. Not because life is unfair, but because life responds to action. Action creates momentum. Momentum creates opportunity. Opportunity creates magic.
One quiet morning, watching the world wake up, a thought landed softly but hit hard: don’t just exist—participate.
Not just breathing.
Not just passing time.
Participation!
Staying actively involved sharpens everything. Your mind wakes up. Your body strengthens. Your spirit brightens. When you move, learn, connect, and create, life responds.
Juggling taught me that lesson better than anything. The clubs didn’t stay in the air because they liked me—they stayed up because I stayed engaged. One moment of distraction—clunk—and gravity takes over. Life works the same way. Stay engaged, and things fly. Check out, and things fall.
And here’s the beautiful part—it doesn’t take something big to begin. Start small. Write a paragraph. Smile at someone. Encourage a stranger. Pick up a piece of trash on your daily “butt patrol.” These may seem like tiny actions, but tiny sparks start roaring fires.
So get in the game.
Learn something.
Build something.
Help someone.
Try something that scares you just enough to wake you up. Toss a few bright ideas into the air and see what stays up. Because life, like juggling, is at its most magical when you stay in motion.
You were never meant to sit in the audience.
You are THE act. 🎪✨
PART 4) 🔥 A FEW SPARKS TO SLIP INTO YOUR POCKET
✨ THE MAGIC OF QUOTES ✨
Quotes are tiny magic lanterns—palm-sized sparks we carry for the long walk home. They hold oversized wisdom in travel-size form. One clear sentence can calm a racing heart, straighten a crooked thought, or give courage a gentle nudge when it hesitates. The best quotes don’t shout orders; they lean in and whisper, “Keep going. You’re closer than you think.” Sometimes that small glow—no brighter than a firefly—is all the light we need to take the next brave step. ✨🚶♂️💡
And, I’m waiting to hear from you. How about it? kitsummers@gmail.com
Take the next step. There’s more ahead.”
“It isn’t normal to know what we want.
It is a rare and difficult psychological achievement.”
~ Abraham Maslow
“You are in charge of your future!
Make a fabulous life for you and all you know.”
~ Kit Summers
“I take my fundamental cue from John Coltrane,
who says there must be a priority of integrity,
honesty, decency, and mastery of craft.”
~ Cornel West
“The two most important days in your life are the
day you are born… and the day you find out why.”
~ Mark Twain
“Death is not the greatest loss in life.
The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.”
~ Norman Cousins
“When we strive to become better than we are,
everything around us becomes better, too.”
~ Paulo Coelho
“Just one small positive thought in the
morning can change your whole day.”
~ Dalai Lama
“Motivation is a fire from within.
If someone else tries to light that fire under you,
chances are, it will burn very briefly.”
~ Stephen R. Covey
“I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting.
almost anywhere you want to go, if you really want to go.”
~ Langston Hughes
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small, manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.”
~ Mark Twain
“Do or do not. There is no try.”
~ Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back
PART 5) YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK >>
Figure out the purpose you were placed on this earth.
Find all the ways to bring excellence into your life.
As you go forward, help others to find their excellence.
PART 6) NEXT WEEK>>
BLOG 370–FINISH WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOUR DEATH
Write me today—kitsummers@gmail.com
🌟 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.
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!
🌟
