“KITTING AROUND”
BLOG 254—Live for Experiences, not Things!
I WANT TO INSPIRE YOU TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY OR BETTER!
With my words, I hope to throw some oblique light upon your life.
*** The joy I am experiencing in life is a marvelous thing!
*** Hit by two trucks—one involving a 37-day coma—I remain happy.
*** If you read this through Facebook, check out my blog on kitsummers.com
*** After living in my van and traveling to all US states, I married Beth on 2/22/22.
*** Thanks, my wife, for editing and adding to each weekly blog.
*** I will have places to show you and tales to tell.
*** Secrets to unfold and good news!
BE TAKEN AWAY WITH ME
ON WONDERFUL ADVENTURES!
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TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK — How are your experiences? Do you choose experiences over things?
From traveling to Europe my first time in 1978 (and three more times since) to driving roundtrip across the US over 25 times to visiting Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, I have had MANY experiences. I never had that much money, but I would never trade my experiences for any amount of money.
There are many reasons to collect moments, not things, but these are my top 8 choices >>
1. You will remember experiences–forever!
It’s more fun to look forward to an experience of a lifetime, and kids will remember experiences over things much. Their new toy may be blown away, but this focus is brief. The toy soon gets discarded and eventually forgotten.
The same goes for adults, especially in our throw-away culture when things aren’t built to last. Memories, on the other hand, last a lifetime. Our experiences during our journeys will resurface as memories during a conversation, which provokes happy feelings.
2. Have less clutter–it will clear your mind!
Obviously, some things hold sentimental value and produce delight for you, and you’ll want to keep these, but you’ll find so much stuff you haven’t touched in years. Getting rid of these things is quite liberating. Keep the memories–not the things. Less is better for your mind.
The key is not collecting things that will clutter your home and/or life. Even when you travel, don’t buy travel souvenirs; once again, keep the memories. Supporting the local economy with your tourist dollars is essential, but you should do this and, more importantly, gain experience. Eat in small, family-run restaurants and take family-run tours.
3. The best moments are free!
Think back, you can argue that some experiences, like flying a plane or skydiving, are expensive, yet some of the best moments for us have been entirely free. Either going on family walks and watching the kids discover a new animal or sitting on the beach watching a sunrise or a sunset. We love being by water as we find it so calming. Waterfalls are a big favorite of mine, too. And you can’t beat a lovely sunset. Just get out there and FIND experiences!
4. Each small moment will help you discover yourself and learn!
If you’re trying something new, it can be a challenge, but it is only by challenging ourselves that we learn and grow. Travel has its moments. It is not always austere sailing, but trying new experiences and overcoming challenges helps us discover our limits and abilities.
They say kids learn so much by getting out there and doing something rather than reading about it. Another says we love – “Not all classrooms have four walls.” Getting the kids outside and doing outdoor activities is so much more rewarding. Of course, you remember when you were a kid.
5. Sharing a moment with someone brings both of you closer!
There isn’t as much opportunity to share moments at home, so we share special moments when we travel. When we travel together as a family, everyone is less stressed and in a happier frame of mind.
6. Experiences create stories that will live forever!
Many family meal times involve discussing things that happened instead of ‘things.’ A good storyteller will regale people with tales of events and experiences. They don’t tell stories about something they own; they tell of their life. These stories that are created from moments will live on forever. Things end, but memories last forever.
7. Each experience is unique!
No two people experience the same thing in the same way, ever; therefore, every experience, even if shared, is unique and personal to you. On the other hand, it’s pretty hard to find a ‘thing’ that is truly unique. So where does your ‘Collect Moments Not Things’ start?
Make a travel bucket list and go from there. You may want to see the Northern Lights. If so, you could think about Iceland. You should take a family-friendly safari. If so, I highly recommend South Africa. I have my list, and it just keeps growing!
Another thing I suggest is to keep an ‘Adventure Jar.’ It’s like a travel piggy bank where you spend the money you would have spent on buying a ‘thing’ you don’t need. You might be surprised by how it adds up.
WHAT NEW STORIES ARE YOU READY TO WRITE?
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WORDS TO INSPIRE YOU!
Inspirational quotes and motivational sayings have a unique ability to change the way we feel about life and can change our thoughts. They are so interesting, challenging, and essential on our path to joy, happiness, and finding ways to inspire ourselves and others. Inspirational quotes and ideas give us a quick and timely burst of wisdom to get our focus back, offering the inspiration needed for the day or occasion.
I HOPE TO INSPIRE YOU WITH MY WORDS
WORDS HAVE POWER!
Are you accomplishing what you want before your eventual death?
At any age, you can (and should) make changes to make your life better.
How you think and feel about yourself, including your beliefs and expectations about what is possible, determines everything in your life, and it all derives from your quality of thinking.
WHEN YOU IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR THINKING,
YOU CHANGE THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE—SOMETIMES INSTANTLY!
Just as positive words can make someone smile, and a well-timed amusing quote can make someone laugh, your thoughts react to the world in real-time. You have this control! You have complete control over only one thing in the universe — Your Thinking —and that’s where motivational quotes come in!
SELF-TALK IS SO ESSENTIAL—THINK RIGHT
To keep your motivation, you have to use each day as an opportunity to improve and get closer to your goals. It might sound like a lot of work—and with your busy schedule—next to impossible. But you can do it! Motivational words, yes, are just words.
But they are positive words; they will keep you on track.
EVEN IF YOU START LATE, ARE UNCERTAIN, 
OR ARE DIFFERENT –
YOU CAN STILL FIND SUCCESS!
Don’t forget that you are only as young as the last time you changed your mind!
Keep your thoughts and self-talk fun and productive, and always reach for more advancement.
Positive and inspiring quotes are like beams of sunshine on a cloudy day. They inject optimism into our thoughts, brighten our mood, and help us focus on the good in life.
They remind us that even in the face of adversity, we can see the silver lining and embrace a positive attitude.
REMEMBER–VERY LITTLE IS NEEDED TO MAKE A GREAT LIFE.
In a world filled with challenges and indecisiveness, the power of inspirational quotes cannot be exaggerated. These pearls of wisdom uniquely uplift our spirits, can spark positive change, and fuel our motivation often when we need it most.
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GET INSPIRED!
READ OPTIMISTIC QUOTES
I HOPE THE FOLLOWING WORDS AID YOU >>
1) Release yesterday; seize today.
2) Don’t carry the past into your present.
3) Don’t drag old baggage into your new life.
4) You have the power to make the most of today.
5) Don’t let the past be a roadblock to a great today.
6) Living in the present, don’t get pulled back into the past.
7) Don’t let the past keep you from moving forward in the present.
8) You chose to change things for a reason; don’t second-guess your decision.
9) You’re stronger today because of your past. There’s no reason to go back.
10) Adventure is just bad planning.
11) Yesterday’s lessons have already been learned.
12) The past doesn’t have anything else to teach you.
13) Carry forward what you learned, but release the pain.
14) Keep the wisdom, but move on from what made you wise.
15) Wash, rinse, don’t repeat.
16) Progress lies ahead.
17) Be an arrow, not a boomerang.
18) Don’t let the past poison today.
19) Don’t revisit what’s already done.
20) Leave yesterday’s baggage behind.
COMPOSE A NOBLE BOOK AND WRITE A BEST-SELLER.
YOU ARE AMAZING—PLAY YOUR PART!
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MY DAILY JOTTINGS >>
Each week goes by so quickly, don’t you think?
It seems time is going faster all the time. Do you keep track of what you do each day?
Keep track for a few weeks; you will see your time differently.
1/6–Cold, but work around the house on things. Spoke to my friend, Daniel Powell, today. This is one impressive man. We graduated high school together, and he has achieved massive success in real estate. Along the way, he has battled and won over cancer and participated in many triathlons.
Today, Beth made a batch of my chocolate chip cookie recipe.
As usual, they turned out fabulous. Have you made some yet?
Chocolate Chip Cookies
4 sticks butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 tablespoons Kahlua
2 tablespoons vanilla
4 eggs
5 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
325 for 15 minutes
1/7–Almost daily, Jemma takes me for a walk. In the front yard, I call her to come to me. Then I hold her head in both hands, and she has to wait until I say, “GO,” and she darts down the road. It’s hard to believe how fast she is. It’s funny, Dolly the kitty often also goes with us. Have you ever taken a cat for a walk? It’s a good workout for me, too.
Down the road, about 90 meters, there is a turnoff for the horses; that’s where we end up. Metric might be a new language for you–but learn it. The metric system is a much better way to measure and weigh things. America should have gone metric back when Jimmy Carter tried to get the country to convert.
1/8–A big storm is coming; it’s time to prepare. I worked on the water collector, and things are coming together well. I will have it up tomorrow.
We have a dining room we never use, a good place for bunnies. I built a screen/protector that will keep them in. It is quite fun to watch them when they are free. We still have many bunnies; more will find new homes. 
Heard stories about “The Shot”, or vaccine, and how people are dying from it. Beth and I never got “The Shot,” and I am happy with that decision. I did not want anything put into my body that had not been verified to be safe and beneficial.
I just feel that having “The Shot” gives other people control of your future. I am happy I did not get it. If you did, I understand; they put on strong that everyone “had” to get the shot. I did not allow it.
1/9–Coldness continues, yikes.
1/10–Because rain was on the way, I had to finish the last garden. It took much of the day; maybe that’s why I put it off. I forced myself to do the task, much better now.
1/11–There was one more garden that I needed to dig up and put a thicker plastic cover on the sides. I must say, I knew it would take most of a day to complete the task, but I would not attack it. After I started, I found that it went easy. I knew I had to complete it by tomorrow, in that a big storm was on the way.
How about you? Do you hesitate sometimes because you think something will take too much time and/or effort? Start and complete it; you will be surprised at how easily things go.
1/12–I woke up today at my usual time, about 3am. Beth and I were out in the area doing some tasks. I still don’t know my way around here as well as I should.
MAKE A FABULOUS WEEK FOR YOURSELF THIS WEEK!
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YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK >>
Make a batch of my chocolate chip cookie this week–you’ll love it!
THIS IS YOUR LIFE — MAKE YOUR LEGACY HAPPEN!
DO SOMETHING NEW–DAILY,
THEN, KEEP DOING IT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
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NEXT BLOG >>
Learn how we are dealing with the winter cold.
More critical–how are you dealing with the colder climate?
AND WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING FOR YOUR UPCOMING WEEK?
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