BLOG 357–HAPPY NEW YEAR!

✨KITTING AROUND✨
🌟 BLOG 357–HAPPY NEW YEAR!🌟
By KIT SUMMERS — World-Class Juggler to World-Class Comeback

Once upon a life, I was the guy who made gravity break a sweat.
Headlining at Bally’s in Atlantic City, I wasn’t just on top of the world—
I was tossing it in the air and catching it with a grin. 😄
 
Clubs flew like they had minds of their own—
Alive, rebellious, thrilled to be part of the act.
Seven of them.  A world record.
Because why juggle five when you can politely insult physics?
   
Life back then?
✨ Dazzling. ✨ Sparkly. ✨ Roaring with applause.
The kind of applause that makes your bones hum and
Your heart says, Yes… this. This is it. 🎉
   
Then came the truck…
The coma…
My long nap…
The long, silent hallway of nothingness.
37-days where the world kept turning, but I wasn’t in it.
   
And yet—look at me now.
Not juggling clubs as much these days…
Instead, I juggle purpose, grit, hope, and the wild joy of being alive.
I toss resilience into the air and catch courage behind my back.
I balance healing on my chin and possibility on my toes.
   
My mission?
Oh, it outgrew the stage a long time ago.
Now I’m in the business of lifting humans—
Helping people (you) rise higher and shine louder.
Dreaming braver than you ever thought you could.
       
Because the show’s not over.
Not by a long shot.
And this version of me?
Helping you to reach a higher level.
I’m carrying more magic than ever.
   
I need a connection to the world.
Writing this blog fulfills that desire.
It helps me more than it helps you.
I write exactly how I feel.
I hope my words please you.
         
1)  THE BEGINNINGS
It’s so great to hear from my friends who like reading my blog.
Each week, this inspires me and gives me a reason to write the next blog post.
     
Never sure about what to put in this part of the blog, but here it is.
Every week, I give it my all and hope that my words grab you and help you advance.
   
Even though there are so many therapists and patients around me,
I often feel very alone. What I truly long for is sincere and straightforward—to be with someone.
Someone to care for, to share life with, to love… and to be loved in return.
   
Maybe that person is you.
And if not, perhaps you know someone whose heart might meet mine halfway.
There are people here, but I feel more alone than ever.
I really miss being in love with someone.

When I’m with someone, I’m all in—no games, no wandering, just truth.
My passion runs deep and can sometimes feel like a tidal wave.
Either way, thank you for listening.
It means more than I can ever say. 🌱💖

    2)  THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK
(Please, let me know what you did this week, too.)

======
12/20–Where is everybody?
======
Because it’s the weekend, things are painfully quiet here at NR. Most people stay in their rooms, and the place feels stalled—like life is on pause. It’s sad. Just across the street is a large, open grassy area where people could walk, move, breathe, and feel human again.
   
There’s virtually no traffic on the weekends—there weren’t many cars passing by when I was out there. People could be out there playing and exercising in the sun. With minimal supervision, this could be done safely. Instead, weekends feel like a missed opportunity for connection, movement, and dignity. At times, it truly feels less like living and more like confinement.
   
I just came in from my daily cleanup of the garden, patio, and the area outside the buildings. Once again, I’m stunned by how much litter—especially cigarette butts—ends up on the ground. I picked up more than 50 butts in just a couple of days. I don’t understand why tossing them on the ground has become part of the habit. There are receptacles and trash cans available. The habit itself is bad enough; littering makes it worse.
 
I don’t know if anyone notices that I go out there several times a week to clean. I do it because I care about this place and the people in it—but it would be nice to feel that effort is seen and supported.
     
Myles, can you spread the word about using the receptacles provided instead of the ground? A small change like that would make a meaningful difference.
     
Lastly, it’s been four days since I’ve had a shower. I’m not doing anything that causes perspiration, so hygiene hasn’t been an immediate issue. I usually shower when I have an appointment or when discomfort and itching set in—typically after two or three days. I’m sharing this simply because it reflects the reality of how slow and inactive weekends are here.
 
I can understand why, with the bit of sleep I get.
There is a slight grassy area out the door where I can juggle. It was too small,
but it is big enough for 3 club juggling. I also put ribbons on two clubs so I
can do swinging with the clubs, with the ribbons trailing behind and looking good.
     
Nothing is happening here, oh well. I am on the computer doing what I do.
I just read this: “A satisfied life is better than a successful life.”
Those words hit me just right. I am happy with how my Life is going.
How about you? Are you satisfied with your success?
   
Actually, today I have become quite happy.
Joy is up to each of us and how we face life.
We constantly have this choice.
Choose right, every time.
======
12/22 — Choosing Depth Over Cupcakes
>>>>>
Today’s official schedule?  OT from 10–11 a.m. That’s it.
When I arrived, they were frosting cupcakes. Sweet. Festive.
Hard pass. I chose something richer.  🧁✋
   
I poured myself into this blog instead. Wrestled with
Section 3 is like a worthy opponent.
Writing those stories stretched me, challenged me, lit me up.
That kind of work leaves you tired in the best way—
The way that says, Yes, you’re still alive. Yes, you still care.
======
12/23 — Grit, Glue, and Guts
>>>>>
I haven’t been wearing my retainer much.
History lesson: it pops loose, comes unglued, makes a dramatic escape from my mouth. 🎭
Today, I tried again.
More adhesive. More patience.
Let’s see how it behaves.
     
Still, having these invaders in my mouth is uncomfortable.
Every time I wear the retainer,
It’s a sharp reminder of the terrible decision I made:
I had all my lower teeth extracted.
That regret doesn’t whisper.
It clears its throat and speaks loudly.
   
But I just watched a video about a guy who had his upper and lower teeth removed. He has a retainer that screws into his jaw, which is what I want. He said after he got used to it, the new teeth were fantastic. He said that missing or broken teeth can significantly affect your health.
   
The Quiet Weight of Loneliness.
Aloneness comes and goes.
Loneliness walks beside me most days.
Here at NeuroRestorative, it feels like there’s a wall between me and the real world—
Ihick, Invisible, Soundproof.
   
I haven’t seen anyone.
I don’t even know how to set something up from here.
So let me ask you—straight up:
Are you going to visit me?
Because I could really use that.
   
Living Among the Wounded
Being here with other brain injury survivors is hard.
Bob—right across the hall—is moaning and yelling full throttle today.
I wish I had a way to make a recording; you would be very interested.
Interesting for you, and for me.
     
There are 28 patients here now.
Every single one has something visibly wrong with them.
And I wonder…Do I?… Are my struggles obvious?
Or am I just quietly fighting my battles behind my eyes?
     
Floors, Silence, and Forgotten People
My room is on the third floor.
Myles’ office is on the first floor.
No one’s around. And I expect that emptiness to linger for days.
     
I went downstairs earlier.
The first floor feels heavier—more damage, more visible loss.
Two people in wheelchairs sat parked in front of the TV.
Just… stationed there.  Forgotten.
That didn’t sit right with me.  Not at all.
   
A Christmas That Doesn’t Quite Fit
It’s 11:25 a.m.
People are gathering for the Christmas celebration—about 30 of us now. 🎄
The third-floor kitchen is buzzing.
They’re playing Hangman.
I’m not playing.
I’m here. Writing to you.
     
I tried standing around. It didn’t work.
I’m not in a festive mood today—
Not with this crowd, not right now.
Food came later—Sunny’s Barbecue.
And I’ll give credit where it’s due:
It was damn good. 🍖🔥
   
Perspective, Earned the Hard Way
At least a dozen people here rely on aids—
Wheelchairs, walkers, supports of every kind.
And that reality hits me square in the chest:
I can walk. I can run.

What, exactly, is wrong with me?
That matters.  That’s not small.
That’s something to be grateful for—
Even on days that feel heavy, lonely, and painfully quiet.
Still here.  Still standing and still writing.
And that, my friend, counts. 💥
======
12/24 — The Long Pause (Now Featuring Jokes)
>>>>>>
Today feels like a weekend that forgot how calendars work.
A long pause.
A festive nothingburger with a side of déjà vu.
   
I went out for my daily scavenger hunt—collecting rubbish and cigarette butts, which seem to regenerate overnight like some urban fungus. Not much today. Either people behaved themselves, or the litter finally got tired of me winning.
Then it happened.
A staff member looked at me and said, “Thank you for what you do.”
Boom.
Instant serotonin.
Five words, zero calories, 100% effective.
   
Therapy schedule for the entire day:
🥁 One session.
Speech therapy at 11 a.m.
Thirty minutes.
That’s not a schedule—that’s a commercial break.
   
I expected things to slow down as Christmas approached, but this feels less like “holiday mode” and more like “everyone quietly vanished mode.” Still, even one appointment gives the day a skeleton. Without it, time just flops around like a jellyfish.
   
Speech therapy was with Dino—smart guy, sharp thinker, no-nonsense brain. Dino doesn’t have beliefs; he has results. He does what needs doing and moves on. Refreshing. This is my one chance if a therapy today, hope it goes well.
   
He also introduced me to ChatGPT, which means I now have a tireless thinking partner who never interrupts, never gets bored, and doesn’t steal my snacks. We talked blogs, ideas, mental frameworks, future topics—all the good stuff. Seeds planted. No watering schedule yet.
   
Then—like a cat knocking something off a shelf—my brain immediately leapt to my teeth. 🐈💥
Because of infection, a few had to come out.
Logical. Sensible. Medical.
   
When I made the executive decision to remove all my lower teeth. Why? Unknown. Mystery. Possibly a moment of extreme optimism or temporary insanity.
I now have replacements, a retainer. I use fake teeth. I tolerate them.
But “getting used to them” remains a long-term science experiment with mixed results. Some mistakes fade. This one sends daily reminders, like a push notification from the past: “Hey, remember me?”
 
I’ve also decided to grow my facial hair again. My hair grows so fast that if I cut it twice a day, it feels like a part-time job with no benefits. So instead, I let it all grow—beard, head, everything—and then once a week, I mow it down to a neat quarter-inch.
Low maintenance.
High efficiency.
The Costco model of grooming.
     
Nothing major happened today.
I spent most of it on the computer—writing, thinking, wandering mental hallways.
Occasionally, I’d stare into space like a philosopher who forgot why he stood up.
Not a big day.
Not a bad day.
   
Just one of those quietly human days where you show up, clean the world a little,
think some thoughts, crack a joke at your own expense, and call it progress.
Honestly?
I’ll take it.    
======    
12/25 — Merry Christmas!  🤹🏻‍♂️
>>>>>
As I awoke on this Christmas morning, my mind smiled.
Of course, there are people here who have to work on this holiday.
Polite. Safe. Slightly… beige. 😐
An extra special “Thank you” to them.
   
I could say, “Happy Holidays!”
But that feels like waving with mittens on.
So I’ll say it properly: Merry Christmas! 🎄
Loud. Clear. With bells on.
   
And this year, instead of wrapping paper and bows,
I handed out flying objects.
I’ve taught at least 25 people here how to juggle—
Scarves in the air, eyes wide, laughter popping like ornaments. 🎁🤹‍♂️
     
If Christmas needed a bow, it’d be spinning mid-air.
That absolutely counts as my Christmas gift.
Add some tinsel and juggle it with flair. ✨🎄
     
She was making her rounds at **3:58 a.m.**
I was already awake—because of course I was.
Then I heard it, floating down the hallway like a tiny wrapped gift:

**” Merry Christmas.”**
Well… that’ll do it.   Instant wake-up call. 🎁⚡
Feet on the floor. Brain humming. Heart surprisingly warm.
   
So here I am—early, moving, alive—working on this blog **for you** while the world still snoozes.
**Good morning. Merry Christmas.** You’re reading this the day *after* Christmas, and I hope yours had laughter, love, and at least one moment that made you stop and smile.
   
Now here’s the plot twist.
There was a time in my life when I **never** imagined I’d wake up *here* on Christmas morning.
Not even in the weirdest alternate-universe daydream.
Do you see yourself ever waking up in a place like this?
     
In some ways, I feel like I was dropped into this place without a map—
No exit sign blinking, no clear path out.
Trapped?
Some days, yeah… it feels like that.
   
And yet—
People are kind.  People show up.  We lean on each other.
We do our best to make the day a little brighter for everyone in the room.
Still…December 25–here?
   
Feels like any other Wednesday, wearing a Santa hat. 🎅
No sparkle. No parade. No “ta-da!” Nothing special. Nothing is going on.
And somehow… I’m still here. Still writing and still wishing you joy.
Still finding light at **3:58 a.m.**
Funny how Christmas sneaks in anyway. ✨
     
🎄 Christmas: Now Featuring Sparkle, Silence, and Non-Teeth 🎄
   
Just went out to clean the patio and garden.
Good news: it was mostly sparkly. ✨
Bad news: a few cigarette butts and pieces of rubbish had escaped captivity.
I rounded them up like a festive trash sheriff.
Ho ho ho—law and order. 🧹😆
   
And yet—
Despite all these humans within a 50-foot radius,
This may be the loneliest Christmas I’ve ever experienced.
The hallways are quieter than a library on mute.
No laughter. No chatter. No accidental Christmas caroling disasters.
Just closed doors.  So many closed doors. 🚪🚪🚪
     
I really wish you were here with me.
At least we could whisper jokes and get kicked out together.
Around 3 p.m., they had a Christmas dinner downstairs.
Very nice. Very festive.
Unfortunately, my mouth is currently operating under the “No Chewing Allowed” policy.
Ah, yes—my teeth.   Or rather… my former teeth. 🦷✌️
   
Nothing to wrestle with.   Nothing to sink my gums into with enthusiasm.
I remember reading somewhere that bad teeth can negatively affect your life.
Mood. Health. Outlook.
So naturally, I responded by saying,
“Let’s remove ALL of them.”
Because I don’t do anything halfway. 🎯😬
   
I was sitting at a table downstairs when I suddenly said—out loud—
“WHAT AM I DOING HERE?”
No inside voice.   No warning.
Just me and my existential microphone drop. 🎤
   
I looked around. Blank stares everywhere.
No reaction. No sparkle. No joy.
Like a room full of people waiting for a reboot that never comes. 🔄😶
I felt sorry for them.  Truly.  And then I felt something else—
I do not belong here. I stayed a bit longer, trying to be noble.
     
Trying to be patient.
Trying not to scream,
“Is anyone else seeing this?”
Eventually, I bailed and came back upstairs to my room.
   
Instantly—Bob.
The moaning.  The sounds.  The unexpected holiday soundtrack no one asked for. 🎶😬
If Spotify had a category called “Existential Groans,”
Bob would be the featured artist of the month.
   
In my room, I had a big bowl of Chocolate Chip Ice Cream–BECAUSE I COULD!
   
Here’s the truth, wrapped in tinsel:
I am not happy here.  Not even a little bit.
Not even on Christmas with imaginary gravy.
And the extra-honest truth?  I don’t know how to get out.  Or what I’d do if I did.
   
🎉 BREAKING NEWS FROM THE DESSERT DEPARTMENT 🎉
I do have some good news—and it comes with crust. 🥧
As I was making my dramatic exit (cue slow-motion walk), one of the staff members spotted me, came to my room, and presented three different pie slices she had brought, like a game-show showcase. 
“Pick one,” she said—basically the Wheel of Fortune of desserts.
I chose pumpkin pie, because of course I did. 🎃
Wise. Noble. Seasonal.
   
And here’s the kicker:
That small, kind, pie-powered moment did way more than feed my stomach.
It fed my spirit.
It whispered, You’re seen. You matter. You’re not invisible today.
Thoughts that I needed to hear.
   
Never underestimate the power of a simple kindness…
Especially when it’s served on a plate with whipped cream potential. 😄✨
Sometimes hope shows up disguised as dessert.
And today?  Hope tasted like pumpkin pie. 🥧💥
   
I do know this:
This place doesn’t get to define me.  This chapter doesn’t get the final word.
And this Christmas—quiet, awkward, toothless and strange—
It is not the end of my story.
     
It’s just the weird middle part.  The part you laugh about later.
The part where you survive, observe, and secretly level up. 🎮✨
Still here. Still aware. Still asking big questions. Still alive.
And frankly—
That’s one hell of a Christmas gift. 🎁😄
=====
12/26 — The Day After
>>>>>
Woke up around 3 a.m. for a classic midnight.🚶‍♂️💧
(okay… early-morning) bathroom adventure
And then—cue the confetti—victory! 🎉
I crawled back into bed and boom… fell right back asleep. 😴✨
Small win. Big smile.
Life leaned over, gave me a wink, and said, “Nice work.” 🌙💙
   
Then came my daily garden/patio patrol. 🌿
And once again, I was reminded that some smokers
seem to believe littering is part of the ritual—
like a ceremonial offering to the ground. 🚬🤦‍♂️
Empty packs. Endless butts. Every. Single. Day.
Today’s haul? Two large #10 cans worth.
That’s not cleanup—that’s commitment.
     
Later, there was a community get-together called a “Town Hall Meeting.”
Hosted by Christine, who works alongside Myles.
The flyer promised a space “to communicate comments,
concerns, recommendations, suggestions, and questions.”
Translation: Speak now, humans. 🎤
   
About 15 residents attended—wheelchairs lined up like a thoughtful council.
I spoke up, offered a few solid suggestions, and felt good doing it.
Participation matters. Voice matters.
Even here. Especially here. 🌱💪
   
Another day.  A few wins.
Some trash was lifted. Some sleep reclaimed.
Progress—quiet, steady, and very real. 🌟

3) 🌟BLOG 357–HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Here are some unique stories to occupy your time.
Make this New Year’s a fantastic Holiday for you.
These seven stories are my gift to you. 😃

    ==========
🎉🎓 A–New Year, New Test… Same Old Excuses 🎓🎉
Once upon a very irresponsible evening—right between
“I’ll start fresh in the New Year” and “One more party won’t hurt”…
Four college kids rang in the season the traditional way:
🎉 Party now
📚 Study later
🎆 Make bold resolutions they fully intend to ignore by morning.
       
Books? Next year.
Big test tomorrow?
Midnight confetti fell.
Morning reality hit.
Cue The Great New Year’s Excuse Plan.

They greased up. They dirtied down.
They looked less like scholars and more like extras from
Survivor: New Semester Edition.
Off they marched to the Dean’s office,
Still buzzing with leftover optimism and possibly champagne bubbles.
   
“Our tale,” they sighed, deeply wounded by fate,
“It’s tragic. We went to a wedding last night—New Year’s cheer and all. On the way back—BAM! Flat tire. Had to push the car all the way back to campus. A heroic start to the year, really.”
   
The Dean listened.
He nodded.
He smiled.
⚠️( Never trust the calm smile—especially in January.)
   
“Well,” he said warmly, “in the spirit of fresh starts…
You may take the test three days from now.”
The students floated out like angels on academic probation. 😇✨
New year! Second chance! Destiny is kind!
   
Three days later—
Well-rested, well-studied, and absolutely convinced the universe was on their side—they returned.
The Dean placed them…
In separate rooms.
   
“No worries,” they thought.
“We’re new-year versions of ourselves now.”
They opened the test.
Two questions.
1️⃣ Your Name: ____________________ (1 point)
2️⃣ Which tire burst? _______________ (99 points)
Options:
(a) Front Left
(b) Front Right
(c) Back Left
(d) Back Right
😳😳😳😳
Happy New Year.
     
🎆 Lesson of the Year:
New year, same physics.
Shortcuts still have potholes.
Excuses expire faster than resolutions.
And life—much like the Dean—continuously checks the details.
     
So here’s your New Year’s wisdom nugget:
Be responsible.
Make wise choices.
And if you’re going to lie…
At least agree on which tire blew! 🚗💥😄
✨ Cheers to learning early, laughing often, and starting the year smarter than last time. 🎉
==========
🎉🐪 B–New Year, New Desert (Or… the Zoo?) 🐪🎉
As the clock ticked toward a brand-new year, a mama camel and her baby were lounging under a tree—doing that deep, reflective end-of-year thinking camels are famous for. 🕛✨
     
The baby camel stretched, yawned, and asked the kind of question that sounds simple… but isn’t:
“Mom… why do we have humps?” Mama camel smiled wisely, like someone who’s already made and broken a few New Year’s resolutions.
   
“Well, sweetheart, we’re desert animals.
These humps store water so we can survive a long time without it.”
The baby nodded.
     
“Okay… then why are our legs so long and our feet so big and round?”
Mama replied, “Those are for walking across hot desert sand without sinking.
Very practical. Very camel chic.”
   
The baby paused again—clearly in reflection mode.
“Alright… last question. Why are our eyelashes so long?
Sometimes they’re just… extra.”
Mama chuckled.
“Those thick eyelashes protect our eyes from blowing desert sand during storms.”
The baby camel thought. And thought. And thought. 🧠💭
     
Then—like a sparkler going off at midnight—he asked:
“So… the hump stores water for the desert.
The legs walk the desert.
The eyelashes protect us from desert sand…
THEN WHY ARE WE IN THE ZOO?” 🎆😳
==========
🎉 C–New Year, New Chicken, New You 🍗✨
The Finger-Lickin’ Fresh Start Story
Once upon a very crunchy New Year’s Eve…
There was an older gentleman named Colonel Harlan Sanders.
       
Picture this:
💸 Broke
🏚️ Living in a tiny house
🚗 Driving a car that had seen better decades
💰 Living on $99 a month from Social Security
🌑Not exactly “New Year, New Yacht” vibes.
👴At 65 years old, while most folks were polishing their rocking chairs, Colonel Sanders said,
🕛 “Nope. New year. New plan.”
   
So he asked himself the ultimate New Year question:
“What do I already have that could change my life?”
   
Answer:
🍗 That legendary chicken recipe.
His friends couldn’t stop talking about it.
“THIS chicken!”
“YOU need to sell THIS chicken!”
“This chicken could save the world!” (Okay, maybe not that… but close.)
   
So off he went—across states, across diners, across dreams—
Knocking on doors with hope in one hand and a secret recipe in the other.
His pitch was simple:
👉 “Use my recipe for FREE.
👉 Just give me a tiny percentage of the chicken you sell.”
Sounds like a slam dunk.
Wrong.
❌ No.
❌ Nope.
❌ Absolutely not.
   
He heard NO over 1,000 times.
That’s not rejection—that’s a rejection marathon.
But here’s the magic:
He didn’t quit.
He didn’t sulk.
He didn’t say, “Well, I’m 65, guess I missed my chance.”
On rejection #1009…
🎉 YES!
And with that single yes, everything changed.
   
That one belief-filled moment launched Kentucky Fried Chicken—now known worldwide as KFC—and changed the way America eats chicken forever.
🥂 New Year Lesson (Extra Crispy Edition)
✨ You are never too old.
✨ You are never too late.
✨ You are never one “no” away from failure—you’re one yes away from a breakthrough.
     
This New Year, keep knocking.
Keep believing.
Keep seasoning your dreams.
Because sometimes, all it takes…
is one yes 🍾🎆
==========
🎉 D–The Obstacle in Our Path (New Year’s Edition) 🎉
Once upon a brand-new year—you know, that magical week when gyms are crowded, and planners still look innocent—there lived a wealthy, clever king with a mischievous streak. 👑😏
   
To kick off the year with a lesson, the king ordered a massive boulder dropped smack-dab in the middle of the busiest road. Then he hid nearby (because kings apparently had great hiding skills) to see what people would do when life threw a rock at them. 🪨
     
🚶‍♂️ First came the wealthy merchants and courtiers.
All dressed up and very important.
They gasped.
They scoffed.
They complained loudly.
“Terrible roads!”
“Someone should do something!”
“Honestly, what are taxes for?”
   
And then—without lifting a finger—they tiptoed around the boulder and marched on into the New Year carrying nothing but opinions. 🙄
   
🥕 Then came a peasant, arms overflowing with vegetables, sweat on his brow, resolution in his eyes. When he reached the boulder, he didn’t curse it. He didn’t detour. He didn’t post about it on PeasantBook.
He put his load down.
He leaned in.
He pushed.
     
It wasn’t easy. He grunted. He slipped. He tried again.
But eventually—Victory!—the boulder rolled aside. 💪🎊
As he gathered his vegetables and prepared to continue.
On his journey, he noticed something glittering on the rock.
Once stood…
     
💰 A purse. Heavy. Full of gold.
Inside was a note from the king:
“This reward is for the one who chose action over avoidance.”
   
✨ And here’s the New Year lesson, wrapped with a bow:
Every obstacle you meet this year—every boulder, setback, or
“Well, that wasn’t in my vision board”—is hiding a gift.
     
Most people walk around problems.
Some complain about them.
But a few roll up their sleeves… and get rewarded.
   
So as the calendar flips and confetti settles:
When you hit a rock in the road this year—
Push. There might be gold underneath. 🥂🌟
==========
🚂 E–Everyone Has a Story in Life
🎆 New Eyes for the New Year 👀✨
   
A 24-year-old young man leaned toward the train window and shouted with pure wonder,
“Dad! Look—the trees are running backward!” 🌳💨
His father smiled softly.
   
A young couple nearby exchanged glances.
Awkward.  Strange.
Pitiful, they thought.
   
Then the young man burst out again,
“Dad! The clouds! They’re racing us!” ☁️🏃‍♂️
   
The couple couldn’t hold it in any longer.
They leaned over and whispered to the father,
“Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor?”
 
The father smiled—this time bigger, brighter.
“I did,” he said gently.
“We’re just coming from the hospital now.
My son was blind from birth…
And today, today he got his eyes.”
💥 Boom. Confetti cannon. Perspective shift. 🎉
 
As the calendar flips and the New Year rolls in, here’s the reminder wrapped in fireworks:
✨ Every single person on this planet is carrying a story.
✨ Don’t judge people before you truly know them.
✨ The truth might surprise you.
   
And here’s the New Year’s mic-drop:
🎇 This can be your year to see differently.
🎇 Open your eyes.
🎇 Open your heart.
🎇 Open yourself to wonder again.
             
You are capable.
The world is still magical.
And maybe—maybe—this is the year you see it for the first time. 🌟🥂
==========
🎉🐘 F–The Elephant Rope
A New Year’s Wake-Up Call 🐘🎉
As the New Year’s confetti settled and the calendar stretched its fresh, blank pages, a man wandered past a group of elephants. He stopped mid-step, scratching his head. 🤔
   
These enormous, magnificent creatures—
Living bulldozers with eyelashes—
They were held in place by a tiny rope tied to one of the front legs.
No chains.  No cages.  No elephant bouncers on duty.
   
At any moment, they could have strolled off to brunch. Yet… they didn’t.
Nearby, a trainer sipped his coffee and welcomed the question.
As a New Year’s Day gift to the elephants, he wanted to set them free.
“Why don’t they just break free?”
   
The trainer smiled. 😊
“When they’re babies—small and wobbly—we tie them with the same rope. Back then, it was enough. As they grow, they never test it again. They believe the rope still holds them… so it does.”
💥 Boom.
The man stood there, amazed. A rope didn’t trap these elephants.
Old beliefs trapped them.
   
🐘✨ Your New Year’s Mirror ✨🐘
Now here’s where the New Year fireworks really start popping…
How many of us are still standing still because of a rope we outgrew years ago?
A failed attempt.
A harsh “no.”
A voice from the past whispers, “See? You can’t.”
     
But listen closely—because this year has good news:
🎆 That rope is old. You are not. 🎆
Failure isn’t a stop sign—it’s a training montage. 💪
Growth means testing the rope again.
Learning means tugging—harder this time.
     
So as the New Year dawns, here’s your invitation:
✨ Question the rope.
✨ Pull on the belief.
✨ Step forward like the powerful, growing, unstoppable human you’ve become.
       
This year… break free.
The road is wide.
The rope is weak.
And the calendar is cheering you on. 🥳🎊
==========
🫏 G–🎉 The Donkey, the Pit & the New Year Plot Twist 🫏✨
Once upon a rough day—the kind you’d rather not carry into the New Year.
A man’s favorite donkey went plop! Fell into a bottomless, dark pit.
Not a cozy pit.
Not a “we’ll laugh about this later” pit.
A gulp… this looks bad, pit.
   
The man pulled. He tugged. He strained.
He made all the heroic noises. Nothing. 😬
With a heavy heart and zero options left.
He sighed and thought, “I’ll fill in the pit.”
So the dirt began to fall.
   
Plop. Thud. Dump.
The donkey felt the weight…
Paused…
And then—genius happened. 💡
   
Instead of panicking, that donkey shook it off…
…and stepped UP on it.
     
More dirt fell. Shake it off. Step up.
Again. And again. And again.
By noon—🎉 PLOT TWIST! 🎉
That donkey wasn’t buried.
   
The donkey climbed right out of the pit.
Strolled into green pastures.
Started munching grass.
“Cool story. What’s next?” 🌱😄
🥳 Welcome to the New Year Truth Bomb 🧨
   
Life will toss dirt on you:
Old mistakes
Fresh disappointments
Surprise setbacks with horrible timing
   
But here’s your New Year strategy—no gym membership required:
✨ Shake off what weighs you down.
✨ Step up on what tries to bury you.
   
Every problem? 👉 A platform.
Every setback? 👉 A step forward.
Every “this is the end”? 👉 Just the plot twist before your comeback.
     
So raise a glass 🥂, shake off the dust, and step boldly into this New Year.
The pit didn’t win.
The donkey did.
And guess what?
So will you.
     
4) 🔥 A FEW SPARKS TO SLIP INTO YOUR POCKET
      ✨ THE MAGIC OF QUOTES ✨
Quotes are tiny magic lanterns—glimmers of wisdom that light our way. They contain big truths in small packages, offering comfort, clarity, and courage when we need it most. A single line can steady a trembling heart, clarify a foggy thought, or remind us to keep moving toward our dreams with a whisper that says, “Keep going—there’s more ahead.”
   
“Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right.” – Oprah Winfrey
   
“Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” – Carl Brad.
   
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – Aristotle.
     
“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” – C.S.Lewis.
   
“A dream written down with a date becomes a goal.
A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan.
A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true.” – Greg S. Reid.
     
“There comes a day when you realize turning the page is the best feeling in the world because you realize there is so much more to the book than the page you were stuck on.” – Zayn Malik.
     
“To lead a fascinating life, one brimming with art, music, intrigue, and romance. ”
You must surround yourself with precisely those things.” – Kate Spade.
   
“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” – Bill V.aughn.
   
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu.
   
“If you can’t fly, then run; if you can’t run, then walk; if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
   
“Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.” – Dalai Lama. Lama
   
“I walk slowly, but I never walk backward.” – Abraham Lincoln.
   
“Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.” – Oscar Wilde.
   
5) YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK >>
YOUR NEW START!
Plan to make this new year the best you have ever experienced.
Make plans now to make this next year the best you have ever had. 

6) NEXT WEEK>> BLOG 358–​Build Your Life as you Build Your House.
I know you’re out there, my friend. How about sending some words to me?
kitsummers@gmail.com 

🌟7) FINAL THOUGHTS 🌟
Because the best is always still ahead.
So juggle joy like it’s the air you breathe.
The horizon holds more than you can yet imagine.
Your present moment is not the finish line—it’s your starting block.
  Chase sunsets as if they’re secret treasures waiting just for you.
Laugh so loudly that tomorrow leans in to listen.
Live as though you’ve only just begun—
BECAUSE YOU TRULY HAVE!