✨KITTING AROUND✨
BLOG 378–BREAK THE SCRIPT
This Video will give you more insight into 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. ✨
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It might make things easier for you if I added a table of contents. That way, you can jump directly to the parts that interest you most—like having a remote control for the circus inside my brain.
I’m still figuring out how to add page numbers properly. Somewhere inside this machine, tiny digital gremlins are hiding the instructions from me. But don’t worry—I’m hunting them down and expect to have everything organized by the next blog post. Progress, my friends… even if it occasionally travels wearing clown shoes. 🎪✨At least you see the order of things. 
PART 1) THE BEGINNINGS — PAGE 1
PART 2) THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK — PAGE
PART 3) BLOG 378 — BREAK THE SCRIPT — PAGE
PART 4) QUOTES — PAGE
PART 5) YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK — NEXT TO LAST PAGE
PART 6) NEXT WEEK’S BLOG — LAST PAGE
PART 7) FINAL THOUGHTS — LAST PAGE
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Every week, I try to create the very best blog I can—something that makes you laugh a little harder, think a little deeper, and step back into life carrying more hope than you had before. A spark of joy. A little wisdom. A reminder that life is still full of possibilities. ✨
The drops and catches over the years?
Can you feel it in the writing?
The miles traveled?
The hard lessons?
The laughter?
I hope so. Because I don’t simply arrange words on a page—I try to breathe life into them. 🎭
And if you ever miss a blog notification—or simply feel like wandering through a colorful museum of past adventures—visit kitsummers.com and dive into the blog section. Every post is sitting there like a tiny lit match waiting to brighten somebody’s day. ✨
And if the notifications ever become one juggling ball too many, just let me know and I’ll happily remove you from the list. No guilt. No drama. Just a graceful catch and release. Though I will miss you in the audience. 🎯🎪
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PART 1) THE BEGINNINGS
DON’T LIVE IN THE FUTURE OR THE PAST —
MAKE THE MOST OF THE MOMENT YOU’RE HOLDING RIGHT NOW!
The key to a good life is to learn to “change with the changes”.
If you do this, you are ready for anything.
YOU are the one to make your own life better.
Embracing change is essential for resilience, growth, and a meaningful life. Instead of fighting the natural movement of life, learn to move with it. Some changes arrive with a warning. Take that different dance step.
Others crash through the front door like a marching band of chaos.🎺😄 Either way, adaptation is what helps us survive, grow, and discover new opportunities we never saw coming. Real growth does not come from standing still—it comes from learning how to evolve.
Resisting change often creates frustration, stress, and exhaustion. The harder we grip the past, the more energy we waste fighting reality. But when we accept that change is part of life, we free ourselves to focus on what we CAN control—our attitude, our actions, and our next step forward.
Adaptability builds resilience, too. The moment you stop seeing setbacks as permanent failures and begin viewing them as temporary lessons, something powerful happens—you recover faster, grow wiser, and move forward stronger. Every challenge becomes less of a dead end and more of a detour leading you somewhere new. 🚀
Life becomes less about avoiding difficulties and more about learning how to dance through them without losing your balance. Even jugglers drop things sometimes. The trick is picking them up and throwing them again. 🎪
Every new challenge forces you to stretch, learn, and rethink who you are. That is how growth happens. New environments create new skills. Unexpected detours create wisdom. Reinvention is not a sign that your old life failed—it is proof that you are still growing. 👩🦱
The people who thrive are rarely the ones with the easiest lives. They are the ones willing to adapt, adjust, and keep moving forward with curiosity and courage. Life keeps changing. The beautiful part is that you can keep changing with it. 🚀
The future is a rumor.
The past is a memory.
But this moment? Ahhh…
This moment is alive in your hands. ✨
Too many people spend their lives staring into the rearview mirror or worrying about roads they have not even reached yet. Meanwhile, life is standing right in front of them like a golden retriever with a tennis ball, shouting, “COME PLAY!” 😄
This moment matters.
This breath matters.
This small decision
You make today matters. 🛼
You do not need to have your entire life figured out by Tuesday at 3:17 PM. Nobody does. Even the people who look confident are often improvising like jazz musicians in roller skates. 🎷
The real magic happens when you stop waiting for “someday” and begin fully stepping into NOW. Call the friend. Write the page. Learn the trick. Take the walk. Start the dream before you feel ready. 😁
Life rewards motion.
The rocket only lifts after ignition.
So stand tall in your life today. Laugh loudly. Help someone. Chase something meaningful. Build moments so rich with purpose and joy that the past smiles at you and the future gets excited to meet you.
Right now is not just a moment.
Right now is your launchpad.🚀
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PART 2) THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK
Kit’s Daily Delights — Inspiration, Freshly Served ✨
Every week, I sit down to map the days ahead—and every time, it begins the same way: a blank canvas. No guarantees. No script. Just a possibility waiting for color.
It still amazes me—that quiet moment before life takes shape. A few choices. A few conversations. A few unexpected turns. Suddenly, the empty canvas becomes a story. And here’s the beautiful truth: you’ve been handed that same canvas, too. Right now. Today. This moment.
You do not need permission to begin. You do not need perfect timing, perfect confidence, or a trumpet parade marching behind you. 🎺😄 Sometimes all it takes is one brave brushstroke—one kind act, one new idea, one small step forward.
So start now. Create the life YOU want while lifting others along the way. That’s where the real magic lives—one colorful day at a time. ✨ 🎨✨
>>>>>May 16
Slowly, things get going. Being a Saturday, I can see why. This morning I was working on the blog. Most of it is done; just the daily tasks remain. But how can I write about things that haven’t happened yet? I will have to work on that.
Breakfast did not arrive until 9:15; it’s usually here by 8. I could run the kitchen much better, including the times meals go out and what they are. For a change, I will go out to the garden/patio area.
I just watched a film about the making of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. With the difference in characters, it was so easy to compare it with here, now. Not that people here are crazy (except for me), there are so many different personalities.
I went out to do my daily cleaning. Not as much, but just one butt is terrible to look at. There was not much out there to pick up, but I did. I had forgotten that weekends here are dead. We are always watched, always controlled; it’s a little much for me.
Freedom is taken away, and we are all controlled. All this I saw in the movie. Reality is hidden from us. I want to go for a walk and get a little exercise, but that is forbidden. It’s about 11:10 now, and after lunch, I will go out for a short walk. I’ve compared this place to jail before; I haven’t changed my mind.
The word “Escape” comes to mind.
They must develop a list of things that patients can do on the weekend. I just watch YouTube videos to fill my time. And now that the garden has been taken over, I cannot do anything there to help. It’s sad to me that some of these people here will NEVER be released — but they know no other life. I could not imagine that for myself.
I’ve wanted to interact with others here, but it did not seem right.
The staff does not really feel trapped; we are all. Trapped. Something must be done to change this.
They should, but do not, develop a schematic scan of what people could be, including a job outlook.
Now, I want to cover meals.
As I’ve written, I am seldom hungry, but I worry about others.
Breakfast–an hour late.
Lunch–Came in at 12:45.
Dinner–6:45, another late one.
If I took care of the kitchen myself, I could make sure every meal was nutritious and on time. I thought meal times were 8 am, noon, and 5 — yet that never happens. Times should be picked, and they always met. I do want to lose weight, but this is a little much.
This would not be a place I would choose to live. I do not belong in a world built around waiting for the days to pass. Some people here, including me, feel trapped—caught between what life once was and what it has become.
You can see it in the quiet hallways, in the long stares out the windows, in the way hope sometimes shrinks down to simply making it through another day. That is a hard thing to witness. Harder still to feel.
But my story is not ending here. In the next few weeks, I will be leaving, stepping into a new chapter with fresh air,
movement, possibility, and purpose again. 🚪✨ I still have too much life left in me to sit quietly on the sidelines. I want to juggle again. Run again. Teach again. Create again. LIVE again.
Some people here may feel the door has closed forever—but I still hear mine creaking open. And when it does, I plan to walk through it with gratitude, determination, and maybe a few juggling clubs flying through the air just to confuse the neighbors. 😄
>>>>> May 17
Here is another Sunday showing itself.
Someone finally came in at about 9 am and said breakfast would be cereal.
I said no thank you. I noticed the hallways were empty. Where are people?
No hunger in me right now, and I doubt it will come soon.
“Doubt” is a strange word. I had to look it up >>
The word “doubt” comes from the Latin dubitare, meaning “to hesitate” or “to be uncertain.” Over time, it traveled through Old French as douter and then into Middle English as douten.
Interestingly, the silent “b” was neither pronounced nor written. It was added in the 16th century by scribes who wanted the spelling to more closely resemble its Latin roots. So every time you spell doubt, you are carrying around a tiny piece of ancient history… complete with a sneaky silent letter hiding in plain sight. 😄
Did you know that?
You’re welcome!
Do you ever “doubt” yourself about your ability to handle change? Embracing change is essential for resilience, growth, and living fully. Life is always moving—sometimes gently, sometimes like a squirrel on espresso. 😄
Instead of fighting the current, learning to adapt to both expected and unexpected changes allows you to move through challenges with greater strength and discover opportunities you may never have seen otherwise.
Real growth happens when you stop merely reacting to life and start evolving with it. Every shift, every setback, and every surprise carries the chance to learn, reinvent yourself, and step into a stronger version of who you are becoming. Adaptability is not weakness—it is one of the greatest forms of power.
>>>>>May 18
Monday is starting slowly, like an old car warming up on a cold morning. It’s 8 a.m. now, and there’s hardly anyone around. No breakfast, no schedule—normally both would have appeared by now like clockwork… or at least like slightly confused clockwork. 😄
Turns out breakfast was the “make-your-own cereal” special this morning, but no one bothered to tell me. So there I was, waiting for information while the cereal quietly sat there, minding its own business. Life in places like this can feel like a scavenger hunt sometimes: first prize is finding the spoon.
8:03
Just got my schedule for the day. An hour each >>
OT Group at 10. Speech Group at 11.
The group meeting usually doesn’t do anything for me. Many of the others are more brain-damaged than I am, so they don’t really do anything for the group, which includes me.
For an experiment, I plan to see who is here at 9 am and at 3 pm. I want to see who is here and who is not. Of course, this will not be completely accurate, but I am seeing what I can of who is around. I do not want to be kicked out, so I move ahead slowly.
9:00 a.m.
I headed down to the therapy room to see who was around, only to find the door closed and locked. No movement. No explanation. Just silence where progress was supposed to happen. I plan to see how it is tomorrow.
Sorry to say, the real working hours here are only from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Outside of that window, things can become very quiet and slow-moving. The therapists and staff are likely handling many responsibilities behind the scenes to help keep this place running.
Still, from a resident’s perspective, real progress, therapy, and meaningful support seem compressed into only a tiny fraction of the day. The hours pass, but the opportunities to truly grow, improve, and reconnect with life often feel far too limited.
YOU LIVE HERE?
Recovery is not something that exists only during certain hours on a schedule—it is an ongoing process that touches every moment of a person’s life. When large portions of the day feel inactive or disconnected from growth, people can feel stalled rather than encouraged.
A short conversation, a shared laugh, a simple activity, or just feeling seen for a few moments can brighten an entire day. When people are struggling, hope does not always arrive in giant, dramatic ways. Sometimes it enters quietly, through kindness, connection, and the reminder that they still matter. ✨
A little more structure, creativity, and consistent support throughout the day could help transform the atmosphere from simply “getting through the day” into truly moving forward. For people working to rebuild their independence and confidence, every hour matters. Every positive interaction matters. And every opportunity to grow matters.
A DROPPED CLUB?
Moments like that may seem small to some people, but when you are fighting to rebuild your life, every single hour matters. Every missed opportunity can feel like a dropped juggling club in the middle of the performance—sudden, frustrating, and impossible to ignore. But here’s the truth every juggler learns: the show is not defined by the drop… it is defined by the courage to pick the club back up and keep going.
Still, life has taught me something important: not every locked door means the show is over. Sometimes it means the timing is off, the plan needs adjusting, or a different path is waiting nearby. So instead of letting frustration run the entire morning, I kept moving forward. Progress is not built from perfect days; it is built from continuing anyway.
I know the world is not finished with me yet—and I am not finished with life, either. There is still fire in me, still purpose, still something meaningful left to give. I do not want to become a burden to anyone, but I also refuse to believe that a life filled with experience, struggle, wisdom, and heart should simply be pushed aside or forgotten.
YES I HAVE
I have fallen, been broken, rebuilt, and risen more times than most people can imagine. And even now, somewhere ahead, there are still people I can help, stories I can share, and lives I can inspire. A dropped juggling club does not end the performance—it is simply part of learning how to keep the act going.
There are several people here who walk these halls with someone by their side at all times. I jokingly call it having a “babysitter” following along. 😄 I understand that many people truly need help and guidance, and there is nothing wrong with that.
ON MY OWN
But for me, it feels different. Independence has always been a huge part of who I am. After years of traveling, performing, and building my own life, having someone shadow me everywhere can feel less like support and more like losing a piece of freedom.
Safety matters, of course—but so do dignity, confidence, and the feeling that your life still belongs to you. Real living is not just being protected; it is being trusted to grow, choose, move, and participate in your own future.
That is why I keep pushing forward every single day—to improve, rebuild, and reclaim as much independence as possible. Every small step matters. Every inch of freedom regained is a victory worth celebrating.
MOVING AHEAD?
Progress is not always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it arrives quietly—one determined step, one hard-earned victory, one small choice to keep going. But those steps begin to stack together. Little by little, they create momentum… and momentum is powerful. It can rebuild confidence, restore hope, and completely change the direction of a life. Like juggling, the magic is not in one throw—it is in refusing to stop after the drops. 🎪✨
OT GROUP FROM 10:05 — 11:00
As often happens, things started five minutes late. I was told the activity would be Cornhole (and by now you probably know my thoughts on that one 😄), followed by “another game.” Around here, time often feels optional—but when you are fighting to rebuild your life, time matters. Every hour is a chance to grow, improve, and move forward, not simply something to pass away.
Looking around, I realized there was nothing there that challenged my mind, pushed my growth, or helped me move forward. I also did not see any way I could add to things for others there. So instead, I headed back to my room and chose to spend the time doing something meaningful to me—typing these words, shaping ideas, and continuing to rebuild my future one sentence at a time.
SPEECH GROUP, 11-NOON
What they were doing was writing farewell notes to Christen, someone I didn’t really know personally. She basically runs NR. There will be a lunch held for her here on this floor—a quiet gathering filled with memories, stories, and goodbyes. Even without knowing her well, you could still feel the emotion in the room, the reminder of how quickly people become part of the rhythm of a place like this.
NOON TO 1 PM
On the third floor today, we will have a going-away lunch for Christen, who has been here for 4 years and is now moving to Tennessee. I never really had the chance to know her well, but it is easy to see the impact she made on the people around her. She will clearly be missed by many.
Places like this become their own little world over time. People arrive as strangers, routines form, conversations happen in passing, and before long, lives quietly weave together. Even when you do not know someone deeply, you still feel the space they leave behind when they go. I hope Tennessee brings Christen happiness, fresh beginnings, and a wonderful new chapter ahead. 🌟
Normally, from noon to 1 p.m., many of the therapists head into the therapy room and lock the door behind them. I understand people need breaks, meetings, paperwork, and time to regroup—everyone deserves that.
ME–A RESIDENT?
From a resident’s perspective, it can sometimes feel strange to watch the very place built for recovery suddenly become unavailable in the middle of the day, when you are fighting hard to rebuild your strength, independence, and confidence; every hour matters. Every opportunity to practice, improve, or simply keep momentum alive feels valuable.
Recovery is like juggling: once you finally get a rhythm going, you do not want to stop tossing the clubs into the air. Even a short pause can feel bigger than it looks from the outside. 😄 That is why I keep pushing so hard—not because I expect perfection, but because I still believe progress is possible. I believe people can continue to grow, improve, and surprise themselves right up until the final curtain call.
At about 3 p.m., I headed down to the therapy room again. This time, the place was alive with activity. Therapists were working with different residents, moving from one project to another, helping people stretch, practice skills, solve problems, and keep pushing forward. There was energy in the room—movement, conversation, effort, and purpose all happening at once.
Honestly, it was good to see. Earlier in the day, things can sometimes feel slow or disconnected, so walking into a busy therapy room in the afternoon brought a different feeling altogether. I didn’t expect that.
BUSY THERAPISTS
It reminded me that progress does not always happen in giant, dramatic moments. Sometimes it is found in steady work, patient guidance, and people quietly helping others rebuild parts of their lives, one small victory at a time.
Watching the therapists move from person to person gave the room a feeling of quiet hope. Every person there was carrying some kind of challenge—some visible, some hidden deep beneath the surface—yet the effort to improve never stopped.
Step by step, exercise by exercise, conversation by conversation, people kept reaching forward. There was something powerful about that. It was a reminder that healing is rarely dramatic; more often, it is built through persistence, patience, and the simple courage to keep trying. ✨
A little more balance. A little more strength. A little more confidence. Like juggling, improvement often looks messy in the middle of it—but if you keep the clubs in the air long enough, eventually the pattern starts to smooth out.
>>>>>May 19
Good morning, as they say.
How can I break out of here?
I’ve had about enough of being held up here.
Will it be escapism or deathticuff, I don’t know.
For one thing, a couple of the people here have voices so loud and grating they could probably crack a windshield from three rooms away. 😄 Others, because of brain injuries, speak in ways I simply cannot understand, no matter how hard I try.
The whole place sometimes feels like a strange orchestra where nobody has the same sheet music. Between the shouting, the confusion, and the nonstop hallway noise, I am wondering if I’m the one losing my marbles here. At this point, if someone rolled three juggling balls toward me, I might start having a serious conversation with them for a little peace! 🎪🤹
Today’s OT — Cooking is scheduled for the pork chops I bought last week. That will take place from about 10:30-1 pm. Then I have my teaching juggling session from 2-2:30. In the afternoon, I am scheduled to go to Walmart for a few things I need. As you can see, nothing is scheduled to help me advance. Just everyday things that I will complete.
Did you ever hear someone say, “Boy, this pig tastes great”? Or even, “That’s some great cow you cooked up”. We hid behind the words “pork” and “beef”. In fact, these words are often treated as dirty words when used. I’ve never understood this. You vegetarians out there can educate me on this.
LOST, HE IS
There is a man here who constantly walks the hallway, back and forth from his room to the elevator, caught in a pattern he no longer seems to understand because of his brain injury. Watching him is heartbreaking and reminds me how fragile life and the mind can be. He is one of those who always have to have an escort. Sorry for the person who follows.
As I have written before, some people here need someone with them almost every moment of the day. I feel compassion not only for the residents but also for the caregivers assigned to stay by their sides hour after hour. It is not easy work. Their patience and steady presence often go unnoticed, yet it matters deeply. Seeing this also strengthens my own determination to keep rebuilding my independence and
TONIGHT
This evening I was driven to Walmart to pick up some things.
This is scheduled once a week to restock, which is a good thing.
I like to get Lindor candy; insurance pays for it. Expensive, but worth it.
>>>>>May 20
Quietness… that’s all I hear.
It’s 4:08 in the morning, and somehow my eyes popped open before the sun even considered punching in for work. 😄 The halls are silent, the world is asleep, and here I am—awake like an overcaffeinated raccoon with thoughts.
I have absolutely no idea what this day will hold. Maybe inspiration. Maybe chaos. Maybe mystery meat at lunch. The universe has not sent me today’s script yet. But one thing is certain: something will happen. It always does. And don’t worry—you’ll hear about it soon enough. 🚀🎭
Shhh
Throughout the night, the shifts change like a Broadway play with no intermission. 🌙😄 Around 3 a.m., a whole new crew marches in as if they are storming the beaches of Normandy armed with clipboards and coffee cups. Then 9 a.m. rolls around and—BOOM—another cast replacement. It is like watching a never-ending relay race where nobody actually leaves the building.
In all my years, I have never once pulled the “Light Night Shift.” Nope. Somehow, I always land in the middle of the action, where doors beep, carts rattle, voices echo down the hallway, and sleep becomes more of a rumor than an activity. 😄
Meanwhile, time just floats along like a confused goldfish circling the same little bowl over and over. One minute it feels like midnight, the next it is suddenly breakfast time, and somehow you are still wondering if you ever actually slept at all. ⏰✨
LIGHTS IN THE HALLWAY
The hallway lights never seem fully awake or fully asleep either—they just hover there in some strange twilight dimension. Staff members glide past like airport workers during a delayed flight, everyone moving with purpose while I sit there wondering what day it even is anymore.
Somewhere in the distance, a machine beeps for absolutely no reason anyone can explain, a cart squeaks dramatically like it deserves its own acting award, and somebody is always talking loudly at exactly the moment your eyes finally start to close. Time here does not march forward—it meanders around in fuzzy slippers carrying a lukewarm cup of coffee. 😄
They say, “Time is of the essence”.
What could that mean?
Time is time, and essence is essence.
How can the two mix?
I just got my schedule for the day, and the only thing that really jumps out at me is OT from 2–3 pm. Bingo from 11 to noon? I think I’ll somehow survive the crushing disappointment of missing that masterpiece of suspense and flying numbered balls.😄 Somewhere, a bingo cage is spinning dramatically without me… and yet, life marches on. 🚀
DRAMA?
Honestly, it has reached the point where this place offers very little that pulls me in anymore. The days can start to feel like reruns of a show nobody asked to binge-watch. Even breakfast this morning was just cereal, and I passed on that, too. My excitement level stayed somewhere between “mild shrug” and “sleeping houseplant.”
Still, I keep reminding myself: this is temporary. A waiting room is not a destination. I did not come this far in life—from stages, spotlights, accidents, reinventions, and all the wild juggling acts in between—just to let my spirit go flat over a bowl of corn flakes. 🥣😄 One way or another, I will keep pushing forward, looking for growth, movement, and meaning… even if I have to create it myself.
DOGGY DU DA
And to top off the day, they rolled out what they call “Pet Therapy,” which mostly looked like someone escorting a confused little dog from room to room like a furry motivational speaker. 😄🐕
Now, don’t get me wrong, the dog seemed nice enough—no complaints with you, pooch. But I quietly decided to pass on that adventure. Somewhere along the line, my life drifted from performing under spotlights and juggling flying objects to being invited to pet a traveling Labrador in the hallway. That realization alone nearly made me laugh out loud.
Still, I know some people truly enjoy it, and if a wagging tail brightens someone’s day, that is a good thing. As for me, I keep looking for something that challenges the mind, sparks the spirit, or at least involves a little more danger than a golden retriever and a leash. 😄
TODAY
Every morning is about the same–
Wait to get my schedule.
Breakfast arrives.
Then I go out to do my duty, cleaning the garden/patio area.
But I want more out of life. Without change, I will not find a different future. It was pretty clean out there today, but still some butts.
But I want more out of life than simply watching the days drift by. I want movement. Growth. Possibility. Without change, the future stays trapped inside the same old pattern, like a juggler tossing only one ball and calling it a show. 😄
DRIFT?
If I want a different tomorrow, I have to keep pushing for it today—step by step, thought by thought, effort by effort. Change can feel uncomfortable, but so can standing still for too long.
I went outside for my daily cleanup mission today. Things were clean, which was a good sight. Still, a few cigarette butts were scattered around, stubborn little reminders that there is always work left to do.
Funny how life mirrors that. No matter how much progress we make, there are always a few “butts” left behind to pick up—old habits, doubts, fears, excuses. But little by little, the place improves. So do we. One small act at a time.
NEW JUGGLERS!
Two new people, along with a staff member, stopped by today for a tour of the place. Naturally, I could not resist turning it into an impromptu juggling lesson. 😄 Within minutes, I had them keeping 3 scarves in the air, laughing and surprising themselves at what they could do. Nothing breaks the ice faster than objects flying through the air with just a tiny bit of controlled panic. 🎪
Seeing that spark light up in people never gets old. At this point, I have taught more than 55 people here how to juggle, and that feels wonderful. In a place where many people feel stuck, frustrated, or uncertain, even a few moments of success can change the energy in the room.
For a little while, people stop thinking about limitations and start thinking, “Hey… maybe I CAN do this.” And sometimes, that small victory becomes the first toss toward something much bigger. For a brain-injured person, the specifics always have to be the same. Chang can be devastating.
They call it “Pet Therapy.” Today, Lucky stopped by to visit people here, bringing a few smiles and wagging her tail along the way. 🐶✨ It was a quick little doggie visit, but she left behind a bit of warmth wherever she went.
Worked with Terrie in OT today. She handed me a giant grid packed with numbers and had me hunt for groups of five hidden inside the chaos. This is supposed to help with driving skills. I smiled and played along, although I’m still not sure how spotting sneaky little numbers prepares a man for traffic, stoplights, and the occasional driver who has earned their license from a cereal box. 😄
DRIVING
Still, I understand the bigger idea. Exercises like that are designed to sharpen focus, scanning, reaction time, and attention to detail—all things that matter behind the wheel. So I dug in and gave it my best effort. Every challenge, even the strange ones, is another small step toward reclaiming independence. And honestly, after everything life has thrown at me, searching for hidden fives in a sea of numbers feels pretty manageable.
>>>>>May 21
Just got my schedule for today, nothing much. At 9:30, I have OT for a half hour, then at 11 a Scrabble Group for an hour. Seems to be getting worse around here as far as therapy goes. As you know, I do not do well in “group” settings; they usually do nothing for me.
Just got back from OT. Today’s big challenge was basically electronic whack-a-mole with my finger on a glowing board. Honestly, juggling three balls would probably accomplish the same thing—and with a lot more style. 😄 I think I did terribly, but the funny thing is… I did not really care. Sometimes the victory is simply showing up, playing the game, and refusing to let frustration take the steering wheel.
A CLEANING I WILL GO . . .
Later, I went outside to clean the area, as I do every day. Not much out there this time, which felt like a small win in itself. Still, there is always something needing attention—a cigarette butt, a crooked chair, a little piece of disorder waiting quietly for someone to notice. Life feels a lot like that sometimes—small things, small fixes, small acts of care. None of them seems huge alone, but together they slowly help put the world back in place.
Funny how life works that way. A cleaner sidewalk, a picked-up cigarette butt, a tiny act of care—it may not change the entire world in a single afternoon, but it changes my little corner of it. And maybe that is how real progress always begins: not with fireworks and giant speeches, but with small, steady acts that quietly say, “I still care.” One little improvement at a time, the world shifts… and so do we. ✨ 🌎
GAME TIME
Then came a game of Scrabble with four others. Funny enough, after writing many books and posting a weekly blog, you would think I’d have a slight advantage with words. Nope. I still managed to come in dead last in the great battle of letter tiles. Writing inspiration and finding a seven-letter word under pressure are two completely different sports. 😄
It’s strange how many simple family games are used in brain injury therapy. Maybe there is real value hidden in those familiar little games… or maybe the therapists use them because everyone already knows the rules, so the brain can focus on rebuilding rather than learning something new. This makes it easier for the therapists.
Either way, it is funny to realize that somewhere between Scrabble, matching cards, and beanbags tossed across a room, people are quietly trying to put pieces of their lives back together again. But from simple games?
IT’S 3:22
I just went down to the therapy room. Everything was locked up, quiet as a library after closing time. No therapists around at all. They are only here for a limited time in the mornings, though I still do not know enough to fully understand how everything works here. I’m watching, learning, and piecing it together little by little. More updates later as the mystery unfolds. 😄
NOW IT’S 5 p.m.
I spoke with Myles, and he said the move to:
https://www.legacypreservetampa.com/
is expected to happen on May 28 or 29. Jasmine and April are planning to come down from Pennsylvania to help with the move, which makes this next chapter feel even more real.
A new place.
A fresh start.
Exercise time!
New energy in the air.
I’ll keep you posted as things come together.
It looks like my time at Legacy will be far more open and freeing than what I’ve experienced here. I’m excited to get back outside, run more, exercise regularly, and hopefully get a bike soon so I can start putting some serious miles behind me again. Watch out, world… I may be turning into a gray-haired road warrior on two wheels. 😄 How ’bout those miles, Myles?
LEGACY
Yes, I will continue posting my weekly blog for you. I’m grateful that you take the time to read my words, and from everything I can tell, you truly connect with what I write. That means more to me than you know. So get ready—there’s a new atmosphere ahead, a fresh chapter in the air, and I have a feeling the best words are still waiting to be written. ✨
LOOKS LIKE A GREAT PLACE >> https://www.legacypreservetampa.com/
And thank you, Greg, for helping make this happen. Greg is with Selective Insurance, and they are covering this new place for me to stay. It is the same insurance company connected to the man who hit me back on 4/3/1982—a moment that changed the entire direction of my life.
TWISTS?
Through all the twists, turns, crashes, comebacks, and reinventions life has thrown my way since then, Greg and everyone at Selective have been an incredible source of support, encouragement, and help. Through every chapter of the journey, they have continued to stand beside me—and that has meant more than words can say.
Talk about Breaking the Script—I shattered a few copies along the way. Life can be strange like that. One terrible moment can echo through decades, but so can a single act of kindness. A crash can change a life, yet so can a hand reaching down to help someone back up.
Through all the twists, setbacks, reinventions, and unlikely comebacks. I have never forgotten the people who helped me keep moving forward. They became part of the story too—the proof that even after the curtain falls, the show is not always over. 🎭✨
>>>>>May 22
What is it you say first thing in the morning? Oh, ha… “Good morning.” Funny how those two little words can set the tone for an entire day. Sometimes they are spoken with energy and optimism. Other times, they come out half-asleep, mumbled through tangled hair, aching muscles, and a desperate search for tea. ☕😄
But maybe there is more power in those words than we realize. Every morning is a small restart button. A fresh juggling toss into the air. Another chance to stand up, shake off yesterday, and step back into life—whether we feel ready or not.
Some mornings feel exciting. Others feel heavy. Yet the sun keeps showing up like the world’s most reliable stage manager, pulling back the curtain and whispering, “Alright, kid… your scene again.” And there we are, blinking at the spotlight, trying to remember our lines.
So yes… “Good Morning”. Two simple words. But hidden inside them is hope, possibility, resilience, and the stubborn little decision to begin again. And honestly? Beginning again may be one of the greatest skills a person can ever learn. 🌅✨
Every Thursday, I give this blog one last editorial scan. Miner changes make a good end result. Just a comma here or there can change much that is written. I’m enjoying the writing. I hope you are enjoying the reading.
Breakfast finally rolled in around 8:40 — fashionably late once again. At this point, even the toast seems to be running on “island time.” 😄 As for the schedule? It never showed up at all. Somewhere out there, I imagine it wandering the halls like a lost tourist with no map and no sense of urgency.
Life here sometimes feels like a parade with no route, no drum major, and absolutely no hurry, yet the clock keeps ticking, the carts keep squeaking, and the day keeps rolling forward anyway. Still, the sun came up, coffee exists, and I’m here — writing, thinking, laughing a little, and doing my best to juggle the chaos with style. 🎪✨
I was a little late — which, around here, seems to put me right on schedule. 😄 I wandered into Game Group and found everyone gathered around a simple children’s game called Sequence. Cards and chips were flying everywhere.
I stayed for a few minutes, watched the cards and colored chips fly around the table, smiled politely at the action, and then decided it was time to hit the road. Some games pull you in… and some gently escort you right back out the door. Bye-bye.
I’M STILL SAYING TO MYSELF—GET ME OUTTA HERE !
At 11 a.m., there’s something on the schedule called “Red, White and Beautiful Art Group.” If you know me, you already know arts-and-crafts hour is probably not my natural habitat. 😄 Still, I may wander in, investigate the situation, and report back from the front lines of glitter, glue sticks, and patriotic construction paper. Stay tuned.
So I went down, and sure enough, I was right. Each person was handed a red, a white, and a blue crayon and told to draw something connected to the holiday — and you can probably guess which one. 😄 Somewhere between kindergarten art class and patriotic masterpiece, history was being made one wobbly crayon line at a time.
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PART3–BLOG 378–BREAK THE SCRIPT
Starting back at Collier Junior High School in San Diego, I loved being in plays. In 1976, I was featured as a juggler in Carousel, and that single performance gave my young juggling life a tremendous boost. For a teenager obsessed with juggling, stepping onto that stage felt like someone had suddenly turned the lights brighter on my future.
The show took place at the legendary Starlight Bowl in Balboa Park — officially home to the San Diego Civic Light Opera. The Starlight Bowl once filled warm summer nights with music, laughter, Broadway magic, and yes… flying juggling clubs and torches? 🎪✨
Originally built as the Ford Bowl for the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition, the 3,500-seat amphitheater became one of San Diego’s great traditions. Audiences gathered under the stars while performers sang, danced, acted, and occasionally battled one unexpected co-star: airplanes.
You see, the theater sat directly beneath the flight path to San Diego Airport. And when a roaring jet thundered overhead, the show could not continue. The actors froze in place. The singers stopped mid-note. The orchestra paused. The entire production literally had to BREAK THE SCRIPT.
THE STARLIGHT BOWL
And there I was—a young juggler trying to keep clubs flying while a roaring airplane bulldozed its way through the scene. You should have seen a juggling club freeze mid-flight! 😄✈️ One moment, everything was moving in perfect rhythm… the next, the entire cast locked in place like someone had hit the giant cosmic PAUSE button over Balboa Park.
For a few magical seconds, time itself seemed suspended. The actors froze. Music silenced. A juggling club hanging in the air like it had forgotten gravity. Then, as the jet noise faded into the distance, everyone sprang back to life as if nothing had happened.
Strange?–Absolutely. Chaotic?–Constantly. But somehow it was also beautiful—a perfect reminder that live performance is gloriously unpredictable, and sometimes the interruptions become the most unforgettable part of the show. 🎭✨
Looking back now, I realize that theater taught me something much bigger than performing. Life does not always follow the script. Planes fly overhead. Accidents happen. Dreams stall. I drop (who, me?) People freeze. But the magic is not in pretending interruptions never come. The magic is learning how to continue after they do. At times, we have to break the script.
Over time, financial struggles dimmed the lights at the Starlight Bowl. Mounting debt eventually forced the organization into bankruptcy in 2011, and the once-vibrant venue fell silent. Yet even now, the story refuses to end.
Groups like Save Starlight have worked tirelessly to restore and preserve the historic theater, while the City of San Diego continues exploring ways to bring the venue back to life. Hope still hangs in the warm San Diego night air, waiting for another opening curtain. Are you a part of this group, Larry?
And maybe that is the real lesson of Starlight >>
Sometimes life interrupts the performance.
Sometimes everything freezes in place.
Sometimes the music stops.
But you are still here.
So smile, take your mark, and when the noise finally passes…
Break the silence, break the fear, and break the script. 🚀
LIVE FOR NOW! NOT YESTERDAY! NOT TOMORROW! NOW IS THE TIME!
=========================== THERE’S THE STARLIGHT BOWL!
PART 4) 🔥 A FEW SPARKS TO SLIP INTO YOUR POCKET
✨ THE MAGIC OF QUOTES ✨
Inspirational quotes are like mental spark plugs. 💥 They jolt the mind awake, shrink giant problems down to size, and give your spirit a running start. One powerful sentence can flip your thinking upside down—turning “I can’t” into “Why not give it a shot?” The right words at the right moment can become a tiny flashlight in a dark hallway. 🔦
But here’s where the real magic happens: repetition turns inspiration into identity. The more you repeat a truth, the more your mind begins to believe it… and eventually, your life begins to reflect it. A quote hanging on a wall is a decoration. A quote lived out through your actions? That becomes a transformation.
Simple truth:
A quote on a page is nice…
A quote you live by?
That’s power. ✨
=====
“When we strive to become better than we are,
everything around us becomes better, too.” —Paulo Coelho
“Without change,
We go nowhere.” —Kit Summers.
“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 key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule,
but to schedule your priorities.” —Stephen Covey
“You were born to win, but to be a winner,
you must plan to win, prepare to win,
and expect to win.” —Zig Ziglar
“It is no good getting furious if you get stuck.
What I do is keep thinking about the problem,
but work on something else,” —Steven Hawking
“Reflect on what you do in a day.
You may have never realized how some simple,
harmless activities rob you of precious time.” —Vivek Naik
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest
you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” —Robert Louis Stevenson
“To practice any art, no matter how well or badly,
It is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.” —Kurt Vonnegut.
“Creativity involves breaking out of expected patterns.
to look at things differently.” —Edward de Bono
“Create with the heart;
build with the mind.” —Criss Jami
“Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration,
motivation, and a pinch of creativity.” —Bo Bennett
“Have no fear of perfection,
you’ll never reach it” —Salvador Dali
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PART 5) YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK >>
LIVE FOR NOW! NOT TOMORROW. NOT NEXT WEEK. NOW IS YOUR TIME!
This week, change everything about yourself, live a different life.
Remember that, without change, we go nowhere.
Try living a “different” life this week.
===============
PART 6) NEXT WEEK>>BLOG 379–Don’t Just Count the Days Until Your End
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🌟 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.
Write me today—kitsummers@gmail.com
Live as though you’ve only just begun—
BECAUSE YOU TRULY HAVE!
🌟
