✨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.


===============================
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
============================
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
================ 

🌟 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!
🌟

✨KITTING AROUND✨
BLOG 377–I CAN(‘T) WHISTLE
This Video will let you know more about me–1
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. ✨

=============================

It might make things easier for you if I added a table of contents. That way, you can jump straight to the sections that interest you most—like having a remote control for my wandering brain. 😄 Let me know if it helps.
   
At the moment, I still need to figure out how to add page numbers properly. Somewhere inside this machine, tiny digital gremlins are hiding that information from me. But don’t worry—I’ll track them down and have it sorted out before the next blog post. At least you can see the order of things. ✨

PART 1) THE BEGINNINGS PAGE  1
PART 2) THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK PAGE 
PART 3) BLOG 377–I CAN(‘T) WHISTLE PAGE 
PART 4) QUOTES PAGE 
PART 5) YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK  Next to Last Page
PART 6) THE BLOG NEXT WEEK Last Page
PART 7) FINAL THOUGHTS Last Page

=============================

Every week, I try to write the very best blog I can—something that makes you laugh a little louder, think a little deeper, and step back into life with brighter eyes and a lighter heart. A few words of joy. A little wisdom. A spark of wonder. The kind of writing that stays with you long after the screen goes dark. ✨
   
Can you feel that in my writing? The heart, the humor, the miles traveled, the lessons dropped and picked back up like juggling balls over the years? I hope so. Because I don’t just place words on a page—I try to breathe life into them. 🎪
   
If you ever miss a blog notification—or simply feel like wandering through a colorful garden of past posts—visit kitsummers.com, then look for and dive into the blog. Every post is waiting there like a tiny spark on a bookshelf, hoping to light something alive inside you. ✨
   
And if the notifications ever start feeling like one ball too many in your juggling pattern, no worries at all—just let me know, and I’ll gently remove you from the list. No drops. No drama. Just a smooth catch and release. Though I’ll miss having you in the audience. 🎭  🎯 

================ =================

PART 1)  THE BEGINNINGS
DON’T LIVE FOR THE FUTURE OR THE PAST—
MAKE THE MOST OF THE MOMENT YOU’RE HOLDING RIGHT NOW! 

Whistle while you work–can you imagine? Many keep themselves occupied and happy by whistling. Try it, you might like it. How ’bout this–I will listen to try and hear you from where I am. You will have to be very loud. You know the line — “I CAN’T HEAR YOU!” Can you whistle?

Lots of people think whistling is a genetic trait, but it is just a learned physical skill. You aren’t alone—an informal poll showed up to 67% of people can’t whistle. You can train your lips and tongue to get it right.

Hmm, a list of things I can’t do?
Pull up a chair… This could take a while. 😄

• I can’t whistle very well… yet. Right now, my whistles sound less like beautiful music and more like a confused tea kettle asking for emotional support.
• I can no longer run a mile under five minutes. These days, if I run at all, nearby people start looking around for the escaped bear I must be fleeing from. 🐻💨
• Pole vaulting? Those days are over. I once cleared 18’6″… but these days I can’t even try again, mostly because I’m missing one tiny detail: the pole. 
• Seven-club juggling? Those glorious days may be behind me. At this point, I’m hovering around, juggling 3½ clubs. The other half usually introduces itself directly to my forehead. 🤹‍♂️
• I will never be a racecar driver. Mostly because I prefer my vehicles upright and not wrapped around a flaming tire barrier while commentators scream, “HE’S STILL SMILING!”
• I’ll never believe in the long parade of gods humanity has invented through the centuries. Zeus hurled lightning bolts, Thor swung a hammer, and Jesus conquered death. Thousands of gods have risen and fallen through history, yet I’ve never seen convincing evidence that they were anything more than human stories—wrapped in thunder, mystery, and hope. 
• I will also never be female. Biology looked at me and said,
  “Nope, we’re installing the deluxe beard package instead.” Wrong parts. 😄
• I can’t ride a 300-meter-tall unicycle either.
  Mostly because none currently exist…
  Though somewhere, some circus engineer just whispered, “Challenge accepted.” 🎪
• I have not yet learned to fly. I’ve tested gravity many times.
  However, I can confirm the wind remains highly committed to its job.
• And I will never become a prostitutie. Sorry, ladies.
  The line forms somewhere else. Besides, nobody wants to hear >> 
  “For an extra twenty bucks, I’ll also teach you to juggle scarves!” 😂

AsIwrote,therearesomanythingsIcan’tdo.
(Whoops. Apparently, my space bar took a coffee break.) 
     
I was outside, all geared up to do a short run. My lungs, however, called an emergency board meeting and unanimously voted, “ABSOLUTELY NOT.” 😄 So instead of jogging, I performed the rarely celebrated sport of Competitive Standing Still.
   
Back in my room, I could hear Bob across the hall doing his daily pain-crying. That part hits hard. Every time I hear it, I wish I could fix something, help somehow, say the magic words, juggle the pain away, something. But at times, life hands you moments without an easy answer—just a reminder that being human can hurt.
   
Still, even caring matters. A smile. A few kind words. A tiny act of kindness tossed into someone’s difficult day like emotional confetti. Sometimes those little things are the closest thing we have to superhero powers… unless Amazon finally delivers my cape and officially promotes me to Captain Compassion. 🦸‍♂️✨Do what you can . . .
   
Until then, I’ll keep using my secret abilities: listening, encouraging, and fighting evil with dangerously powerful dad jokes and slightly overcaffeinated optimism. ☕🦸‍♂️ I may not have laser vision, but if I can make someone laugh, feel stronger, or believe in themselves again, that’s a pretty good superpower.
     
I may not fly or leap tall buildings anymore—stairs, and I are currently in delicate negotiations—but I’ve learned that real superheroes are usually ordinary people who keep showing up with kindness, hope, and humor even on hard days. So I’ll keep spreading a little light, lifting spirits where I can, and waiting for Amazon to finally deliver my cape. ✨
=============================
PART 2)  THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK Kit’s Daily Delights — Inspiration, Freshly Served. Every week, I sit down to map my week—and every time, it begins the same way: a blank canvas. Nothing there. It still surprises me. That quiet moment, just before I fill it in… when the whole week is wide open, waiting for me to decide what it becomes. And here’s the beautiful truth—you’ve got that same wide-open canvas, too. Start now and make the life YOU want as you help others!   

>>>>>May 9
THE EARLY MORNING
It’s only about 8 a.m., and I’m already finishing most of my next blog. 🌅✍️ While much of the world is still waking up and hunting for coffee, my mind has already been dancing with ideas. There’s something magical about these early quiet hours—the silence, the sunrise, and the feeling that anything is possible before the noise of the day rolls in.
     
Getting most of a blog done before 8 a.m. feels like a head start on life itself. The day says, “Ready?” and I smile back: “Already moving.” 🚀 You know me… up early as usual. At 4 a.m., while most of the world is still drooling on pillows and negotiating peace treaties with alarm clocks, I’m rolling laundry down the hallway like a determined little nighttime raccoon. 😄
      LAUNDRY
The laundry room was empty—my kind of rush hour. Two washers. Two dryers. No waiting. No chaos. Just me, a mountain of rebellious socks, and the hypnotic ballet of spinning machinery. Honestly, it felt less like doing laundry and more like I’d rented out a tiny nightclub for exhausted T-shirts. 🌀😄
   
Most people here have their clothes cleaned by staff, but I still do my own. I actually like it. There’s something satisfying about handling the little pieces of life yourself. A bit of independence. A bit of rhythm. A bit of, “Yep… still moving forward.” And honestly, I do it with a smile on my face.
     I SMELL SOMETHING
My sniffer isn’t operating at Olympic level these days. My sense of smell barely punches the time clock, so I can’t always tell when that classic “well-aged human aroma” might be quietly sneaking onto the scene like an uninvited guest at a barbecue. 😄
 
Along with that, my taste buds are not really my “buds” these days either. 😄 Ever since everything my body has been through, my sense of taste has wandered off like a confused tourist with no map and a broken compass. Some foods arrive with all the excitement of wet cardboard, while others surprise me out of nowhere like, “Well, hello there… where have YOU been hiding?”
   
But honestly, when you don’t fully remember what something is supposed to taste like, you don’t spend much time mourning it. Human beings are amazingly adaptable creatures. We adjust. We improvise. We keep moving forward. Here I am, changing with the changes.
   
I may not experience flavor the same way I once did, but I still enjoy the ritual of eating, the conversations around meals, the laughter, the tea in my hand at sunrise, and the simple joy of being here for another day on this wild spinning rock. 🌅☕🍳
   
Life changes the recipe sometimes. A few ingredients vanish without warning. Others come flying into the pot like a raccoon with a shopping cart and no adult supervision. Plans burn. Dreams boil over. Somebody definitely forgot the lid. 😄
   
But somehow, if you keep stirring with gratitude, humor, and a little stubborn hope, the meal still becomes something worth sharing. Maybe not the dish you expected… but often one with far more flavor, depth, and surprise.
    RELAX
But if you keep your spirit seasoned with gratitude, humor, curiosity, and a little stubborn hope, life still has a way of serving up something surprisingly beautiful. Maybe not the meal you originally ordered… but often one with far more flavor, depth, and stories worth telling around the table. 🍲✨
     
My sense of taste took a vacation, too. The taste buds apparently packed tiny suitcases and left without notice. But here’s the funny thing about being human: when you slowly lose certain senses, you adapt. You stop mourning every little thing because your brain learns a new version of normal. Life keeps saying, “Alright, Kit… different tools now. Keep juggling.” And somehow, we do. ✨

STRANGE THOUGH, I STILL TASTE
“HOT” MEXICAN FOOD.
(OR PERHAPS IT’S NOT TO TASTE)
THAT HAS NOT CHANGED. 

I was just out doing my daily cleanup mission. Fewer cigarette butts today—which felt like a small but glorious victory for Team Earth. 🌎 Every little bit matters. Still, that wave of exhaustion I sometimes get came crashing in hard today, like my internal batteries suddenly filed an official complaint with management and demanded an immediate coffee break. 😄
      RUNNING?
I had planned to run a few laps afterward, but my mind stepped in, folded its arms, and said, “Not today, Captain Cleanup.” So instead, I listened. Sometimes strength is charging forward… and sometimes it’s knowing when the engine needs a little tune-up before the next adventure.
     
They had spread fresh wood chips around the grounds, and I already know the routine: the next big storm will send them flying across the property like nature’s version of confetti. So off I went, making my rounds, gathering scattered chips and tidying things up before the wind could turn the place into a wooden tumbleweed convention. Sweep, sweep, sweep.
     
The funny thing is, most people probably never notice the effort behind small acts like this. But little by little, cleaned corner by cleaned corner, we shape the world around us. Even tired… I’m especially tired… there’s something good about leaving a place better than you found it. ✨
     
>>>>> May 10
It was already 1:30 in the afternoon, and I still hadn’t written a single word on this daily schedule… so, after deep thought, intense concentration, and what I can only describe as a dramatic literary breakthrough, here it is:

           “Word.”

A late start, perhaps — but technically, the streak is alive. 😄 Sometimes progress arrives like a roaring rocket. Other times, it limps in wearing slippers and carrying a sandwich. Either way, it showed up. And honestly, showing up counts for a lot in this life. 😄
    THE BLOG
Truthfully, I’ve been busy working on other parts of this blog—with you in mind and excellence as the target. I don’t just want to toss words onto a page like socks into a laundry basket. I want each piece to carry heart, humor, insight, and maybe a tiny spark that makes your day feel a little more alive. ✨
     
There is a lot more to building a good blog than just throwing words onto a page like spaghetti at a refrigerator and hoping something sticks. 🍝😄 It’s rhythm. Timing. Heart. Humor. Clarity. Too many words, and readers need a nap halfway through. Too few, and your brilliant idea walks out wearing only one sock.
     
How’s your writing?
Are you quick?
Accurate?
Or do you type one sentence… stare out the window dramatically… delete it… rewrite it… Then reward yourself with a snack for surviving the emotional journey? 😄
     
Some writers sprint like caffeinated squirrels. Others move slowly, polishing every sentence as if it were going into a museum. The real magic is finding the balance—writing fast enough to keep the fire alive, but carefully enough that your words actually land where you aimed them instead of crashing into the neighbor’s petunias. 🌺✨
   
I know it’s a beautiful sunny day outside. The sky is showing off, the birds are probably holding tiny afternoon meetings, and somewhere out there, the world is rolling forward in full color. Meanwhile, I’m in here… stuck inside this room, unable to get out.
     CARTWHEELS
Some days, that reality lands softly. Other days, it hits like a locked door inside the chest. You can almost feel the sunshine calling your name, teasing you through the window like life is out there doing cartwheels while you sit on the sidelines holding the ticket stub. ☀️
   
I miss movement.
I miss wandering.
I miss the beautiful simplicity of thinking,
“I think I’ll go for a walk,” and then simply opened the door and went.
     
No planning.
No permission.
No obstacles.
Funny how the smallest freedoms barely whisper to us when we have them…
but roar like thunder once they’re gone.
   
A breeze on your face.
The sound of shoes on pavement.
The randomness of life happening around you.
Even standing somewhere with absolutely nothing.
Nowhere is more important than suddenly feeling magical.
    TRAPPED
But here’s the strange thing about human beings: even when the body feels trapped, the spirit still searches for open windows. That’s what writing does for me. That’s what humor does. That’s what hope does. They become tiny escape artists. 🎪
   
So yes, part of me aches to be outside under that bright sky today. But another part of me refuses to let these walls become the borders of my life. If I can still encourage, still create, still laugh, still dream, still send a little light outward into the world—then the room may hold my body, but it does not get custody of my spirit. ✨
     “MY” BARBER
About once a week, I visit my barber—an exclusive little shop run by a highly trained professional named… me. 💈😄 The appointment is always available, the conversation is brilliant, and the waiting room is wonderfully empty.
   
I use my trusty razor and give everything the same deluxe treatment: hair, beard, sideburns, and yes—even the eyebrows. Why should the eyebrows think they’re above the law? Or above getting trimmed just because they happen to live closer to the penthouse suite? 😄
   
Around here, everybody gets trimmed to regulation height. It’s less “Hollywood stylist” and more “efficient lawn maintenance,” but I walk out feeling clean, sharp, and aerodynamic enough to reduce wind resistance as I walk down the hallway.
   
And the price? Absolutely unbeatable. The owner gives me a huge discount on every visit. No tipping required either… although I do occasionally pause at the mirror afterward and compliment myself on the exceptional craftsmanship. Five-star service. Very handsome clientele. (Who, me?) 😄 😄
   
Truthfully, there’s something satisfying about doing it yourself. A few careful passes with the razor, and suddenly you feel lighter, fresher, more ready for the day. Besides, at my rates, I can still afford luxury items like peanut butter and bananas.
   
Do you cut your own hair, or do you place your fate into the trembling hands of a professional barber named Skippy, armed with scissors, clippers, and the enormous responsibility of eyebrow management? 😄 One wrong move and suddenly your eyebrows look like two squirrels that got into an argument and moved to opposite sides of your forehead.
   
I handle the job myself. Hair, beard, sideburns, nose hair, eyebrows—everybody gets the same VIP treatment. I believe in equality. No strand gets special privileges around here. The cost is excellent, the appointment wait time is zero, and the barber never tries to sell me expensive shampoo with mysterious ingredients harvested from moonlight and volcano flowers.
   
There is also something oddly satisfying about standing there with a razor in hand, taking control of the situation like a slightly underqualified sculptor working on a very nervous statue. So far, I still resemble a human, which I consider a tremendous success. ✂️

>>>>>May 11
A good morning to you.
No breakfast for me today, it never arrived. I hope others who need their morning nourishment are getting something. All I have scheduled today is a speech from 10-10:30, then “Sports Group” from 1 to noon.
    10:00–10:30
I spent the last half hour in speech therapy. She suggested I use my notebook more often to help with memory. We talked about several things, and within minutes, I had already forgotten much of the conversation. Moments like that remind me that, yes, I still need the notebook—no shame in that. A notebook is not a weakness—it’s a backup for the brain. Even astronauts use checklists, and they’re flying rockets, not trying to remember where they left their coffee. 🚀☕        
    11:00–Noon
I went into the Sports Group and was basically asked, “What do you want to do today?” Honestly, nothing came to mind. A few people chose Corn Hole, which I completely understand. Some people really enjoy it, and that’s great. But for me? My passion for tossing beanbags at plywood has not yet burst into flames. 😄 So I sat that one out. Everybody has different things that light them up. One thing I don’t like is litter and waste.
   
There are NO therapy sessions this afternoon, which honestly makes me sad. Therapy is not just something to fill time for me—it is movement, progress, challenge, and hope rolled into one. Each session gives me a chance to sharpen my mind, strengthen my body, and feel like I am actively climbing forward instead of sitting still. When those sessions disappear, the day can suddenly feel much quieter, heavier, almost like the engine of progress has been switched off for a while.
   
For people recovering from brain injuries, structure and purposeful activity matter deeply. Growth does not usually arrive wrapped in fireworks and marching bands. Most often, it comes through small repetitions, steady effort, and continued engagement with life, even when it feels difficult.
      THERAPY
Therapy represents possibility. It whispers, “Keep going. Keep rebuilding. Keep reaching.” It is movement, challenge, progress—the quiet proof that tomorrow can still become something greater than today.
   
Without therapy, the afternoon can feel strangely hollow, like a gym with the lights turned off, a stage after the applause fades, or a circus tent standing silent after the crowd has gone home—the energy changes. The momentum pauses. And for someone fighting to rebuild a life, that emptiness can echo louder than people realize.  🎪
   
Still, I remind myself: progress is not limited to official therapy hours. Even on quiet afternoons, I can still practice patience, writing, thinking, memory work, movement, humor, gratitude, and determination. Recovery does not completely stop just because the schedule does. The human spirit is sneakier than that. It keeps stretching, adapting, and learning—even in the slow moments.
    THE WASTE
I see so much waste here, especially wasted time. Time is life, and too much of it drifts away in this place like smoke in the wind. I already went out and did my daily cleanup mission this morning, but once again, there were more cigarette butts, more trash, more signs that people have stopped paying attention.
   
It’s sad. Not just because of the litter, but because it feels symbolic of something bigger—people slowly giving up on their surroundings, and maybe even on themselves. Many of the staff here waste time, which costs NR a lot of money. That’s one of the reasons I do the cleaning that I do.
   
Yes, I keep cleaning. One little piece at a time. One butt. One wrapper. One small act that says, “I still care.” 🌎 Maybe that sounds tiny in a world this messy, but revolutions have started with less. Besides, if Captain Cleanup retires, the squirrels may form a union and take over the property. And frankly, I do not trust them with management responsibilities.
     
>>>>>May 12
    WHICH DIRECTION?
Here we go again… another day stretched out in front of me like a long open road, asking the same question: What will I do? What will I do? Maybe that question is not a burden at all. Maybe it is an invitation. A blank stage. A fresh juggling pattern waiting for the first toss. 🎪
   
Some days arrive with fireworks and marching bands. Others quietly shuffle in wearing sweatpants and carrying lukewarm tea. But every single day still holds possibility—a conversation, a laugh, a lesson, a tiny victory nobody else even notices.
    SIT?
So I sit with the hours ahead of me and wonder: Will I write something that helps someone breathe easier? Will I make someone smile? Will I challenge myself a little more today? Will I whistle through the hard parts? Will I head outside again for Captain Clean-Up duty and rescue the planet one cigarette butt at a time? 🌎
   
Life does not always hand us perfect circumstances. Sometimes it hands us detours, pain, boredom, waiting rooms, and walls that seem much too close together. But even then, a choice still lies hidden inside the day.
   
We can drift through it… or meet it standing tall. So here we go again. Another sunrise. Another chance to think better, move better, love better, laugh louder, and keep going forward—one step, one word, one slightly overcaffeinated thought at a time. 😄
      11 TO NOON
From 11 to noon, I was scheduled for Game Group. I waited until 11:09 before finally retreating to my room. You may realize that games are not exactly my Olympic sport. 😄 Unless the event is Extreme Professional Avoiding of Corn Hole… in that case, I may be world-ranked. 🎯
   
Sitting around waiting for a game I didn’t want to play in the first place felt like being stuck at an airport gate for a flight to someplace I never planned to visit. So, back to the room I went—where at least my thoughts, ideas, and keyboard still know how to keep me entertained.
    MY WRITING
As words fly from my fingers to your eyes, I hope they carry more than letters and sentences. I hope they carry sparks. Tiny fireworks of thought. A little laughter on a hard day. A reminder that life is still happening right now, right in front of us, waiting to be noticed.
   
Every word I write has traveled a road with me—through applause and silence, hospitals and highways, victories and spectacular face-plants into reality. 😄 Some words limp a little. Some dance. Some juggle flaming bowling balls while riding a unicycle through a windstorm. But all of them are trying to reach you with something real.
 
Maybe that is what writing really is—not typing, not grammar, not commas behaving themselves for once—but one human being reaching across the invisible distance to another and saying, “Hey… keep going. There is still magic here.”
   
As words fly from my fingers to your eyes, I hope they carry more than letters and sentences. I hope they carry sparks. Tiny fireworks of thought. A little laughter on a hard day. A reminder that life is still happening right now, right in front of us, waiting to be noticed.
   
Every word I write has traveled a road with me—through applause and silence, hospitals and highways, victories and spectacular face-plants into reality. 😄 Some words limp a little. Some dance. Some juggle flaming bowling balls while riding a unicycle through a windstorm. But all of them are trying to reach you with something real.
   
Maybe that is what writing really is—not typing, not grammar, not commas behaving themselves for once—but one human being reaching across the invisible distance to another and saying, “Hey… keep going. There is still magic here.”
   
And if a few of these words happen to sneak into your heart, straighten your back, or make you grin like a raccoon that just discovered an unattended taco truck… then the mission was a success. 🎪
    1:00–2:00
Yoga Group. I politely passed. 😄 Nothing against yoga at all—I fully support stretching, breathing deeply, and achieving inner peace—but twisting myself into shapes that resemble a confused lawn chair did not feel like today’s adventure.
     
Some people find calm through yoga. I find mine through movement, ideas, laughter, writing, juggling, and occasionally wandering the planet like an overcaffeinated philosopher with a cleanup mission. Different roads, same destination. ✨
    2:00 to 2:30
I taught my juggling class. Five people came out to practice, and the beautiful thing is… most of them are really starting to get it. You can almost see the lightbulbs flick on mid-throw. 🎪✨ There is something special about watching confusion slowly turn into rhythm.
   
Maryann, along with some of the staff, continues improving, too. She still has that very common beginner habit of launching her left-hand throws off forward during a sightseeing tour. 😄 But that is part of learning. Every juggler starts with wild throws, chasing runaway balls like they are escaping prisoners. I noticed it, smiled, gave a little nod, and we kept going. Progress—not perfection—is the game.

>>>>>May 13
    BUTTS 
Why does littering seem to come bundled with smoking like some terrible “buy one, get one free” deal? Polluting the air is already bad enough, but covering the ground with cigarette butts, too?
   
Come on now. Right outside the entrance/exit, I counted at least 25 butts scattered around like tiny toxic breadcrumbs. Then I reached the patio—another 20 or more waiting for me there.
     
It is discouraging because cigarette butts are not harmless little scraps. They sit there, ugly and forgotten, soaking chemicals into the environment while making the whole place feel neglected.
   
Small actions matter, both good and bad. A single person tossing one butt may seem insignificant, but multiplied by hundreds, it turns into a dirty landscape that everyone else has to walk through.
     
So out I went again—Captain Clean-Up on patrol. 😄 One more bag, one more round, one more quiet reminder that taking care of the world still matters. Even when others drop the ball… or the butt.
      THE THERAPISTS HERE      
I must commend the therapists and nurses I have worked with here. In past posts, I’ve sometimes been critical of parts of the system, but it’s also important for me to recognize the many people here who truly care and work hard every single day.
     
So many of these therapists bring patience, skill, encouragement, and heart into what they do, often helping people rebuild pieces of their lives one small step at a time. That matters more than words can fully express.
     
I sincerely thank every person I have worked with here at NR. Recovery is not always an easy road—it can feel more like juggling flaming bowling balls during an earthquake while someone keeps changing the music. 😄
   
But through the chaos, frustration, setbacks, and small victories, so many people here have shown patience, kindness, and genuine care. For that, I am deeply grateful. Every bit of encouragement, support, and effort matters more than you may realize. 😄
       
But many of you have continued to show up with support, professionalism, and kindness. I appreciate the effort, the conversations, the guidance, and the belief that improvement is still possible. Thank you for being part of the climb.
        CLEAN THE WORLD
Today, we head back to https://cleantheworld.org/. As you know, we go a few times each month, and we’ll be leaving at 8:30 this morning. It should be a good time—part service project, part field trip, part “look at us being productive before some people have found their left sock.” 😄
   
The beautiful thing about it is that it costs Clean-the-World nothing. They receive free volunteer labor, and the work truly matters. Many businesses and organizations send teams to help with the projects there, packing and preparing recycled soap and hygiene supplies that are distributed to people in need around the world.
   
Small actions, multiplied by many hands, create enormous good. A little effort, a willingness to help, and suddenly the world becomes cleaner, kinder, and brighter. Real change rarely begins with fireworks—it begins with people quietly deciding to care. ✨  ✨
       
ARE YOU DOING YOUR PART TO CLEAN THE WORLD? 
     
Breakfast was not delivered before we left.
I’m not hungry, as usual.
But I worry about others.
     
At Clean the World, I got a tremendous amount done today, as usual. 😄 Part of me wants to teach others some of the little techniques and rhythms I’ve discovered that help me work quickly and efficiently.
        HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL    
Over the years, I’ve learned that success often comes from tiny adjustments repeated consistently. But I also understand that everyone has their own style, pace, and approach, and I never want to come across like an overcaffeinated efficiency ninja barking orders in a soap-packing factory.
   
So I try to balance enthusiasm with respect—offering ideas when they’re welcome, while remembering that the best teamwork happens when encouragement leads the way. A little inspiration can open doors far better than a shove ever could. ✨
   
Along with two therapists, there were four of us brain-injured adventurers gathered together—our own little team of bent-but-not-broken humans, trying to rebuild circuits, confidence, and pieces of ourselves one conversation, one exercise, and one laugh at a time.
   
We stayed for a couple of hours, which was right. Long enough to stretch the brain, challenge the spirit, and remind ourselves that recovery is not a straight highway—it is more like juggling flaming bowling balls on a trampoline during an earthquake. 😄
   
Still, there is something powerful about being in a room with people who understand struggle without needing long explanations. Each person there is carrying invisible battles, frustrations, and victories that outsiders rarely see.
      DEALING WITH BRAIN INJURY     
A forgotten word. A shaky step. A moment of confusion. Then suddenly—a smile, a breakthrough, a tiny success that deserves a standing ovation. Those moments matter. They are proof that the human spirit keeps reaching forward, even after life throws a brick through the windshield.
     
By the end of the session, you could almost feel everyone’s mental batteries slipping into the yellow zone, blinking low-power warnings. Brain work is exhausting in a way many healthy people never fully understand.
   
A damaged brain can turn concentration, conversation, memory, and simple thinking into the equivalent of climbing a mountain with ankle weights strapped to your thoughts. Even a few hours of focused effort can leave someone feeling wrung out—mentally, emotionally, and physically.
 
Two hours can feel like climbing a mountain while solving underwater crossword puzzles. So yes, a couple of hours was probably enough for all of us brave neurological warriors before our brains started waving tiny white surrender flags.
      THE AFTERNOON       
In the afternoon, there was nothing—nothing scheduled, nothing happening, not even a tiny crumb of excitement rolling down the hallway. Nada. An empty stretch of hours just sitting there, staring at me like a goldfish with no hobbies. 😄
   
And honestly, that can be surprisingly difficult. People often think doing “nothing” sounds relaxing, but when your mind wants movement, challenge, conversation, purpose, or growth, too much emptiness can feel heavy. Time slows down. The clock starts acting dramatically. Even the walls seem to yawn.
   
I found myself wondering what to do with myself. Read? Write? Walk? Juggle imaginary juggling clubs for an invisible audience? There are only so many times a man can reorganize his thoughts before his thoughts start reorganizing him.
     
Still, I keep reminding myself that empty hours are not empty lives. Sometimes these quiet spaces become the birthplace of ideas, reflection, gratitude, or determination. A blank afternoon can either swallow your spirit—or become a blank canvas where you decide what comes next.
    SEARCH
So I keep searching for little sparks: a conversation, a few written words, a bit of exercise, a laugh, a plan for tomorrow. Sometimes progress does not arrive wearing fireworks. Sometimes it quietly sneaks in disguised as “just getting through the afternoon.” ✨ How about you? Can I be with you?
     
Someone turned Bob on, and soon his voice and the sounds he made filled the room like a radio stuck between stations. At times, it can feel grating on the nerves—but the truth is, Bob, isn’t choosing any of it. His injured brain no longer gives him the control most of us take for granted. That realization softens my frustration. Beneath the noise is a human being fighting a battle he never asked for, doing the best he can with the damaged wiring life handed him.
     
>>>>>May 14
Four in the morning, and it was time once again for my twice-weekly shower and full clean-up operation. 🚿✨ Not exactly a rock concert, but let me tell you—there is something deeply refreshing about feeling human again.
     SHOWER TIME
Warm water, clean clothes, a fresh shave—and suddenly the world feels a little less like a battlefield and a little more like a place I can handle again. 😄 It is amazing what a bit of soap, stubborn determination, and a decent razor can do. One minute, you look like a shipwrecked pirate arguing with seagulls, and the next, you are practically ready to rejoin civilized society.

Sorry, but I’m not going to turn this into a live
pay-per-view event by showing myself naked in the shower. 😄
Some mysteries are better left behind the curtain. 

There is also something encouraging about these small routines. They may not look dramatic from the outside, but they matter. Tiny acts of self-care are quiet declarations that we are still in the game. Even at four in the morning, half awake and shuffling around like a confused raccoon searching for coffee, we are rebuilding ourselves one step at a time.
   
And afterward? I felt better—much better—cleaner body, clearer mind, lighter spirit. Sometimes progress does not arrive with fireworks and marching bands. Sometimes it slips in quietly at four in the morning, carrying a towel over its shoulder and whispering, “Let’s begin again.” What looks ordinary from the outside can actually be victory in work clothes. ✨
      THE BLOG
Then I sit down and send words flying from my fingertips to your eyes. Thursday becomes editing day—time to read through the blog again, tighten the bolts, polish the sentences, and make sure the right words march out into the world instead of wandering around like confused penguins. 😄
   
But you do know something important, yes? This helps me too. Writing is not only something I give to others; it is something that quietly rebuilds me while I create it. Every sentence becomes a small act of healing. Every paragraph helps me stand a little taller inside myself. The words may reach your heart, but in the process, they help repair mine as well. ✨
     
Every paragraph straightens a crooked thought. Every sentence throws another ball into the air, keeping the pattern moving. In helping you think, smile, reflect, or feel less alone, I end up helping myself right along the way.
   
You must remember that the words I place before you have been reviewed, reshaped, polished, and scanned again and again—each pass searching for the exact rhythm, meaning, and feeling needed to reach your mind and heart.
     
That is the secret behind great writing: not merely inspiration, but the willingness to return to the page repeatedly, refining rough thoughts into something clear, powerful, and alive. Great writing is rarely born in one burst of genius. It is built into the editing process, where ordinary sentences slowly learn how to sing. ✨
      JAPAN
Currently, I have an itchy eye and an itchy knee.
Naturally, my brain wandered off to Japan.
“Ichi” means one. “Ni” means two. (As in, Itchi knee.)
 
Apparently, my body has decided to turn itself into a multilingual vocabulary lesson. One itchy eye, two itchy complaints… and suddenly I’m starring in The Adventures of Professor Scratchy-san. Do you speak Japanese? 😄
   
When I was young, I was learning Japanese, and I truly wish I had kept it up. I have visited Japan three different times, and I absolutely love being there. The culture, the kindness, the safety, the precision, the beauty—it all stayed with me long after the plane rides home.
       A JAPANESE DAD?
My stepfather, Kiyoshi Nakagawa, was Japanese, so I grew up around much of the language and culture. Looking back, I realize what a gift that was. My sister, Willow, dove even deeper into the customs and traditions, and sometimes I wish I had followed her lead and studied more seriously.
     
Still, some things stuck with me. I can use chopsticks—hashi—like a professional noodle ninja. 🍜 And honestly, I would love to study the language again someday and return to Japan. Life is funny that way. Some dreams wander off for a while… then quietly bow and return. And, what about John?
      JOHN
Many years ago, I helped my friend, John Fox, make his way to Japan for performing and circus training (he being the trainer). We had already spent years performing together and touring across Europe, chasing applause, adventure, and the occasional meal that looked suspiciously capable of chasing us back. 🎪
     
Those were wild, beautiful years—two performers hauling props, chasing applause, and carrying just enough money to survive one more train ride, one more cheap meal, and one more show beneath unfamiliar lights.
   
We wandered through country after country, not as tourists, but as students of the world—learning the rhythms of different cultures, the humor of different people, and the strange truth that a smile and a juggling act can open doors in almost any language.
   
Now John is completely fluent in Japanese and deeply woven into the customs, language, and everyday rhythm of life there. A white boy in Japan fitting in — I admire that immensely. There is something beautiful about a person stepping so fully into another culture that it no longer feels foreign—it feels like home. He did not just learn the words; he learned the heartbeat behind them.
    TOKYO
There is something beautiful about watching a person immerse themselves so fully into another culture that it begins to shape the way they think, speak, move, and experience the world. Japan clearly captured his heart, and over the years, he allowed it to become part of who he is.
   
And if I am being completely honest, a small part of me is jealous, too. Not in a bitter way—more in the way you admire someone who followed a path all the way to the horizon. When we were younger, we traveled, performed, and chased adventure together across Europe and beyond, living out stories most people only daydream about. Then John was Japan-bound.
   
But John kept going deeper into Japan, deeper into the language, the customs, and the spirit of the place itself. I can understand why. Japan has a certain magic to it—a balance of discipline, beauty, kindness, precision, and wonder that stays with you long after you leave. ✨
     
He didn’t just visit Japan—he stepped fully into it and built a life there with both feet and an open heart. I doubt he will ever move back. Japan captured something deep inside him, and from everything I have experienced in that beautiful country, I can understand exactly why.
    TUKO
For the artwork on my book, Juggling with Finesse, I was fortunate to find Tuko Fujisaki, a gifted Japanese artist whose work immediately captured my imagination. She did the opposite of John; she went from Japan to the US. The moment I saw her art, I knew it carried something special—grace, movement, elegance, and a kind of quiet power that perfectly matched the spirit of juggling itself. Her illustrations did not merely decorate the book; they gave it soul.
 
There is a refinement in Japanese art that I have always admired. Even the smallest details seem alive with intention and balance. Tuko’s work had that same feeling. Her lines flowed almost like a juggling pattern in the air—smooth, disciplined, and beautiful. It felt as though she understood the rhythm and poetry behind what I was trying to teach. 🎪✨
     
To this day, I remain deeply grateful for her contribution. A great cover does more than attract attention; it invites people into the world inside the pages. Tuko Fujisaki’s artwork did exactly that. It helped transform the book from a collection of ideas into something that felt artistic, alive, and unforgettable. 

CAN YOU USE CHOP STICKS? 

      A BRAIN INJURY HOSPITAL?
It is strange to realize that I am currently living in a hospital, NeuroRestorative at Avalon Park (230477) – CARF International. 
They are a part of https://neurorestorative.com/
Yes, it is helping to be here.
     
Life can change directions so suddenly—one moment you are out juggling dreams and miles of highway, and the next you are learning how to rebuild your world from a hospital room. But thankfully, I am not facing this alone.
    ,
But, I find it very limiting around here; I can’t even cross the street out front to go to the park to juggle clubs or do some running. They do feed me well, and I have a nice residence in which to reside. The staff is kind and very helpful, too. I just want more freedom to chase my dreams. And, yes, I am dreaming of you.
      A CHANGE
My daughters, Jasmine and April, along with Case Manager Myles Mireles and Greg Golden from the insurance company, are all working together to help me find a new place to live. That gives me something powerful: Real Hope. It reminds me that even during uncertain seasons, there are still people beside you helping carry the map, the flashlight, and sometimes even the heavy luggage of life. 😄
   
Sometimes the next chapter begins long before you can fully read the pages. Change often arrives quietly at first—like the faint sound of a door unlocking somewhere in the distance. Right now, out there beyond what I can currently see, a new beginning is patiently waiting for its moment to open. 🚪✨
                           DRAWING BY TUKO

Wherever I go next, I hope for a little more freedom—room to work on my juggling, room to run, room to breathe without feeling so confined. I want to say again that the people here are good. Many have been kind, patient, and genuinely helpful. This place has helped countless people rebuild their lives, regain skills, and eventually step back out into the world stronger than before.
     
But for some, this becomes their final home. That is a difficult reality to sit with. Some residents are as young as 30 and will spend the rest of their lives in this structured environment because they truly need this level of care and support.
     
I understand that completely, and I respect it deeply. Still, inside me, a voice keeps whispering, “There is more life to live yet.” So I keep looking toward the horizon, juggling hope in one hand and determination in the other. 🎪
   
10:00–11:00 — This therapy session began a bit late while everyone waited for one more person to arrive. The class was called “Visual Group,” and we were given puzzles where colored blocks had to be matched to specific patterns and designs. I completed one very quickly and soon realized the activity simply was not challenging enough for where my mind was operating that morning.
      BYE BYE
So I left early. Some exercises are helpful stepping stones for many people, but this one did not feel like the right fit for me. My brain was ready for calculus… or at least something slightly more advanced than Olympic-Level Competitive Block Stacking. 😄 Sometimes the real challenge is not solving the puzzle—it is finding one worthy of your attention
     
11:00–11:30 — Speech therapy was next, a half-hour session with Lillie. She seems a bit frustrated with me for not consistently carrying through on the daily writing book, where I’m supposed to record things that happen throughout the day.
     
And honestly, I understand her point. She reminded me of several things I had completely forgotten, which certainly strengthens her argument. Still, part of me wonders: do I really need to document every tiny detail of life like an overworked detective solving The Mystery of the Missing Afternoon Snack? 😄
     
She ad asked questions such as, “What day of the week is it? I knew because I know the blog comes out tomorrow, Friday. She asked the actual date, but I had no idea and didn’t care. If I need to know the date or the time, I can ask someone, so I don’t care. 

I suppose that is the balancing act—trying to improve memory and awareness without feeling like I must carry a notebook everywhere like a wandering philosopher/journalist/juggler hybrid. But she is right about one important thing: memory can be slippery after brain injury, and sometimes the moments we think are unimportant quietly disappear before we realize they mattered at all.

2:00–2:30 — OT was up next. We headed to Publix Supermarket and gathered supplies for the gourmet masterpiece I’ll apparently be preparing Monday or Tuesday. “Meal preparation” sounds very official, though at this stage it mostly involved me trying not to crash the shopping cart into innocent displays of avocados. 😄
     PORK CHOPS?
That is what is on the menu, the chops. I’m expecting you, of course. If you suddenly hear someone in Publix announcing, “Attention All Shoppers, Chef Kit is approaching the Salsa Aisle,” you’ll know things have escalated quickly.   https://www.summerssalsa.com/ . 🍝🎪
>>>>>May 15
As often happens, breakfast arrived 45 minutes late. I do not worry much about myself; I think most about the others here. For many people, routines are not just routines—they are stability, comfort, and part of how they navigate the day. When one thing falls behind, the entire rhythm of the day stumbles along behind it like a shopping cart with one bad wheel. 😄
     
Because breakfast was delayed, my entire schedule started late as well. The only activity listed today was “Fun Friday Group” at 10:00. Honestly, I did not feel it was something I could truly benefit from. I am always looking for activities that challenge the mind, encourage growth, or build toward greater independence. My brain still wants to sprint, while the schedule often feels like it is asking me to color gently inside the lines.
   
I was late, but I did stop in for the Friday group. By the time I arrived, they were just beginning a game of Hangman. People laughed, guessed letters, and seemed to enjoy the simplicity of it all.
     
And perhaps for some minds, these kinds of games are helpful—something light, social, and easy to engage with. I understand that. Not every activity has to be climbing Mount Everest with your brain carrying bowling balls. 😄
    NOT FOR ME
But for me, I could feel almost immediately that it was not where my mind wanted to be. My brain still craves challenge, complexity, creativity—something that stretches me a little further. I wanted conversation, ideas, problem-solving, perhaps something involving writing, strategy, storytelling, or deeper thinking.
   
Instead, I sat there, realizing that while my body may currently be in a recovery center, my mind is still out there somewhere, running marathons, building projects, juggling possibilities, and trying to calculate the meaning of life before lunch.
   
That is one of the strange parts of recovery. Sometimes the greatest frustration is not what you cannot do—it is knowing what you still can do, while not always having the right outlet for it. Still, I showed up. That matters. Even arriving late is better than disappearing entirely. Life is funny that way. Sometimes progress is not winning the game… sometimes it is simply walking into the room anyway.
     
Then, at 11:00, I had speech therapy for half an hour. We spent most of the session simply talking, and by the end, we both seemed to realize something important: perhaps I do not really want more therapy sessions after all. Funny how the human mind works. I complain about not getting enough therapy, yet when asked what kind of therapy I actually want, my mind suddenly goes blank like a game show contestant under bright lights.
     
This part may be on me, too. I may have been fighting a battle without clearly defining the goal. That is a hard thing to admit. Still, realizing that is not losing—it is information. And information is useful. Even a juggler drops a few balls before figuring out the pattern. 

I DON’T KNOW HOW I WANT TO GET BETTER OR EVEN IF I WANT TO GET BETTER.

Some days, the hardest truth to admit is this: I do not even know how I want to get better… or if part of me truly wants to get better at all. Recovery is strange that way. One moment, you are fighting like a warrior; the next, you are exhausted from carrying the armor.
     
There are times when the mind becomes so tired from the battle that even hope feels heavy. And yet, honesty like this is not weakness at all.
     
It may be the beginning of something real. You cannot build a stronger future on fake smiles and forced motivation. Sometimes the first courageous step is simply admitting, “I’m lost right now.” And maybe that is okay for today. Even a juggler drops the balls before finding the rhythm again. 🎪

In the afternoon, I will sneak out to run and get my heart rate up, something I cannot do here.
===============================
PART 3)–BLOG 377–I CAN(‘T) WHISTLE
     
Whistling is one of humanity’s smallest miracles—a simple breath transformed into joy, courage, and light. A whistle can lift heavy spirits, calm troubled thoughts, and chase tension out of the room like a mischievous little bird stealing the gloom. Sometimes all it takes is one tiny tune floating through the air to remind us that life is still wonderfully alive.
     
Through wars, heartbreak, lonely roads, hospital hallways, long shifts, and exhausting days, people have whistled to keep hope breathing. A whistle says something words often cannot:
“I’m still here.”
“I’m still moving forward.”
“I may be bruised, bent, tired, or dented like a shopping cart with one bad wheel… but I’m still rolling.”
   
Whistling is courage with a melody.
A tiny anthem of joyful defiance.
The soundtrack of the human spirit refusing to sit quietly in the shadows.
   
A person whistling while they work is often carrying far more than a tune. They’re carrying optimism. Peace. Resilience. Maybe even a little rebellion against despair. In a noisy world full of stress, bad news, and people arguing on the internet about things nobody will remember in six weeks, a cheerful whistle becomes the soul’s way of smiling out loud. 🎶✨
     
And I love this part…
For years, I believed I simply could not whistle. Walk and whistle? Forget it. Chew gum and whistle? That sounded like Olympic-level wizardry. Some people can juggle chainsaws. Others can whistle. Apparently, I had been assigned to the wrong circus. 😄
     
But then one day, I challenged that story.
I taught myself to juggle seven clubs.
I rebuilt my life more than once.
Surely I could learn to make one tiny musical squeak with my face.
So I practiced.
   
At first, I sounded like an exhausted squirrel trying to inflate a balloon. Then came the strange wheezing noises. Then accidental bird impressions. Then one glorious, clear note appeared out of nowhere like the universe whispering:
“SEE? KEEP GOING.” 🎶
   
That’s the magic of learning.
Most people quit during the “confused teakettle phase.” 😄
But almost every worthwhile skill hides behind awkward beginnings.
Whistling teaches something bigger than whistling:
What feels impossible today is something you haven’t practiced long enough yet.
     
And honestly, the world becomes more delightful once you discover there are actual whistling champions. Yes, professional whistlers exist. Somewhere out there, someone’s entire life mission is dominating competitive airborne face music—and I deeply respect that. 🎶😄
     
Whistling champion Chris Ullman explained it beautifully: with patience and practice, most people can learn. That’s encouraging, because it means whistling isn’t reserved for a chosen few blessed by the ancient Lip Gods at birth. It’s learned, built, and earned one awkward puff of air at a time.
     
Nature itself whistles constantly🎶🌎

• Dolphins whistle to identify one another, almost like names. 
• Marmots are known as “whistle pigs” for their warning calls. 
• Guinea pigs whistle for food like tiny furry managers demanding that snack service speed it up immediately. 
• Male mice sing ultrasonic songs. 
• Wild dogs coordinate hunts through eerie whistles in dense forests. 
• Even caterpillars get involved. 

Apparently, the entire planet has secretly been in one giant wind-powered orchestra this whole time.     
     
And then there’s folklore.
Cultures around the world have long believed nighttime whistling could summon spirits, mystery, or trouble. Stories of Skinwalkers and Stekini weren’t merely spooky entertainment—they carried warnings, wisdom, and cultural identity through generations. Humanity has always used whistles not just as sound, but as symbols: signals in the dark, echoes of caution, courage, wonder, and imagination. 🌙
     
Which leads us to one of the funniest truths about learning to whistle:
Nearly everyone goes through the same stages:
Silence.   Damp disappointment.   Aggressive air leakage.
One accidental bird noise.   A magical, clear note.    Immediate overconfidence. 😄
   
After that first successful whistle, people suddenly behave like they’re auditioning to summon dolphins from three counties away. But that could be beautiful too.
   
Because whistling is more than noise, it is evidence of breath.
Evidence of effort.   Evidence of joy.
Evidence that something inside you still wants to sing.
   
Sometimes life takes away strength.   Sometimes it takes away certainty.
Sometimes it knocks juggling clubs, plans, confidence, and comfort straight out of your hands.
But if you can still whistle…
Even softly…   even badly…
Even like a tea kettle being attacked by raccoons…
There is still music in you. 🎶✨
      LIVE FOR NOW!   NOT YESTERDAY!    NOT TOMORROW!   NOW IS THE TIME!
===========================
PART 4) 🔥 A FEW SPARKS TO SLIP INTO YOUR POCKET
    ✨ THE MAGIC OF QUOTES ✨
Inspirational quotes are like mental spark plugs. 💥They snap you awake, simplify big ideas, and give you a quick push forward. A good quote can shift your thinking—turning “I can’t” into “let’s try.” And the more you repeat it, the more it becomes part of you.
Simple truth:  A quote on a page is nice… A quote you live by? That’s power. 🚀
=====
Whistling to keep myself from being afraid.
―John Dryden
   
“Work?– I whistle while I play!”
―Kit Summers
     
“To attempt to advise conceited people is like whistling against the wind.”
―Doug Larson
   
“And it’s the funniest thing: as soon as I see it, the whistling in my ears stops, and the feeling of terror drains away, and I realize this whole time I haven’t been falling at all. I’ve been floating.”
―Thomas Hood
   
“Discourse on virtue, and they pass by in droves. Whistle and dance the shimmy, and you’ve got an audience.”
―Lauren Oliver
     
“My worst habit is whistling while I sleep.”
―Billy Boyd
     
“I know of witches who whistle at different pitches, calling things that don’t have names.”
― Helen Oyeyemi,
       
“Nobody likes a whistler, particularly not the divinity that shapes our ends.”
― Douglas Adams
     
“As we rode along, LaBoeuf commenced whistling tunes, perhaps to take his mind off his sore arm. Rooster said, “God damn a man that whistles!” It was the wrong thing to say if he wished it to stop.”
― Charles Portis
     
“Self-driving cars are so lonely. Are you really going to use all that extra commute time to binge-watch Netflix? Why not hire me to sit next to you and whistle all your favorite tunes?”
― Jarod Kintz
   
“The sound circulated like an autonomous being whose tentacles needed to experience a sensitive awareness of the terrain.”
― Ondjaki
============================
PART 5) YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK >>
LIVE FOR NOW! NOT TOMORROW. NOT NEXT WEEK. NOW IS YOUR TIME!
Your mission for this week is, of course, to teach yourself to whistle.
If you already whistle, take it to a higher level—volume, tone, and do songs with it.

If you already know how to whistle, don’t stop at a tiny little “tweet-tweet” and call it a day. 🎵 Take that superpower to the next level! Play with volume. Learn to whistle softly like a breeze slipping through the trees… then crank it up like a train conductor announcing the greatest adventure on Earth. Experiment with tone, pitch, rhythm, and emotion. A whistle can sound joyful, mysterious, playful, lonely, triumphant, or downright mischievous.
   
And here’s where the real fun begins—learn songs. Start simple. Whistle a melody while walking, cleaning, driving, or waiting in line at the grocery store, pretending you’re starring in your own movie soundtrack. 😄 Before long, you’ll notice people smiling, turning their heads, or even joining in. Whistling has a strange little magic to it—it lifts the mood of a room without asking permission.
   
The beauty is this: whistling is not just noise… Its expression. It’s music carried on nothing but breath and joy. Some people juggle balls. Some paint pictures. Some dance. And some turn ordinary air into melody. That’s pretty amazing when you think about it. So pucker up, practice, and let your inner songbird clock in for work. The world could use a few more happy soundtracks floating through the air.
===============
PART 6) NEXT WEEK>>BLOG 377–THE YEARS PILE ON
================ 

🌟 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!
🌟

✨KITTING AROUND✨
BLOG 376–DON’T LIVE FOR THE FUTURE OR THE PAST

                                                          This Video will let you know more about me–
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr8QFnD1yGc
This Blog is Best Read on a Laptop, Rather than Your Phone.
By KIT SUMMERS — World-Class Juggler to World-Class Comeback
To Learn More about Kit, Go Here >> https://kitsummers.com/about-kit/

Once upon a life, I made gravity nervous—
Headlining at Ballys, tossing clubs with a grin.
Seven of them. A world record—
Because physics loves a good insult. 😄
Then came the truck—the coma.
     
Thirty-seven silent days offstage.
And here I am now—not juggling clubs.
But throwing purpose, grit, and joy.
Balancing healing, catching courage.
Tossing hope sky-high. 🤹‍♂️

The mission grew bigger than applause.
Now I lift humans. I write to stay connected.
I write because it’s how I breathe.
If these words help you, too?
That’s magic catching air. 🎉
     
What’s next on Kit’s journey through life?
Back to juggling? Back to life?
Stay with Kit and find out.
Life can get better.
Life will get better. ✨

========================
Part 1)  THE BEGINNINGS
DON’T LIVE FOR THE FUTURE OR THE PAST—
MAKE THE MOST OF THE MOMENT YOU’RE HOLDING RIGHT NOW!
@     
Every week, I try to write the very BEST blog I can—
Something that makes people laugh a little, think a little deeper.
I want you to walk away seeing life with brighter eyes. ✨
Are you feeling that in my writing?
@     
Can you sense the heart, the humor, the miles traveled, and the lessons dropped and picked back up like juggling balls across the years? I hope so, because I don’t just place words onto a page—I try to breathe life into them. 🎪
@
If you ever miss a blog notification—or just feel like wandering through a garden of past posts—head over to my website, KitSummers.com. Click on the blog and dive in. Every post is there, lined up like a bookshelf of bright little sparks, just waiting to light something up inside you. ✨
@    
And if the notifications ever start to feel like one ball too many in your juggling pattern, no worries at all—just let me know, and I’ll smoothly take you off the list… no drops, no drama, just a clean catch and release. I will miss you, though. 🎯 

In this blog, I’ve been experimenting with creative little paragraph breaks and visual rhythm changes along the way. 🎨✨
@    
Honestly, it became part of the fun—almost like adding juggling beats between the thoughts. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed creating it.
@   
While traveling the country for seven years in my van, I learned something far more valuable than how to navigate highways or find a quiet place to sleep—I learned how to be alone. Truly alone. And strangely enough, that became one of the greatest lessons of my Life.
@      
Because being alone is not the same as being lonely, solitude teaches you how to think clearly, calm your mind, enjoy your own company, and discover who you are when the noise finally fades away. It teaches strength. Peace. Independence. We must first learn to stand comfortably with ourselves before we can fully connect with others.
@    
One day, life may place you in a season where you must stand on your own. Learn now how to do that with grace. Learn how to sit quietly with yourself without fear. Learn how to enjoy your own thoughts, dreams, and presence. If you can do that, you carry a strength no storm can easily shake.
@   
Years ago, I shaped patterns with juggling balls flying through the air. Today, I shape them with words, ideas, and encouragement, traveling through hearts and minds. The tools may have changed, but the magic never packed its suitcase and left town. It simply stepped backstage, changed costumes, and walked back into the spotlight wearing a different kind of brilliance. ✨🎪
@     
Back when I was juggling, the rhythm lived in the air… toss, catch, repeat—a quiet dance between gravity, focus, and trust. And the secret? It was never about the last throw or the next catch. It was always about this one… this moment suspended in the air like a tiny miracle asking, “Are you paying attention yet?”
@   
That’s where life happens.
Not behind you.
Not ahead of you. Right here.
     
Now the rhythm lives between thoughts… idea, sentence, spark. Different stage. Same dance with the unknown. Same occasional drop followed by a grin and recovery. Because the drop never ends, the act becomes part of the performance.
@    
Too many people live trapped in old patterns or waiting for some future version of themselves to finally “have it all figured out.” But the magic has never lived back there—and it’s not hiding somewhere ahead either. It lives here. In this breath. In this choice. In this moment where your life is still moving.
@    
Because the real art was never in the tools. Not the juggling balls. Not the words. The art is in the flow—that invisible current that whispers, “Keep going.” That’s where life lives. Not in memory. Not in imagination. In participation.
@     
I didn’t stop juggling—I simply changed what I chose to keep in motion. The rhythm never disappeared. It just traded juggling balls for words, ideas, encouragement, and sparks of hope tossed into the air for others to catch.
@     
And the magic? Oh, it’s still here… leaning quietly in the corner of life with a crooked grin, pockets overflowing with confetti, wonder, and a few gloriously ridiculous surprises. It hasn’t disappeared over time or in the face of hardship.
@     
It’s simply been waiting—patiently, playfully—for you to step forward again. The instant you move, it moves too… spinning back into motion like an old friend who never stopped believing in you for even a second. ✨
@    
Change comes for every one of us. Sometimes it arrives softly, like sunrise slipping through the curtains. Other times, it storms into life like a bowling ball smashing straight through your carefully balanced act, scattering plans in every direction. But here’s the secret: change is rarely the main event. Your response is. Do you freeze? Or do you reinvent the act?
@     
Because life isn’t asking us to avoid every dropped ball, it’s asking whether we’re brave enough to bend down, pick them up smiling, and begin again with a little more wisdom, a little more courage, and maybe even a better punchline. 🎪
@   
That’s where your story gets written—not someday when conditions are perfect, but right now in the messy middle. With courage, coffee stains, uncertainty, laughter, and maybe a few cookie crumbs for dramatic effect. 🎭
@    
Because life is not built in polished moments, it’s built into the wobble. The shaky inhale before the leap. The laugh after everything falls apart. The decision to keep dancing even when the music skips.
@   
The messy middle is not proof that you’re failing. It’s proof you’re alive. Participating. Trying. Growing. And maybe that’s the secret nobody tells us soon enough: transformation lives in the middle—not at the finish line.
@    
So keep moving.
Keep creating.
Keep showing up with your wonderfully imperfect energy—
The kind carrying dreams in one pocket and glitter in the other. ✨
@    
The world does not need more flawless statues standing stiff on pedestals. It needs real people.
Brave people. People willing to fall, stand back up, straighten their crooked crown, and laugh:
“Well… that was dramatic. Let’s keep going anyway.” 💫
@    
Because eventually the character steps onto the stage, rolls up its sleeves, cracks its knuckles, and says:
“Alright, Life… Let’s Play.”
So what will you do?
Shrink backward into fear?
@
Or lean forward into possibility?
Will you stare at the closed door?
Or notice the glowing trail opening beside you?
@    
Every change places a crossroads in your hands and quietly asks: “Who do you want to become now?” Not someday. Not when you finally feel fearless. Not after the universe delivers a glittery permission slip tied to a balloon. 🎈✨NOW.
@     
Life is already revving the engine and asking if you’re getting in. 🚐💨
@    
So jump on. Start before you feel ready. Make the call. Take the walk. Write the page. Learn the trick. Chase the sunrise. Life is moving right now—wild, messy, unfinished, and absolutely beautiful.
@     
And most transformations do not begin with fireworks.
They begin quietly.
With one brave thought.
One tiny decision.
One wobbling step forward, where you whisper:
“Alright… let’s do this anyway.”
@    
That’s how lives change. Slowly. Steadily. Like sunrise, teaching the world how to glow again. So don’t live in the future. And don’t camp in the past. Those places don’t need you. This moment does.
@      
Yes, change will come. But so will your ability to adapt, respond, and rise. You are not merely someone who survives change—you are someone who can turn change into momentum.
And that… is where the magic begins. ✨ ✨
============================= 
PART 2)  THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK Kit’s Daily Delights — Inspiration, Freshly Served. Every week, I sit down to map my week—and every time, it begins the same way: a blank canvas. Nothing there. It still surprises me. That quiet moment, just before I fill it in… when the whole week is wide open, waiting for me to decide what it becomes. And here’s the beautiful truth—you’ve got that same wide-open canvas, too. Start now and make the life YOU want!   

>>>>>May 2
Being a Saturday, the hallways have softened into a whisper—one of those quiet stretches where even time seems to tiptoe. But something still lingers in my mind. Yesterday, around 3 p.m., the staff seemed to vanish all at once… like a curtain dropping mid-scene.

It makes me wonder—is this the rhythm here, or just one of those curious little pauses life tosses into the mix to see how you’ll play it? Did everyone really leave early… or am I just standing in one of those quiet in-between moments where the world takes a breath and waits to see what I’ll do next? 

Because here’s the truth—DON’T LIVE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PAST. Don’t sit there wishing yesterday had gone differently. Don’t wait for tomorrow to fix what today is asking you to face. Right now… this moment… this quiet hallway… this is your stage.

The stillness isn’t empty—It’s an opening. Maybe it turns into a short run. Maybe just ten steady steps. Maybe it’s nothing more (and nothing less) than sitting up a little taller and saying, “I’m still in this game.” And that counts. Oh, that counts.

Yes, my tiredness shows up uninvited—like that one guest who never checks the clock. And sure, an hour can vanish faster than a magician’s coin trick. 🪄 But this isn’t the end of my energy… It’s the quiet rebuilding of it. A new rhythm is finding its feet. Same fire, just burning smarter now—steadier, deeper, impossible to snuff out.

Then lunch arrives—tiny pizza, small salad—and it doesn’t quite meet you where you are. And yeah… that stings. Not just in the body, but in that deeper place that wants to be seen, understood, cared for. Especially now, without lower teeth, when even simple food becomes a challenge most people never have to think about. That’s real. That’s frustrating. That’s human.

But don’t let that moment write the whole story of your day. You’re still here. Still adjusting and still finding new ways to move forward when the old ways don’t fit. That’s not weakness—that’s grit with a grin. This is where real strength shows up… sleeves rolled up, saying, “Alright, Life, we’ll do it this way now.” And somehow—you are. That’s power in motion. 💥 💫

But here’s the pivot… and you’re good at pivots:
You want to lose weight. You want to change.
So maybe—just maybe—this isn’t resistance…
It’s an alignment in disguise.

Because progress rarely shows up wearing a parade costume.
Sometimes it looks like less.
Sometimes it feels inconvenient.
But stack those moments?
That’s transformation quietly doing push-ups in the background. 💪

And then there’s Bob. His pain echoes through the hall, loud and unfiltered. It’s hard. You feel it. Anyone with a heart would. But this is part of the human symphony too—the notes we don’t choose, the sounds we can’t silence. So you do what strong people do: you hold compassion in one hand… and keep moving forward with the other.

Now here I am—1 p.m., the blog nearly complete.
Every piece is set, every thread woven… except those final words, still out there somewhere, stretching, yawning, waiting for their perfect entrance. And honestly?

This pause… It’s kind of magic. ✨
Not empty—alive. Not missing—gathering.
Like the moment just before the next toss, when everything hangs in the air, and anything feels possible.

Not finished…   Not unfinished…   Just suspended.
Like a juggler holding that last ball, feeling the rhythm.
Smiling.  Because he knows—the next toss will land perfectly. ✨
Because that’s how this works, isn’t it?

This morning, you didn’t know what you’d write.
And yet… here it came. Word by word. Thought by thought.
Just like juggling.  You didn’t stop the magic.
You just changed what you keep in motion. 🎯

> May 3
No breakfast today. I was here. I was waiting.
As you know, I am seldom hungry.
But I am concerned about others.
    A
A Sunday… and here we go.
Dave Vieth—the man who kept our vehicles running and turned every visit into a bit of a comedy show—passed away over the weekend. He worked hard, laughed easily, and had that rare ability to make even a repair shop feel alive.
Here is Dave >> https://www.facebook.com/daveveithsr
      B
He smoked like a smokestack and didn’t treat his body like a temple—but he lived life on his terms. No pretending. No polishing himself to fit someone else’s script. He showed up with real rough edges and all. And you had to respect that.
      C
In a world packed with people reading from someone else’s script, Dave snatched the pen. He wrote his own life story—messy at times, sure, with ink smudged and a few wild plot twists—but always real, unfiltered, and completely his, and there’s a rare kind of power in that… a life not polished for approval, but lived with grit, truth, and just enough rebellion to make it unforgettable.
    D
Later in life, he found a deep belief in God—something that clearly mattered to him. And now he’s gone. No neat explanations. No tidy ending. Just the quiet reminder: people pass through, leave their mark… and move on. You are on your way, too, remember?
    E
But not really gone—because the laughter still echoes, the stories keep walking into rooms long after he’s left them, and the moments he made brighter don’t fade… they multiply. That’s what lingers. That’s what matters. He left a mark—are you? ✨
    F
I spent much of today working on my blog—shaping thoughts, chasing the right words, juggling ideas until they found rhythm. Not every word arrives with a drumroll… some slip in quietly and whisper, “This one matters.” Those are the ones I chase.
      G
Because my goal is simple: to add something to your life. A spark. A shift. A sentence that lingers just long enough to change your direction. Something that makes you smile, pause, or take one more step forward—maybe even a slightly bolder one.
    H
So here they are—no spotlight, no drumroll. Just words, showing up quietly… like a warm cup of tea placed in your hands at exactly the moment you didn’t know you needed it. ☕✨ Not loud, not demanding—just there, steady and warm, inviting you to slow down for a second.
    I
You could take a sip. You could sit with it a little longer. And somewhere in that small pause, something clicks… a thought softens, a new idea slips in, a bit of energy returns. Nothing forced. Nothing flashy. Just a gentle nudge forward—the kind that doesn’t shout, but somehow stays with you long after the cup is empty.
    J
And if even one line lands.
If it lifts your day just a little.
Then this was worth it.
      K
As for belief? I don’t follow a supernatural path. And that’s okay. A meaningful life doesn’t require it. It asks for something simpler—and harder: show up, pay attention, engage. Meaning isn’t handed down. It’s built—choice by choice, action by action, throw by throw, drop by drop in how you treat people, how you create, how you rise after you fall.
    L
Sunday doesn’t need a church to matter. It can be a reset. A check-in. A moment to ask: What’s next? What do you think about now? That kind of honesty? That’s powerful. So no church for me. But I do have a life that matters. A story still unfolding.  And today?   Wide open.
    M
And this morning delivered a small, unexpected miracle. I woke at 3 a.m.—right on schedule—but then… slipped back into sleep. That rarely happens. It felt like life handing me a quiet little bonus round… no fanfare, just a soft wink that said, “Here, have a little extra.”
    N
Now the day stretches out in front of me—fresh, full of possibility.
And I’m stepping into it with intention. A smile here.
A kind word there. Small ripples that grow.
So tell me—what would make your day just a little brighter? ✨        
      O
I stepped out for my daily cleanup—something I’ve come to do almost every day. It’s a small act, sure… but small acts have a funny way of leaving big fingerprints. As I walked, a thought tapped me on the shoulder: I may be leaving here within the next month… so who carries this forward? Who keeps things just a little better than they found them?
    P
It’s Sunday—quiet, almost whispering—with only a handful of staff around. And then, out of nowhere, this bold idea popped up: “Let’s go for a mile run!” The old fire stretched and flickered—Hey… remember me? So I listened. I gave it a shot.
    Q
But the moment I tried to start, my body answered back—loud and clear: “NO.” Not a whisper. Not a suggestion. A full-on, arms-crossed, not-today kind of NO. And honestly, with the daily tiredness tagging along, I wasn’t even sure I could. But I had to try. Because that’s what I do—I show up and test the edges.
    R
And here’s the truth… that’s part of the dance. Some days you run. Some days you listen. Some days, you negotiate with your knees like a used-car salesman. 😄 But either way—you’re still in motion. Still engaged. Still in the game.
    S
And maybe that’s the quiet victory most people miss… not the sprint, not the speed—but the willingness to step out, to try, to care. To leave a place just a little brighter than you found it—and trust that somewhere, someone will feel that… and keep it going. Will you join me in cleaning up the world?
      T
The rest of the afternoon was spent watching videos, spurring my mind on, or not.  I love using words I haven’t used before. Have you ever used “spurring” before? What secret words do you keep in your arsenal? I think that’s the first time I’ve used “arsenal”, as well. What new words do you like?
      U
>>>>>May 4
Where to start… where to start. It’s a question that shows up for me every single day—quiet, persistent, tapping me on the shoulder like, “Alright… what’s next?” And I have a feeling you’ve heard that same voice, too.
    1
Lately, there’s a sharper edge to it—not loud or dramatic, just unmistakably clear. I’m tired of this place in a quiet, honest way—the kind of tired that doesn’t complain, it simply knows. It leans in close and whispers, “You’ve grown past this. It’s time.” This isn’t frustration… It’s readiness. Not escape—evolution. Something new is calling, and for once, I’m not hesitating—I’m listening.
      2
The only twist? I don’t quite know what that “new” looks like yet. And that space—between ready to go and not sure where—that’s where the mind starts jogging in circles like it’s training for a marathon nobody signed up for. But maybe that in-between isn’t a problem to solve… maybe it’s a runway. And you, my friend, are already picking up speed. ✨
      3
I just got today’s schedule. One item: Sports Group from 10 to 11. And let’s be real—that’s not exactly headline material. The brighter note? Salsa’s on deck, aiming to be ready by tomorrow—Cinco de Mayo. Now that’s something with flavor, literally and figuratively. 🌶️
    4
But days like this… when things move slow, when the schedule feels thin… they stretch. And in that stretch, the mind starts wandering toward the future—Where’s my next place? When does the shift happen? That anticipation can turn into a quiet kind of anxiety.
    5
And here we are—it’s 8:22 am… and breakfast is still playing hide-and-seek. Often, the time to eat is 8 am. But let me offer you this, my friend: even a “nothing” day has something tucked inside it. A conversation. A small win. A moment that shifts the tone just enough to remind you—you’re still in motion.
    6
You’re not stuck… you’re in between.
And “in between” is where change gathers its strength.
The question remains — what’s next?
    7
So today isn’t about fireworks. It could be about staying engaged, showing up, and adding one small spark to a slow-burning day. And hey—step one? Let’s go track down that breakfast, as it owes you money. 🍳😄
    8
There’s no “off switch” for Bob across the hall. Today, he’s taken his moaning to championship level—like he’s training for the Olympics of agony. Perhaps it’s because I did not get his breakfast either? I wonder.
    9
And me? I keep hearing the same chant in my head: GET ME OUTTA HERE. There was no breakfast today, just a dose of reality. Still… I move forward. One step, one breath, one bite, one “let’s see what this day’s got” at a time.
      10
There are so many better games and challenges for individuals with brain injury. Why don’t we try new techniques that would challenge those here who are trying to get better? Once again, I think it is the therapists who hold back patients.
      11
I wandered over to Sports Group, curious and more than excited. Turns out—it is Ladder Ball. Simple. Easy. Let’s just say… not exactly the Super Bowl of stimulation. It felt like time was stretching itself out just to see how far it could go. But hey—I played anyway.
    12
And, plot twist—I took first place in Ladder Ball, even nailed a perfect score in the final round 🏆—So there’s that little burst of glory; funny how life works, handing you a moment that feels flat or forgettable, and then—boom—you find a way to shine right in the middle of it.
    13
Because winning isn’t always about the spotlight—it’s about showing up anyway, right there in the quiet corners of the day, and turning even the most ordinary moments into something that makes you smile… maybe even grin like you just got away with a little magic. ✨
    14
Later, I found out there had been a walking group earlier. I wasn’t invited. Last time, I pushed too hard, went too fast, stepped outside the lines a bit. It stings, no question. There are no challenges here. Last time, did I go too fast for them? I’m looking for challenges, not walking.
    15
But I’m starting to see the pattern—this place has its rhythms, its rules, its quiet systems. And when you move against them, even a little, there can be friction. I see too much “Control” going on. There are good therapists, and then there are the others.
    16
Seems some of the therapists have it too easy here and refuse to try anything new, even if it could help a brain injury survivor in a good way. I just keep seeing the same ol’, same ol’. I do have to say, I have seen good therapy going on, just not enough.
    17
The therapists want full control of all that goes on here, and that hinders them much. I do know some of them read my blog — so I will be scolded for these words. I just want things to get better for others. I hope to help.
    18
But here’s the truth hiding in plain sight–I’m still in motion.
Even here. Even now. I showed up. I played. I won.
And somewhere inside all this… that voice saying
“GET ME OUTTA HERE” isn’t just frustration—it’s direction.
It’s a compass.
And compasses?
They don’t shout. 
They point.
    19
The time now is 12:22. Usually, lunch is here by noon; it just arrived. I hate to be a complainer, but they know my circumstances. All my lower teeth were extracted (I hate the reminder of that.) Lunch was a chicken burger, tater tots, and a salad. Because of missing teeth and not being able to chew, I cannot eat most of the meal, but I will live.
    20
2-3:00  I made a batch of my salsa, as usual, it turned out quite delicious. Along with my sweet-mild, I make some that is very hot. This will be saved for those who request it. Do you like hot? I don’t like hot myself. A guy here doesn’t like beans, so I made him a bowl without any.
    21
5:15 Dinner is usually here by now, a strange day.
5:22 Dinner has arrived and tastes good.
A lasagne mix that had a great taste.
    22
El 5 de mayo (Cinco de Mayo) es mañana, así que publicaremos todo entonces. Pero ¿quién bailará el baile mexicano? Debería pasar un buen rato para todos; os lo haré saber. Una cena mexicana completa para todos los que están aquí. Desearía que tú también estuvieras aquí. ¡Algún día tenemos que bailar juntos! ¡Viejo!   (What does that say, Larry?)
       
>>>>>May 5 
¡SI!  ¡CINCO DE MAYO!
¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!
Espero que tengas un día fantástico.
Traer alegría a los demás.
       
Why?
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, a smaller, poorly equipped Mexican force defeated a much larger, well-armed French army, providing a major morale boost during the Franco-Mexican War.
     
Your language?
Do you speak American, or English, or Mexican, or Spanish, or Yugoslavian, or Russian?
Или вы говорите по-русски?
それとも、日本語を話せるのですか？ 
Pole tänu väärt.
   
The Twist
Here’s the surprising twist: although humanity speaks more than 7,000 languages, just 23 are used by over half the world’s population. Meanwhile, thousands of smaller languages quietly protect entire worlds of culture and identity inside their words. Every language is its own little universe.
 
Come on!
Life is waiting for you—so climb on board! 🚀
Not someday. Not when everything is perfect.
Not when you finally feel “ready.” — Now!
This moment. This breath.
This is a beautiful, unfinished, wide-open chapter.
   
MOVE!
Life isn’t standing still—it’s a moving train, doors open, wind rushing through, adventure whispering your name. And here’s the secret: you don’t need a perfect plan to get on… You just need a little courage and a willingness to take that first step.
     
Keep Going!
Will it be smooth? Nope. There will be bumps, wrong turns, and a few “What was I thinking?” moments. Good. That’s not failure—that’s living with the volume turned up. That’s how stories are made. That’s how you are made. Juggling taught me something–If you drop a ball, you pick it up and keep going!
   
Dream on.
So grab your dreams—yes, even the slightly ridiculous ones.
Pack your curiosity.
Bring that stubborn spark inside you that refuses to quit.
And if fear tries to tag along, let it come… just don’t give it the driver’s seat.
Fear will teach you, and, better yet, you will teach fear.
   
You are part of
Because the truth is simple and electric:
You’re not here to watch life pass by… you’re here to ride it, shape it, and light it up.
So hop on.   Lean forward.   And enjoy the wild, beautiful ride. 🎢✨
     
What’s on the schedule?
Just got my therapy schedule for today… And, true to form, it’s a lighter one—but hey, even light days can shine. Cooking group kicks things off at 11, where I’ll be enjoying the salsa I made yesterday and whipping up a little Mexican feast (because if you’re going to heal, you might as well do it with flavor and/or spice 🌶️).
     
Bocce?
At 1, it’s Bocce Ball—a simple roll-and-toss kind of game. Maybe not a brain workout… but sometimes the win is just showing up and playing anyway. Like many of the simple games here, not much to help with recovery from TBI (TBI is “traumatic brain injury.)KJuggling time.
   
Then at 2, we turn up the magic—I’ll be teaching juggling, which means smiles, motion, and a few gravity-defying moments (my kind of therapy). People here seem to like juggling a lot. And, juggling has been proven to help with TBI recovery.
Walmart?
   
Buy a few.
And to top it all off, a 3 p.m. run to Walmart—because even everyday heroes have to restock their magic. It’s not a jam-packed schedule… but it’s a lived one. And truth be told, a day that’s fully lived beats a day that’s just filled. Sometimes, that’s more than enough—it’s exactly right.
     
Relax
So no, it’s not a packed, high-octane kind of day… but it’s still a day. And sometimes life isn’t about fireworks—it’s about showing up, adding a little flavor, a little motion, a little meaning… and turning “just stuff” into something that counts. You must remember that you design each day you have, and only you can give yourself a bad day.
       
Are you eating?
Eating, that’s a fair concern—and a good instinct; it’s unlikely people are being intentionally left without food, but delays do happen, so if breakfast hasn’t arrived by 9:15, it’s worth calmly asking staff to make sure everyone’s taken care of, because noticing and speaking up like that is real leadership.
     
A butt here, a butt there — BUT?
I just got back from my daily cleanup—my version of exercise with a purpose. Right at the entrance to this place, I counted 11 cigarette butts scattered across the ground. Eleven. Like they were planted there overnight. And there’s one spot where someone drops at least 30 butts a day… a one-person litter storm. I’ve decided I’m done cleaning that particular patch—they can meet their own mess now.     YUCK!
   
How will it be?
Still, it leaves me wondering what this place will look like when I’m gone. Will the small care disappear with me? Will the ground slowly surrender to trash and neglect? I hope not… but I’ve seen how quickly things can slide when no one steps up. Maybe the real question is this: who’s next? Who picks up the quiet torch and says, “Not on my watch”?
     
My Rings
My magic rings arrived in the mail—and while they didn’t break the bank, they just might break a few expectations. Sure, I went with the budget-friendly option… but guess what? They’re still going to fly, flash, and tell a story in the air. Because here’s the truth: it’s not the price tag that amazes people—it’s the passion behind the performance. These rings aren’t just props… they’re possibilities. And in the right hands, even the simplest tools can create a little wonder. 🎪 
     
Cleaning the floor
Every week, like clockwork, they bring that big hallway floor back to life right outside my door. It shines a little brighter, feels a little better… and it never goes unnoticed. And every chance I get, I offer a simple thank you—”Looks great. I appreciate you.” It takes just a moment. No spotlight. No applause. Just two people sharing a quiet acknowledgment that something good was done.
 
People notice
No one else may ever notice—but I do. And she does. And that tiny exchange? It matters more than we think. So here’s the move: thank people. Every chance you get. It’s one of the easiest ways to make the world feel a little more human… and a whole lot more alive. ✨
   
The Mexican Lunch
Following the salsa I made yesterday, today we stepped it up—chicken enchiladas hit the stage. And wow… they didn’t just turn out good, they turned out fabulous. Plates were cleaned, smiles were earned, and for a moment, the whole room felt like a little celebration. 🌮🔥
 
HOT!
And then came the salsa showdown. Yesterday I brought two personalities to the party—my smooth, easygoing mild peach salsa… and its wild cousin, the very hot version. Some people danced with the heat and loved every second. Others? Let’s just say their taste buds went on an unexpected rollercoaster ride. 😄  🌶️  I don’t like the hot, but that’s just me (or is it you?)

1 pm-did not have interest in Bocce Ball, so I didn’t.
     
Juggling
2 p.m.—time to juggle.
Just one brave soul joined me alongside the therapist, both still in the beginner zone… but smiling, laughing, and keeping those balls (mostly) in the air. And honestly? That’s where the magic lives—not in perfection, but in the joy of the toss.
     
My weekly expedition to Walmart to gather the essentials for survival. 🍦🍪 Two ice creams, two cookies… mission accomplished. Yes, yes—junk food. I know. But they feed me the “official” meals here, and these little treasures help fill in the gaps and add a bit of joy to the menu.
   
Sometimes happiness doesn’t arrive with fireworks, a marching band, and a motivational soundtrack. 🎺✨ Sometimes it sneaks in quietly… disguised as a shopping cart squeaking triumphantly toward the checkout line, carrying ice cream like it just won Olympic gold. 🍦🏆
       
>>>>> May 6
Forced myself to stay in bed until 5 a.m. And it actually worked. 😄 For a guy whose brain usually starts sprinting at 3 am before the birds begin their tiny morning staff meeting, that’s practically considered sleeping in.

*****

Maybe my body finally negotiated a peace treaty with my mind. “Listen, Captain Adventure… we’re staying horizontal a little longer today.” And for once, the brain replied, “Fine. But only because the sunrise will still be there waiting.” 🌅

*****

Sometimes rest doesn’t arrive with fireworks and dramatic music. Sometimes it sneaks in quietly—five extra minutes at a time. But those moments matter. Healing matters. Recovery matters. Even race cars spend time in the pit before roaring back onto the track again. 🏎️

*****

So yes… mission accomplished.
The world somehow survived without me awake at 3 a.m. solving mysteries, planning adventures, and rearranging the universe before breakfast. 😄

*****

Today is Wednesday. The blog is mostly finished. The words have stretched their legs, wandered across the page, found their favorite chairs, and settled in like tiny houseguests refusing to leave. And now, floating through the soft quiet of the morning comes the grand question of the day—what kind of delightful trouble shall I step into next? 

*****

What’s a Kit to do with an open day? 🤹‍♂️For one thing, he is scheduled to meet with Lilly for speech from 10:30-11. We went over some memory sheets, and I did not do as well as I had expected. She has done so much to help me remember things, but I know I could use much more help. 

*****

That’s the funny thing about progress—we spend so much time puffing and sweating our way up the mountain that we forget to stop near the top, look around, and let our lungs throw a tiny celebration party. 🎉⛰️

*****

We get so focused on the climb, the goals, the next handhold, that we miss the miracle of the view we already earned. Sometimes the bravest thing isn’t pushing harder… It’s pausing long enough to breathe, grin like a happy fool, and whisper, “Would you look at that? I made it farther than I thought.” 

*****

No giant emergency. No jam-packed schedule. Just open sky… and possibility sitting there like a mysterious unopened letter from life itself, sealed with sunshine and a little cosmic mischief. 🏔️✨

*****

Some days don’t burst in wearing fireworks and marching bands. They simply lean against the doorway of your life with a crooked grin, jingling possibility in their pockets, and whisper, “Well then… what kind of glorious little adventure shall we invent today?” ✨🚪🌎 

*****

Today may be a wandering day. A thinking day. A tiny-adventure-with-sneakers-on kind of day. Maybe it becomes one of those beautiful little moments where I teach someone to juggle scarves, and suddenly their face lights up as they’ve just uncovered a secret loophole in the laws of gravity. 🎪✨

*****

For a few glorious seconds, the scarves float, laughter sneaks into the air, and the universe quietly whispers, “See? You’re capable of more than you thought.” Then they get ten throws, and it overwhelms them. I often suggest to them to get 100 throws by the end of the day. 

*****

Or today’s assignment is simpler: notice things. The birds are conducting their tiny morning meetings. The sunlight was slowly crawling across the floor. The strange beauty of life continuing forward, even when the calendar loosens its grip for a while.

*****

Open days can fool us. They sometimes look “empty” when they’re actually overflowing with possibility. Not every meaningful day arrives carrying fireworks and marching bands. Some stroll in quietly, hands in pockets, whispering, “You finally have room to breathe.”

*****

And honestly?
Those days matter.
Always remember that you are in charge of making your day fabulous. 

*****

Because a well-lived life is built not only in dramatic moments, but also in these softer spaces—the pauses between performances, the calm between adventures, the Wednesday mornings where a man sits beside a mostly finished blog and quietly asks:

*****

“Now what?”
Now what?
Now you live. 🌟

*****
This place gets so quiet sometimes that it almost feels unreal. Right now, there’s no one around at all—just stillness hanging in the air like the building forgot to breathe. It’s 1:15, and honestly, I’d love nothing more than to go for a long stroll… maybe even break into a little run just to feel movement again.

*****
But, as you know, that’s not something I’m allowed to do right now. So the body waits while the mind keeps pacing laps. Even so, somewhere inside me, that runner is still there—stretching at the starting line, ready for the day the gate finally opens. 

*****
Dinner should be rolling out soon like a grand culinary parade on tiny invisible wheels. 🍽️✨ I’ll keep you posted on the evening feast. Although… plot twist… It’s now the next day, and whatever I ate last night has apparently slipped into the Witness Protection Program for memories. I know dinner happened. I survived. Beyond that? Complete mashed-potato mystery. 🤹‍♂️😂
******
>>>>> May 7
😀
A happy smiley face 😊 — do you like it? You’d better… because this little rascal is about to bounce through the entire section like it owns the place. 😊 It has no plans of leaving quietly, either. It’s here to sprinkle joy, photobomb your thoughts, and grin at you from every corner like a tiny yellow motivational speaker with cheeks. 😊
😀
Congratulations are in order! 🎉🏆 After wrestling the wild midnight circus of thoughts, ideas, memories, and random brain squirrels… I managed to stay in bed until nearly 5 a.m. For me, that’s sleeping late. A true athletic achievement in the Olympic sport of “Not Getting Up Too Early.” 😄
😀
Days arrive. Days leave. The sun clocks in, the moon clocks out, and somewhere in the middle our poor bodies politely whisper, “Hey, genius… maybe include sleep in this grand experiment called life.” 🌙✨ Turns out rest isn’t laziness—it’s fuel. Even race cars pull into the pit stop now and then… and you, my friend, have been running quite the marathon.
😀
I’m pretty much packed up for my next location for life, https://www.legacypreservetampa.com/. This place looks good to me. What do you think? The average American is expected to move roughly 11 to 12 times in their lifetime, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. While some people remain in only 1–3 homes, others, particularly in transient or professional contexts, may live in over 20+ different homes, apartments, or cities.
😀
If someone asked me where I’d choose to live after wandering across Europe, rolling through Japan, and exploring every state in America, I’d still point toward New Zealand with a giant grin on my face. 🌎✨ There’s just something magical about that place—the beauty, the calm, the people who somehow manage to feel both adventurous and wonderfully grounded at the same time.
😀   
Mountains that look like they were designed by a fantasy novelist, oceans that sparkle like they’re showing off, and enough fresh air to make your lungs stand up and applaud.
😀
Now, actually moving there? Ah, yes… tiny detail. 😄 Sometimes life hands you a dream wrapped in paperwork, logistics, visas, moving expenses, and about seventeen forms asking if you’ve ever transported suspicious fruit across international borders. But still, what a beautiful thought to carry around in your pocket: out of all the places on Earth, one place made your spirit quietly whisper, “Yep… this feels like home.”
😀
Are careers funny little shape-shifters, too, aren’t they? 🎪 One minute you’re a 15-year-old kid picking up juggling balls “just for fun”… and suddenly WHOOSH—you’re completely consumed, chasing flying objects across stages and around the world. Then somehow the story kept growing.
😀
I wrote 15 books. I traveled the world helping jugglers discover and improve their own magic. And now? These days, I juggle words instead of clubs, tossing ideas, stories, laughter, and life lessons into this blog each morning before sunrise. Different rhythm… same joyful madness. ✨ I truly hope you enjoy the ride.
😀
I’m 67 years old now… though somewhere inside me, a 23-year-old is still sprinting down the hallway juggling dreams, wild ideas, and probably a suspicious amount of snacks. 😄🎉 And honestly? I hope that kid never leaves.
😀
I’m planning to stick around until at least 100, which means this wild little adventure still has 33 more years of plot twists, sunrise walks, outrageous laughter, unexpected reinventions, late-night ideas, wrong turns that become great stories, and beautifully ridiculous moments waiting just around the corner.
😀
Honestly, I feel like life keeps tossing me brand-new juggling balls and grinning like a mischievous carnival announcer: “Alright, Kit… your turn. Let’s see what kind of magic, chaos, and glorious nonsense you create with THESE.” 😄🎪✨
😀
I think the younger version of us never truly disappears—it just gathers wisdom, deeper love, stronger scars, and the good sense to stretch before attempting anything heroic. The real magic isn’t staying young… It’s staying curious and staying playful. Keeping that spark alive even while the candles on the birthday cake begin requiring a fire permit. 🎂🔥
😀
So tell me… does the child inside you still sneak out once in a while to chase fireflies, laugh too loudly, buy unnecessary ice cream, or dream up wonderfully ridiculous ideas? I sure hope so. 🎈
😀
Because life becomes a far brighter circus when we never stop chasing wonder, juggling curiosity, and leaving a little glitter on the sidewalks of ordinary days.
😀
I’m planning to stick around until at least 100, so this adventure still has 33 more years of plot twists, sunrise walks, laughter, learning, and glorious nonsense ahead. Here I go! Want to join me on this wild little expedition to 100? We’ll collect stories, wisdom, wrinkles, and, along the way, a few missing reading glasses. 🚀✨
😀
Here I go! Want to join me on this wild little expedition to 100? We’ll collect stories, wisdom, wrinkles, and a few missing reading glasses along the way. 🚀✨
😀
As I’ve written before, if I didn’t have this blog to pour my thoughts into, I don’t know what I’d do. 🤹‍♂️✨ This little corner of words has become part diary, part campfire, part runaway circus train for my brain. Some people knit sweaters. Some people yell at golf balls. Some waste their time watching TV.
😀
I wake up before sunrise and wrestle ideas onto a screen while the birds hold their tiny morning meetings outside. Without this blog, I’d be roaming the hallways juggling oranges and giving motivational speeches to vending machines. 🍊🎤
😀
My daily schedule finally arrived… and guess what? One lonely little appointment: speech therapy from 10:30 to 11:00. Apparently, I’ve become the wild rogue juggling club of the therapy department and scared everyone else into hiding. Honestly, though, that part feels a little sad. I still want to keep improving, keep learning, keep pushing forward. Give me challenges, not parking brakes. My engine is still running. 🎪✨
😀
Breakfast was the usual today—nothing worthy of a standing ovation, fireworks, or even a postcard home. Just another quiet little “well, this technically counts as food” kind of morning. No legendary pancakes. No heroic omelet riding in to save the day. But that’s alright. Not every breakfast becomes a memory; some are simply fuel for the next adventure waiting somewhere ahead. ☀️
😀
First, I stopped by the therapy room, and Terrie let me know she’ll meet with me tomorrow—which, in the mysterious land of schedules and clipboards, counts as a genuine victory.  I was early, so I spent a little time downstairs on the first floor, quietly observing life in all its strange and fragile forms. Some people there truly are not doing very well. Honestly, it sometimes feels less like a rehabilitation center and more like extremely expensive babysitting with better lighting.
😀
From 11:00 to 11:30, I had speech therapy. I left feeling a little disappointed in myself because my memory still likes to wander off like a distracted golden retriever chasing squirrels. I know I need to use more strategies instead of just hoping my brain suddenly yells, “Surprise! I remembered everything!” One thing is becoming very clear: I need to carry a pen and something to write on at all times. My future may depend on sticky notes, scribbled reminders, and the ancient survival technique known as “WRITE IT DOWN, KIT.” ✍️
😀
Back for lunch… and the meal was not that great. Then absolutely nothing is scheduled for the rest of the afternoon. Apparently, my calendar looked at me and said, “You know what? Let’s just let Kit freestyle today.” 😄
😀
I’m looking forward to getting to the new place. Once I land there, I plan to tighten up my food intake, start working out more, and wake this body back up like an old circus lion hearing the opening music again. 🦁🎪
😀
Right now, there’s not much I can do here, so I’ve mostly been in “low battery mode.” But that won’t last forever. The engine is still in there rumbling… just waiting for open road, fresh challenges, and maybe slightly smaller bowls of ice cream. 🍨😀 
😀
People told me I should be wearing a
mask because I was sick. 
This is my mask, do you like it? And, here is a mask on a mask. 
Last week, while I was coughing like an old lawnmower trying to start in winter, people kept telling me, “You should really be wearing a mask.” 😄 So naturally, I contacted Amazon and ordered a mask. And now the big question is… do you like it? Because if I’m going to look like a mysterious ninja-pharmacist-superhero, I at least want style points. 🥷😷✨
😀
>>>>> May 8
YES!
That’s a great word, YES.
Use this word more often, YES?
YES, you can!
YES!
Waking in the early hours never gets old for me—that quiet time before the world fully wakes up has become part of who I am. While most people are still dreaming, my mind is already stretching, building, creating, and chasing the next idea across the sunrise. It always feels good to have projects to work on, little sparks of purpose waiting on the table each morning, like unopened gifts from life itself. ☀️✨
YES!
Today, I wrote a letter to my daughter, Jasmine, about some difficulties I’ve been facing. Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is speak honestly about what hurts and what needs to change. This letter is an important step toward a better future. Life has taught me something powerful: even hard conversations can become bridges to healing, progress, and new beginnings.
YES!
What’s next for you today?
What’s first for you today?
You have all day — use it right.
And you have all your life — Make it magnificent!
YES!
Around 8:35 a.m. now, my breakfast has decided to begin a heroic cross-country expedition before reaching my room. My schedule finally arrived too: speech therapy from 10:30–11 and OT from 1–2. Not exactly the kind of action-packed calendar that makes Broadway producers fight over the movie rights.
YES!    
Not much to write home about… though that thought comes with a little sting, because technically, at the moment, I don’t really have a home to write to. Funny how life can slip humor and heartbreak into the very same sentence.
YES!    
Still, I’ve learned something important over the years: home is not always a building. Sometimes it’s the people who love you, the dreams still pulling you forward, the stories you continue to tell, and the stubborn little spark inside you that refuses to quit. ✨
YES!
I was just out doing my daily cleaning patrol again… picking up little bits of the world one piece at a time. And honestly, the thought crossed my mind once more: who will keep doing it when I’m gone? I’d hate to see this place slowly surrender to clutter and neglect. A clean space may seem like a small thing, but it quietly tells people, “Someone cared enough to make life a little better here.” Even tiny acts of care leave fingerprints behind. 🧹✨
YES!
From 10:30 to 11, I had speech therapy with Dino. Trying not to radiate too much negativity here, but when I walked in, he casually asked, “How ya been?” I already had my reservations. Most sessions feel unprepared, like we’re building the airplane after takeoff. He rarely seems ready for me, and honestly, I left as quickly as I could. So, back I came to something that lights me up—this blog. Right now, my greatest joy is sitting down and tossing words into the world for you, one thought at a time, like juggling little sparks of life across the page. ✨
YES!
My daughter, April, has a daughter, Penelope — so I am a Granpa. I can’t be that old.
My mom made the dress, by the way.
YES!
OT was supposed to start at 1 pm. The door to the therapy room remained locked until 5 after, then my actual therapy did not start until 10 after, and ended at 1:37, so I am losing time for therapy. We decided I would make a meal of pork chops, mashed potatoes, green beans, and salad, using my own salad sauce recipe. She wrote a list of things this would help with — I just want to eat a meal.
===============================
PART 3)–BLOG 376–DON’T LIVE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PAST
     
“Don’t live in the past. Don’t live in the future.”
Simple words… but they carry the kind of truth that can rearrange a life.
Often linked to Gautama Buddha, the fuller idea lands like a quiet bell in a noisy room:
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
No fireworks. No drumroll. Just clarity—clean and undeniable.
   
Yesterday is a story.
Tomorrow is a guess.
But right now?
     
This is your workshop. 🔧
This is where life gets built.
Build one small, imperfect moment.
One beautiful action at a time.
   
When you anchor yourself in the present, something almost magical happens. The static fades. Regret loosens its grip like an old knot finally giving way. Worry—oh, that loud, dramatic storyteller—loses its microphone.
   
And suddenly, you’re not stuck replaying or predicting… you’re doing. You’re choosing. You’re creating. That’s where peace lives—not in some distant future, not buried in a rewritten past—but right here, in the breath you’re taking and the step you’re about to make.
     
And here’s the twist—living in the present doesn’t mean erasing the past. It means finally putting it where it belongs. The past is a teacher, not a landlord. It shouldn’t get to live rent-free in your mind, stomping through your thoughts, rearranging your peace, and dimming the lights of your future.
   
Take the lessons. Take the scars that turned into strength. Take the wisdom that only struggle could teach. But don’t hand the car keys to it and let it drive your life in circles. You’ve still got roads to travel and horizons waiting to meet you.
   
Because when old pain builds a permanent campsite in your head, it quietly drains your energy—the very fuel you need to create something beautiful now. Regret is heavy. Resentment is exhausting. And replaying yesterday over and over is like trying to drive forward while staring only into the rearview mirror. At some point, you have to loosen your grip on what hurt you so you can finally hold onto what can heal you.
     
And today? Today is where your life actually lives. Not someday. Not “when everything finally lines up perfectly.” Today—in all its messy, unfinished, gloriously imperfect magic. This moment is still breathing, still offering chances, still handing you tiny opportunities disguised as ordinary hours. So laugh a little louder. Love a little deeper. Start before you feel fully ready. Life is not waiting for perfection…
   
It’s waiting for participation. 🌅     
So step into this moment like you mean it.
Unpack your attention.
Open the windows. Let the light in. ☀️
     
Say yes to what’s in front of you—even if it’s small, even if it’s uncertain. Especially then. The future isn’t waiting for you somewhere down the road—it’s being shaped right now, by the choices you make in this moment. Every action is a brushstroke. Every decision adds color to the canvas. You’re not just passing time… you’re painting something that didn’t exist before.
   
So leave the past where it belongs.
Forgive yourself—yes, even for that.
Use what you’ve learned, but don’t live there.
And stop renting space in a future that hasn’t arrived yet.
   
Instead, stand right here—feet planted firmly on the ground, heart wide open, hands ready for the work and wonder ahead—and build something bold. Something alive. Something that crackles with purpose, laughter, courage, and possibility. Build a life that doesn’t whisper “maybe someday,” but shouts a full-bodied, fearless, unapologetic YES into the sky. ✨ 

Because this moment?
This one right here?
This is where the magic gets made. ✨ 

       LIVE FOR NOW!   NOT YESTERDAY!    NOT TOMORROW!   NOW IS THE TIME!
===========================
PART 4) 🔥 A FEW SPARKS TO SLIP INTO YOUR POCKET
    ✨ THE MAGIC OF QUOTES ✨
Inspirational quotes are like mental spark plugs. 💥They snap you awake, simplify big ideas, and give you a quick push forward. A good quote can shift your thinking—turning “I can’t” into “let’s try.” And the more you repeat it, the more it becomes part of you.
Simple truth:  A quote on a page is nice… A quote you live by? That’s power. 🚀
=====
Buddha–“Do not dwell in the past,
do not dream of the future,
concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
   
Kit Summers–“If you want to be remembered after you are dead–
Write something worth reading (as I’ve done.) 
Or do something worth writing about.”
   
Kit Summers — “The more people you lift, encourage, teach, and sprinkle a little hope onto,
the more your fingerprints stay on the world long after you’ve wandered off to your next adventure.” 🎪
     
Kit Summers–“Memories aren’t built from perfection—they’re built from kindness, laughter, generosity, and those small moments when someone walks away thinking, ‘Wow… that person made my day brighter.’ Help enough people, and your story keeps juggling its way forward through the hearts of others. 🎪✨”
   
Kevin Costner–“Our best chance of leaving behind a legacy is to
Teach those who want to learn, our kids, by standing firm.
You can go with the flow on some things. But in matters of conscience,
You need to stand firm.”
   
Anonymous–“Even though your time here is temporary,
If you do a good enough job, your work will last forever.”
       
William Arthur Ward:–
The mediocre teacher tells.
The good teacher explains.
The superior teacher demonstrates.
The great teacher inspires.”
     
C.K. Webb–“A writer doesn’t want for riches and fame. 
Even though those aren’t bad things.
An authentic writer wants to leave behind a part of themselves,
something that withstands the test of time and can go through the generations.”
   
Billy Graham–“The greatest inheritance you can pass on to your children and grandchildren is more than the money or material possessions you get. It’s a legacy of both character and faith.”
     
Og Mandino–“The greatest legacy you can leave to your kids is happy memories; those special moments so much like rocks on the beach that are taken from the white sand and put in tiny boxes that lie unopened on shelves until one day they fall out and time repeats, with joy and sadness, in the child who is now an adult.”
     
Simon Van Booy–“Language lets us reach out to people, to touch people with our deepest fears, hopes, losses, victories. To reach out to people whom we’ll never meet. It’s the single greatest legacy you could ever leave to your children or your loved ones: The history of how you felt in your biggest moments.”
       
Christine Gregoire–“It is up to us to live based on the legacy that was left behind for us, and to leave our own that is worthy of our children, their children, and their children’s children.”
     
Naveen Jain–“Our legacy will be defined by the victories and boldness by which our daughters and sons take on the challenges the world faces. I also wonder if perhaps the most important and long-lasting demonstration of one’s humility lies in our ability to teach and mentor our children.”
     
Aristotle–“Children are the legacy we leave behind for the age we will not live to see.”
     
Paul Tsongas–“We are a continuum. In the same way we draw on our ancestors for our core values, we, as guardians of our legacy, must look ahead to future generations. And we do so with an awareness of sacredness in that reaching.”
     
Andre Leon Talley: “I want to be remembered as someone who made an impact in the lives of young people. I want people to remember that I nurtured someone and taught them to pursue their dreams and their careers, to leave a legacy.”
=============================
PART 5) YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK >>
LIVE FOR NOW! NOT TOMORROW. NOT NEXT WEEK. NOW IS YOUR TIME
This week, shift your lens. The past has packed its bags and left the building. The future?
A promise, a maybe, a “we’ll see.” But NOW—this moment right here—is where your power lives.
     
Treat each “now” like it’s a spark with your name on it—because it is. Show up fully. Lean in a little more than you feel comfortable with. Add your flavor, your fire, your grin. Stack enough of those moments—one, then another, then another—and suddenly… boom.
     
This week, see life differently, see hope in your future. You’re not just passing time anymore—you’re crafting something bold, bright, and unforgettable. An extraordinary life, built one electric “now” at a time. MAKE ALL THIS HAPPEN THIS WEEK! ⚡
==============================
PART 6) NEXT WEEK>>
BLOG 377–I CAN’T WHISTLE
=============================== 

🌟 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!
🌟

✨KITTING AROUND✨
BLOG 375–LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE!

This Video will let you know more about me–
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr8QFnD1yGc
This Blog is Best Read on a Laptop, Rather than Your Phone.
By KIT SUMMERS — World-Class Juggler to World-Class Comeback

To Learn More about Kit, Go Here >> https://kitsummers.com/about-kit/
Once upon a life, I made gravity nervous—
Headlining at Ballys, tossing clubs with a grin.
Seven of them. A world record—
Because physics loves a good insult. 😄
Then came the truck—the coma.
     
Thirty-seven silent days offstage.
And here I am now—not juggling clubs.
But throwing purpose, grit, and joy.
Balancing healing, catching courage.
Tossing hope sky-high. 🤹‍♂️

The mission grew bigger than applause.
Now I lift humans. I write to stay connected.
I write because it’s how I breathe.
If these words help you, too?
That’s magic catching air. 🎉
     
What’s next on Kit’s journey through life?
Back to juggling? Back to life?
Stay with Kit and find out.
Life can get better.
Life will get better. ✨

========================
Part 1)  THE BEGINNINGS

THE TIME IS NOW!
Embrace the Present—Immediately.
Right here. Right now.
This breath, this moment—it’s not a rehearsal.
There’s no dress rehearsal for this wild, beautiful ride.
   
YOU CAN DO IT!
Life is happening live, unscripted, a one-take performance with no reruns and no rewind button. So drop that overstuffed suitcase labeled “what if” and “what’s next.” It’s heavy, it slows you down, and truth be told—you don’t need it. Step instead into the electric hum of this instant. Feel it. Own it. This is where your life is actually being lived.
 
STAY ACTIVELY ENGAGED.
Life isn’t meant to be watched from the sidelines like a quiet spectator sport. No, no—you’re in the game. Whether it’s learning something new, laughing until your ribs ache, moving your body, or creating something from nothing… keep showing up.
   
KEEP STEPPING FORWARD.
I don’t care if you’re 25 or 95—step into the ring, take your swing, and try the thing. Perfection is overrated anyway; the real magic shows up when you do. It’s in the attempt, the stumble, the laugh, the “well, that was interesting—let’s go again.” The spark isn’t hiding in some flawless finish line… It’s alive in motion. You move, it moves with you—growing brighter with every bold, imperfect step forward.
   
FIND MEANING AND PURPOSE.
You’re not here to sit quietly in life’s waiting room, watching the clock tick—you’re here to light the place up like a sky full of fireworks. Purpose isn’t some hidden treasure buried miles away, hoping you’ll stumble across it one lucky day… It’s something you spark, shape, and build right where you stand, with what you’ve got, in this very moment.
   
NOW!
Your life is built—moment by moment, choice by choice—through what you care about and how you choose to show up. Follow what lights you up inside. Chase that spark. And when you find it? Share it. Let your fire become a torch that helps light the way for others.

SAVOR LIFE’S SWEETNESS.
Go ahead… eat dessert first. 🍰 Why not? The rules were mostly made by people who forgot how to play. Dance in the kitchen like nobody’s grading you—because this isn’t a test, it’s a celebration. Let your hips write poetry and your feet sign their name at the bottom.
   
YOUR LIFE.
Laugh louder than necessary—actually, make “necessary” your warm-up round. Let it echo, let it bounce off the walls, let it remind the room that joy still lives here. The world won’t dim because you shine—it brightens. And that sunset? Don’t just glance—witness it. It pulled strings all day just to show off for you. Because in a way… it did. 🌅
   
JOY IN LIFE.
Joy isn’t some rare luxury reserved for special occasions. It’s fuel. It’s medicine. It’s the sparkle that makes the whole ride worth taking. Don’t wait for “someday” to enjoy it—today is already dressed up and ready.

MAKE IT COUNT.
This isn’t about stuffing your calendar until it bursts—it’s about filling your days with life. Real life. Say yes more often. Try something new, even if you wobble a little (especially if you wobble a little). Stretch beyond what’s comfortable—that’s where growth flexes its muscles.

DAY ONE.
Because one day—way down the road—you’ll look back, and the scorecard won’t be about safety. It won’t list how carefully you tiptoed or how perfectly you stayed inside the lines. It will ask something simpler and far more powerful: did you show up, did you reach, did you truly live?
   
STRETCH.
You won’t remember the days you shrank to fit—you’ll remember the moments you expanded beyond it, when your pulse picked up, your hands felt a little shaky, and something inside whispered, this matters—that breath before the leap, the spark in your chest, and the grin that followed, because in the end it’s never about how safe you stayed, it’s about the times you looked fear in the eye, gave it a wink, and said, “Let’s go anyway.” 🚀
   
RISKS.
The risks that made your hands shake become the stories. The leaps that didn’t go perfectly become the strength. Every bold move, every brave try, every time you stepped into the arena of your own life—that’s what shines when you look back.    
     
LIFE.
Because life isn’t asking you to be careful—it’s inviting you to be alive. So speak up, step forward, try the thing, chase the spark, laugh too loud, love too big. In the end, it won’t be about how well you avoided the drops—it’ll be about how many times you dared to toss the ball into the air and trusted yourself to catch it.
     
YOUR STAGE.
So go on… step onto your stage. The spotlight’s already on—you don’t need permission. Toss the balls in the air. 🤹 Maybe you drop a few—good! That means you’re in the act.
And don’t just count the days…
💥 Make each day COUNT! 💥
============================= 
PART 2)  THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK Kit’s Daily Delights — Inspiration, Freshly Served. Every week, I sit down to map my week—and every time, it begins the same way: a blank canvas. Nothing there. It still surprises me. That quiet moment, just before I fill it in… when the whole week is wide open, waiting for me to decide what it becomes. And here’s the beautiful truth—you’ve got that same wide-open canvas, too. Start now and make the life YOU want!   

>>>April 25
Saturday morning again… and the world feels like it’s tiptoeing. The hallways are quiet—no carts rolling, no chatter bouncing off the walls—just the soft rhythm of my fingers tapping the keys, like a one-person band playing to an audience of echoes. There’s something almost sacred about it… this stillness, this pause before the day decides what it wants to become.
   
I stepped outside for my daily “butt patrol”—my unofficial title, Captain Clean-Up 🧢. Same mission, different day. Bending, picking, clearing… one small act at a time. It’s not glamorous work. No applause. No spotlight. Just a quiet effort. But there’s something powerful in that, too. Because while others pass by, I’m shaping the space—making it a little cleaner, a little better, a little more cared for than I found it.
   
And yeah… the thought crossed my mind: Will they miss this when I’m gone? But maybe the better question is this—did it matter while I was here? And the answer is a strong, steady yes. Because impact isn’t measured by applause… It’s measured by presence. By consistency. By the things you do when no one’s watching.
     
Every cigarette butt picked up, every piece of trash tossed away—it’s a quiet statement: “This place matters. I matter. Effort matters.” I’m not just cleaning a space… I’m leaving a signature. A mark of dignity. A whisper that says, “Someone cared here.” And whether they notice later or not, I showed up—I made a difference—and that, my friend, is a performance worth a standing ovation. 👏
     
As I stepped out for a fresh haircut—clipper in hand, confidence riding high like a man about to sculpt a masterpiece—I fumbled the razor… and down it went. 💥 One dramatic dive to the floor and—just like that—game over. Blade finished. Haircut humbled. Whoops. 😄
   
For about ten bucks, a brand-new clipper is already on its way—meaning the legendary self-barber shop will be reopening soon. ✂️ And let’s be honest… the results still rival any salon in town, just without the stack of dusty 1997 magazines, the mystery cough from across the room, and the cost. Be your own haircutter, you will save money. 
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F53K8Y1G?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Weekends around here move at the speed of a turtle walking in molasses in winter. Slow… quiet… stretchy. I spent a good chunk of today on YouTube, letting the hours drift by like clouds with nowhere urgent to be. Not a bad thing—just a different rhythm.
   
But here’s where things start to sparkle… I reached out to the San Diego Circus Center about bringing my juggling and performance workshop to their stage. 🎪 Not just tossing a few objects in the air—but igniting confidence, rhythm, and that magical moment when someone realizes, “Hey… I can do this!”
   
Now that’s a spark. The thought of heading back to San Diego—where I grew up, where the sun doesn’t just shine but performs, where the air hums with possibility—has me smiling before my feet even hit the ground. It feels like the kind of place where doors don’t just open… they wink at you. 

This is one of the places I used to perform in San Diego

Funny how life works, isn’t it? One moment you’re dropping a razor like it’s the grand finale… the next, life’s sliding a golden doorway right in front of you: a little chaos, a little magic. I’ll take the whole package—because sometimes the broken moments are just the drumroll before something extraordinary walks on stage. 🎭
     
>>>>> April 26
Sad news to start the day—but this story still has miles to go.
I heard back from Mara at >>
https://www.sandiegocircuscenter.org/
They were kind, appreciative, and encouraging…
but their schedule is packed for the window I had in mind to present my juggling workshop.
   
And yet—this isn’t a “no.” Not even close. This is a “not right now.” And “not right now” is just opportunity stretching before it lands. You and I both know how this goes: doors don’t always swing open on cue—but they do open. I’ll find another way to bring the workshop to San Diego this July. The balls are still in the air. 🎪
   
On the physical side of things, there’s been a tug-of-war. A few weeks ago, compression socks were recommended for ankle swelling. Things improved, I ditched the socks (no love lost there), and life felt lighter. But now, after being under the weather, the mask is back in the picture. Not exactly a fan favorite either.
 
So here’s the play: adapt, adjust, and keep moving forward. If that means more time in your room for now, so be it. Even a lion rests between hunts. This isn’t retreat—it’s recalibration. Health first, momentum always. The mask is already off. I hate those things.
   
Yet, I wish I could find a Bugs Bunny mask. “Hey, what’s up, Doc?” You know, the Halloween mask look. Well, I just ordered it, and it will be here in a few days. Have you ever answered the question, “So, what’s up, doc?” I will include a photo, but you have to let me know what you think. If anyone ever tells me to wear a mask, out comes Bugs Bunny, and a smile on my face.
     
Because whether it’s a packed schedule, stubborn socks, or a mask you’d rather launch into orbit… none of it gets the final say. You do. Now I have to do the work toward the workshop in SD and get better myself.
   
As evening settled in, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” lit up my screen—and just as quickly, my imagination. With Clint Eastwood leading the charge, it pulled me right back into that dusty, gun-slinging world. I’ve ridden this trail before… and you know what? It still hits the mark. A classic that doesn’t just play—it lingers. One of the bad guy characters is named “Tuko”. Tuko Fugisaki did the exellent artwork in my book, Juggling with Finesse. She has not seen the movie yet.

>>>>April 27
THE WEEK BLINKS… AND WE’RE IN MAY 🌅
   
The week is closing its eyes, and somehow… we’re already staring at May. Time isn’t walking—it’s sprinting. And it leaves behind that quiet little tap on the shoulder: “Hey… are you using this?”
Because life keeps moving—with or without us, the question is… are we moving with it?
   

THE SCHEDULE THAT DIDN’T STRETCH
   
I looked over today’s schedule, hoping for something that would sharpen me, stretch me—wake me up a bit. The only thing on the board? OT Group at 1:30. But if I’m being honest… it hasn’t delivered much in the past. And it’s tough to feel excited about something that doesn’t pull anything out of you.
   
Then came the morning twist—8:45 rolls around… I was supposed to be driven to see a doctor at 8:30. No ride. No update. Just silence. At some point, you stop chasing the schedule… and start realizing the schedule isn’t chasing you back.
   
From where I sit, it doesn’t look overwhelmed—maybe 20 patients total. And yet… it feels scattered. Disconnected. Like all the puzzle pieces are right there on the table, but no one’s stepping in to bring them together—no rhythm, no flow, just noise where there could be music. 🎵
   
SO… WE CREATE OUR OWN MOMENTUM!
   
And you know me—I don’t sit around waiting for life to get interesting. I step in and make it so. Life isn’t something to endure from the sidelines—it’s something to grab, shape, and play with. If the structure doesn’t rise to meet you… Then you rise anyway. So the day didn’t stall—it pivoted. And just like that, the game was back on. 🎯
     
Paige showed up to drive me—a bright spark, easy energy, pretty girl—
the kind of presence that lifts the whole ride without even trying.
And after we got back? Ohhh, here we go…
Up to my room. Showtime. 🎪

Relax—no funny business—I taught her to juggle!
Another one joins the circus!
That makes at least 35 new jugglers at NR.
By the time she left, she was already working on 3 balls. 🤹
And that moment—that spark when it clicks? That never, ever gets old.
   
QUIET WINS STILL COUNT
The doctor visit didn’t come with fireworks or big answers—Waste of time — hmm?
But it gave me something better: progress. Fewer medications. Less clutter.
A small shift in the right direction.
   
And yes… official confirmation—I’m still alive. 😄 Signed, sealed, delivered… with a smile and a yawn to match. Not every step forward bursts in with a drumroll and fireworks; some steps sneak in quietly, tap you on the shoulder, and whisper, “Hey… you’re getting there.” And you know what? Those are the ones that build you.
   
WHEN MOMENTUM GETS DROPPED
OT was scheduled from 1:30 to 2:30. By 1:45, we were told it was canceled—family emergency. And of course, that happens… life happens. But here’s the thing—momentum matters.
That session didn’t have to disappear.
It could have continued.
I could have led something.
Others could have stepped in.
   
Many of these activities are simple—games, movement, engagement. Kids’ games are a common filler.  The kind of thing that doesn’t require a title… just initiative.
Sometimes it feels like the system forgets:
The people inside it aren’t helpless—they’re capable.
   
THE TRUTH ABOUT GROWTH
Yes—the patient often knows what works best for them. That insight? That’s gold. And too often, it gets overlooked. I respect the training these therapists have—but knowledge should never sit still. Growth demands variety. Creativity. Curiosity.
What I keep seeing is the same ol’, same ol’ loop.
And when things don’t change… people don’t change.
 
Real progress shows up when you challenge someone—meet them where they are, then gently push them just beyond it. That’s where the magic lives. ✨
   
SO WHAT NOW? 🎯
Forward motion isn’t something I decide to do—it’s something I am.
So I grin, rub my hands together, and ask the only question that ever really matters:
What’s next?
   
So here I am again—back in my room at 3:33, that quiet hour when the world feels like it’s holding its breath. A walk right now? That would be magic. Fresh air, a little movement, a reminder that I’m still very much alive and in motion.
   
But that simple joy sits on the “not allowed” list. And that’s the part that stings—not the rule itself, but what it represents. Because people aren’t built to be contained… we’re built to move, to explore, to choose. Freedom isn’t a luxury—it’s oxygen. And without it, even the strongest spirit starts tapping on the walls, whispering, there’s more life out there… and I’m meant to meet it.
   
This week I met Paige. She is a pretty girl who works at NR. She was the one to drive me to the doctor’s appointment. All our lives, we must keep inviting interesting people into our lives.
         
>>>>> April 28
Here we go again—the rhythm rolls on. Three meals a day… sometimes fashionably late, but they always make their entrance. I’m the gatekeeper, sure—but when the plate shows up like an eager fan, it’s hard not to take a bow and dig in. A little extra weight? Guilty. But hey—that’s on me. And ownership? Not a burden… a superpower. 💪
     
Just got the schedule for today. Delivered by the one who runs Speech—but I’ve chosen not to meet there, and yes, that was intentional. I’ve been told not to use names, so everyone stays anonymous across the board. At 10 a.m., it’s OT Group… which, if I’m being real, rarely stretches me or sparks anything new. I will explain the schedule in more detail later.
     
At 11, Exercise Group. Same tune, different verse. Movement without meaning—at least for where I am and what I need. It feels like walking into a gym where the weights are made of balloons. 🎈 Looks like effort… floats like fluff. Truth is, OT, PT, and Speech should evolve. People aren’t puzzles to be parked—we’re engines that need ignition.
   
Then—a message slips in. An opening for Speech. No fireworks, no marching band… just a quiet little clearing of the throat. 😄 And isn’t that how opportunity loves to arrive—soft, subtle, almost whispering, “Hey… I’m here if you’re ready.” The note comes from my speech therapist, and just like that, the door cracks open a little wider—and I step toward it.
   
So I’ll go. I’ll step in with curiosity instead of expectation. No resistance, no eye-roll—just a simple willingness to engage. Because now and then, the smallest door opens to something unexpectedly meaningful. And if nothing else? I bring myself into the room—energy, presence, awareness. Progress doesn’t always arrive with confetti… sometimes it sneaks in wearing a plain shirt called “yes.” 🎯
   
But then—plot twist! The day redeems itself. I’m scheduled to teach a juggling group. Now we’re talking. Energy shifts. Purpose walks in like it owns the place. This is where the rhythm changes—where I’m not just participating… I’m leading, giving, lighting sparks. And since I’m not using names… I guess I won’t even use mine. 😄
   
Breakfast showed up as oatmeal—warm, hopeful, trying its best. I gave it a polite nod from across the room… and a calm, confident, “No thanks.” Not rebellion—alignment. Every small choice is a quiet vote for who you are, and today, I chose something that makes me lean forward, not step back. ☀️ One small “no” makes room for a brighter “yes.”

From 10–11 a.m. in OT, we broke down the cost of a Mexican meal. If I’m honest, it didn’t move the needle—no stretch, no spark. Funny enough, I’ll be making my own salsa for Cinco de Mayo—now that’s real-life learning with flavor and purpose. 🌶️ This session felt more like filler than fuel.

It’s a mixed group, all at different stages, which makes full engagement tough. A couple of people were asleep, and others struggled to participate. I do what I can—but I’m ready for work that challenges, sharpens, and brings a little fire. 🔥
 
I feel sorry to say that others seem far behind me in recovery. I am sorry they have had to go through things that I have already gone through. I saw a few were sleeping, as they were just coming out of their coma. I remember a time when I always wanted to sleep.
   
In this kind of environment, it’s challenging to find meaningful growth opportunities that align with where I am in my recovery. I do my best to support others when I can, but the overall structure doesn’t provide the level of challenge or engagement I need to continue progressing.
   
Exercise Group at 11 quietly vanished from the schedule, and word came down that too many people are under the weather, so my 2 p.m. juggling class is off as well. Not exactly the lineup I was hoping for… but that’s the game sometimes. When the stage clears unexpectedly, it’s just time to improvise.

My speech therapist’s words are in between the >> =====
THIS IS WITHOUT CHAT >>
  =====
A strange meeting with my speech therapist today. She doesn’t like it when I run my words through Chat so I won’t put these through Chat. You have to remember, I write my words first, then run them through Chat.  She is wondering why I continue to ask for therapy while I am here.
   
She told me I wrote some harsh words about the staff here. But, I do not lie, I write how I see things. I said I would be more careful in the future. I get the feeling that she no longer wants to work with or help me; she doesn’t see any progress.
   
My time here is limited—and I’m not sure she fully understands that. There doesn’t seem to be much interest in continuing to work with me. That said, I do recognize and appreciate the help she has given; it’s made a difference.
    =====
THIS IS AFTER CHAT >>
A strange meeting with my speech therapist today—one of those conversations that leaves a little echo afterward. She’s not a fan of my running my writing through Chat, so I’ll keep this one as close to the source as possible. The truth is, I always start with my own words—raw, real, mine—and then I refine them. That’s part of how I grow.
   
She questioned why I keep asking for therapy while I’m here, and mentioned that some of my past words about the staff came across as harsh. I hear that. I don’t write to wound—I write to reflect what I see, what I feel, what I’m trying to make sense of. Still, I told her I’d be more mindful moving forward. Truth doesn’t have to be sharp to be strong.
   
But underneath it all, I felt something shift. A distance. Like maybe she doesn’t see the progress I feel inside… or doesn’t believe there’s more to uncover. And that’s a tough note to sit with, especially when you know your time here is limited and every day matters. I’m here to grow, to push, to get better—not to coast. And yet—credit where it’s due. She has helped me. There have been real gains, real moments that mattered. I don’t forget that. Not for a second.
   
So maybe this is just another Part of the journey—a little friction, a little misalignment. Even that has something to teach. Because at the end of the day, I’m still in motion. Still learning and still reaching.
And that counts for everything. 💫
=============
WHICH DO YO DO YOU LIKE BETTER–with or without chat? 
       
A slow afternoon here. The clock is easing past 3 p.m., not rushing, not pushing—just gliding like it knows there’s no finish line to beat. The hallway hums in that quiet, in-between way, where even the air seems to be taking a nap. Time isn’t sprinting right now… It’s strolling, hands in its pockets.
   
And in moments like this, it’s easy to feel like nothing’s happening. But look a little closer—this is where life whispers instead of shouts. This is where thoughts stretch out, where ideas tap you gently on the shoulder and say, “Hey… got a minute?”
   
Because even a slow afternoon holds power, it’s a reset button in disguise—a chance to breathe deeper, think clearer, dream a little bigger. Not every moment needs fireworks—some are just quiet sparks, waiting for you to notice them.
 
So here we are—3 p.m. Not the end of the day… the pivot point. The hinge where possibility swings wide and the whole rhythm of the day quietly resets. The first act may be behind you—whatever it held, whatever it didn’t—but the second? Still unwritten, still alive, still crackling with spark. This is where the story takes a turn, where a new energy can slip in if you let it. The light hits a little differently now, doesn’t it? Like the day is leaning in and whispering, “There’s more… if you want it.”
   
This is the hour where most people coast… drift a little, scroll a little, wait for the clock to do the heavy lifting. But not me. This is where I lean in—where I shift from passenger to driver, from watching to creating. A quiet moment can flip into something electric: a breakthrough idea, a genuine smile, a surprising conversation, a story that taps you on the shoulder and says, “Ready?” And you don’t need fireworks to begin—just a step, a thought, a yes. That’s how momentum sneaks in… soft at first, then unstoppable.
   
Because life has a sneaky rhythm—it loves to tuck its best moves just after the slowest stretch, like a magician waiting for you to look away before revealing something brilliant. So stay in it. Stay open. Stay ready. Don’t check out when things get quiet—that’s often when the magic starts clearing its throat. The magic? Oh, it’s not gone… It’s backstage, stretching, smiling, waiting for its cue. And if you’re paying attention, if you’re still in the game… You just might be the reason it steps into the spotlight. ✨
     
>>>>> April 29
And the beat goes on—boom, boom. 💥 Each day, the cannons roar… can you hear them? It’s time marching, life insisting, another chance knocking, whether we answer or not. Today’s lineup is light—a walk from 9 to 10, Speech from 10:30 to 11—but the truth is, the schedule doesn’t make the day… You do.
   
And something is changing in me—quiet, powerful. Less and less weighs heavily on my heart. That’s not emptiness… that’s strength moving in, rearranging the furniture, opening the windows, letting fresh air rush through. You’re still here, still in motion. Still rising.
   
You’re not done—not even close.
There’s more in you. More to give. More to build.
So step up and MAKE IT HAPPEN. 💪
   
I had my sights set on the other park today with the walking group—ready to move, ready to test the engine. My body felt good—inhaler in pocket. Spirit revving. But I was held back. Maryann, a capable therapist, sees limits where I feel possibilities.
   
She walked me back, saying she couldn’t trust me—and that stung, not because I want to be reckless, but because I know the difference between pushing forward and pushing too far. I’m not trying to break myself… I’m trying to rebuild myself.
   
And that’s the fire right there. 🔥 The desire to test, to stretch, to see what’s possible again. That doesn’t come from ego—that comes from awareness, from listening closely to my body and my will lining up like two old friends finally agreeing on the next move. I feel that she is trying to control me, and that’s just not right.
   
The next place? That’s my runway.
More space. Fewer walls.
A chance to move like a man who knows himself.
And I will.
Carefully. Intentionally. Powerfully.
Because this isn’t about proving anyone wrong… It’s about proving to yourself what’s still right. I expect there won’t be people trying to control me.
    **
10:30-11 I met with the person running speech therapy. She has been showing me how terrible my memory is, and I am understanding. Now I am sitting down to write details on what we talked about, and it’s not there. We even talked about what I may have eaten yesterday — not there. I don’t want just to live life and let things happen,
   
I feel terrible about my memory. Right now, I am trying to think about what we talked about—it’s just not there. It seems I often just let things merge and don’t separate the details. Do I need to write down every detail of everything that happens in my life now?
     
Just got off the phone with someone at the place I’m moving to—and wow… if first impressions are any indication, this next chapter is going to be something special. The energy felt right, the possibilities felt wide open, and for the first time in a while, I could almost see the life waiting for me there—more freedom, more movement, more room to grow into what’s next.
   
It’s that rare kind of excitement that doesn’t shout… it hums steadily in the background, saying, “Yes, this is the direction.” I’ll be sharing more as things unfold in future blog posts, but for now, just know this: something good is on the horizon, and I’m stepping toward it with a full heart and a ready stride.
       
>>>>> April 30
Summer looks to be on the way. Sorry, I won’t be here to make this garden I built magnificent. Hopefully, they will have some growth plans. I did present the idea of building the garden in the first place; I hope that is not forgotten.
   
The speech therapist just stopped by with an unexpected plot twist—no therapy sessions today, not one. 🎬 And I’ll be honest… I’m not quite sure what to do with that kind of wide-open space, but maybe—just maybe—that’s the moment: the unscheduled hour, the blank page, the part of the day where you get to decide what growth looks like.
     
No script, no structure—just possibility tapping you on the shoulder like, “Your move.” 😄 And honestly, that’s where the magic likes to hide. No sessions today… which means the canvas is wide open, waiting for you to splash something bold, playful, or unexpected across it. Today isn’t empty—it’s yours to create. Now, what will I do today?
     
This wave of tiredness drifts in and settles over me now and then—like it just did. I could easily lie down and disappear into sleep; it’s a strange, heavy pull. But some things matter waiting for me, and I’m going to meet them anyway—one step, one breath, one small win at a time.
   
Crayons and coloring books. I wandered down to the therapy room, curious why my schedule had gone silent for the day. Inside, a group sat coloring—heads down, crayons in hand, filling in shapes. And just like that, I understood why nothing had called my name. I quietly stepped back out, grateful for the clarity.
     
Because here’s the truth—recovery deserves more than staying busy. It deserves challenge, engagement, and progress. There are sharper tools, richer exercises, and more meaningful ways to wake up a healing brain. So the question lingers… why stop at crayons when the mind is capable of so much more?
   
>>>>> May 1
May Day, May Day, calling out May Day.
     
May 1 is primarily celebrated globally as International Workers’ Day (May Day), a public holiday honoring labor movements and workers’ rights, originating from the 1886 Haymarket riots in Chicago. It also marks a traditional European spring festival (Beltane) with traditions like dancing around a maypole.
   
As you know, I’ve been on a bit of a medical adventure lately—but plot twist: I’m getting better. 💪
First, my ankles decided to audition for a water balloon contest, swelling up and filling with blood, which landed me in compression socks. Not exactly a fashion statement I was aiming for… but hey, sometimes healing asks you to wear things you wouldn’t choose for the runway. 😄 I wore them, I stuck with it, and slowly—progress.
     
Only one “Therapy” today, if you would call it that. I will be making my salsa for Cinco de Mayo and we were scheduled to go and purchase ingredients today. She often comes to my room when we are going to do something. She stayed away downstairs (perhaps to avoice me?)
   
Then, just as I was finding my rhythm again, along came pneumonia. And yes… why is there a “p” in that word? Silent letters—proof that even the alphabet likes to keep us on our toes. I was told to wear a mask, so I did. Not glamorous, but necessary.
     
I’ve been noticing something lately—many of the actors from the shows I grew up loving, such as McHale’s Navy and M*A*S*H, have passed on. And yeah… there’s a quiet sadness that comes with that. These weren’t just characters on a screen—they were companions, voices in the room, part of the rhythm of life back then.
 
There is still hope; there is Alan Alda. At age 89 now, he keeps going!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOu1auT8OYs
You can get there, too. Keep going. Keep searching. Keep finding. Keep living!
   
But then a thought slips in—gentle, honest, impossible to ignore. I’m heading that direction too. No one gets to sneak past that final curtain call. And oddly enough, that realization doesn’t just bring weight… it brings clarity. It whispers, “Hey… your time is still playing. What are you going to do with it?”
     
And that’s where the magic flips. Because those actors? They’re gone—but the laughter they sparked, the stories they told, the memories they helped create? Still alive. Still echoing. Still doing their job. Which means maybe the goal isn’t to avoid the ending… It’s to leave behind something that keeps smiling long after we’ve taken our final bow. 🎭✨
   
But—YOU ARE STILL ALIVE! And that’s not a small thing… that’s a thunderclap. ⚡ So don’t drift. Don’t coast. Don’t quietly fade into the background while the clock keeps ticking. Step in. Speak up. Do something that matters—something that lifts another person, even just a little.
     
Because every act of kindness, every bit of effort, every moment you choose to engage… it echoes farther than you think. There is still so much you can build, give, and become. Then there is Dave Finigan, who has done so much to add to the juggling world, is 85 years old, and continues to add to it. Here is about Dave >> Dave Finnigan – My juggling guru – Renegades Escapades.
     
Keep showing up with fire in your chest and purpose in your step. And when the final curtain does come, let it find you mid-motion—living fully, loving boldly, and leaving behind a trail of stories that say—”This one mattered.” 🎉 As you do. You’ve almost made it to Cinco de Mayo! Which is May fifth.
     
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the remarkable 1862 victory of Mexican forces over the invading French army at the Battle of Puebla. Against overwhelming odds, the smaller and less-equipped Mexican troops, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, delivered a stunning defeat that ignited pride, resilience, and hope across the nation. It wasn’t just a win on the battlefield—it was a powerful reminder that courage, heart, and determination can outshine even the mightiest opponent.
     
THERAPY? All I have scheduled for today is to go to the store.
To buy ingredients for the salsa I will be making.
Happy Cinco de Mayo. Well, today is Uno de Mayo.
Have you made my salsa yet? It tastes great and is good for you!
   
                SALSA!
MAKE SOME TODAY!
Use a large, roughly 5-quart bowl—give your ingredients some room to dance. Chop everything in a food processor into neat, quarter-inch bits, like a well-rehearsed rhythm section. Then keep the mixture moving—stir it on and off as you go, letting the flavors mingle, get acquainted, and come together into something greater.
         
Mix: One 15-ounce can of corn. One 15-ounce can of black beans. 1/4 cup of maple syrup.
One large can of peaches. One bundle of hand-chopped cilantro—two large red onions.
One jalapeno pepper–finely chopped. ½ cup of diced garlic. ½ cup of lime juice or three limes.
½ cup of lemon juice or two lemons. ½ cup of garlic salt. Two pounds of plum tomatoes
           
For hot salsa >>
Leave out the maple syrup and peaches.
Add 1 habanero pepper and 2 jalapeno peppers—or enough peppers to suit your desired heat level.
   
I ran my successful business, SummersSalsa, for 18 years, and many love my brew.
Make some for yourself; it will bring you a smile. See above on the make.
https://www.summerssalsa.com/
Then, while I was riding my bike one day.
I was hit by a truck and had to close down the business.
     
At that point, I did not know what I would do. So I purchased a 2001 Dodge Ram van and built the inside into a lovely home. I was so happy as I got on the road and drove to every national park and every state in the US. I loved the freedom of being out on the road.
     
I waited for the therapist to come to my room about going out to buy ingredients for salsa. She was downstairs and had expected me to come down. Oh well. I will buy the ingredients myself this weekend.
     
Right now, I think I will go out and work on the garden that isn’t mine. I do hope they keep it nice and have a good harvest. I would have left magnificence, oh well.

Many of the therapists are already gone. It’s about 3 pm, hmm, that doesn’t seem right. Of course, I am on the 3rd floor, and therapies take place on the first floor. But I was down there not too long ago, and no one was around.

Right now, I think I’ll head outside and tend to the garden that isn’t mine—but feels like it could be. 🌱 There’s something quietly powerful about caring for what you don’t own… like leaving fingerprints of kindness where no one’s keeping score. I hope they nurture it, keep it thriving, and enjoy a beautiful harvest. Me? I would’ve turned it into something magnificent—but hey, the seeds are still in the soil, and who knows what might grow.

It’s about 3 p.m., and the place feels strangely still. Most of the therapists seem to have vanished—like a magic trick without the applause. That doesn’t quite add up. I’m on the third floor, sure, and therapies happen on the first—but I was just down there, and it was quiet as a library at midnight. Maybe it’s one of those hidden pockets of the day… where the world pauses, catches its breath, and waits to see what you do next
===============================
PART 3)–BLOG 375–LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE!
At 3:33 a.m., the world is quiet enough to hear your own heartbeat think. That’s when he wakes up—not because he has to, but because something inside him refuses to sleep through life. The ceiling above him isn’t just a ceiling; it’s a starting line. Another day has arrived, and whether it’s dressed in gold or wrapped in grit, he’s going to meet it head-on—with one message echoing in his chest: LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE!
   
Years ago, I stood under bright lights, juggling not just balls but attention, applause, and awe. The rhythm was magic—toss, toss, catch, catch—like breathing with flair. Then one day, the rhythm broke. Life dropped everything at once. A coma. Silence. Stillness. The kind of stillness that asks a terrifying question: Is this the end… or a beginning in disguise? Somewhere deep inside that silence, a spark flickered and refused to go out. It whispered—no, it insisted—LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE!
   
When I woke, the stage was gone. The spotlight had vanished. Even walking across a room felt like climbing a mountain wearing invisible weights. Words hid from me. Balance betrayed me. The man who once amazed crowds now celebrated standing up. Many would have accepted less. Many would have folded into the quiet. But he had a different script running through his veins, louder now, stronger now: LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE!
   
So I started small—one step, one ball, one word, one stubborn decision at a time. While others counted limitations, I counted attempts. While the world suggested slowing down, I answered with action. “Let’s go anyway.” I picked up scarves before balls—colorful, slow, forgiving—and began again. Toss, miss, laugh, try again. Each drop wasn’t a failure; it was fuel. Each catch was a declaration: LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE!
 
And something beautiful happened. I didn’t return to who I was—I became someone more. Deeper. Sharper. Fiercer in Spirit. I began to notice life in places he’d rushed past before: sunlight sneaking through the window like it had something to say, laughter echoing down a hallway, the quiet triumph of tying your own shoes. Every moment became an invitation, every breath a reminder: LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE!
   
I started writing in the early hours, pouring my thoughts onto the page as they mattered—because they do–I want to help you! Because time isn’t guaranteed; it’s gifted. And gifts aren’t meant to sit unopened on a shelf. They’re meant to be lived, stretched, and explored. Fully. Boldly. Right now. LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE!
   
So I turned it into a rule, a rhythm, a full-volume rally cry: don’t just be alive—LIVE. Talk to people like you mean it, try things before you feel ready, laugh louder than necessary (bonus points if someone turns around and smiles), fall, get up, and call it choreography 💃, eat the dessert, say the thing, take the step—because this isn’t a dress rehearsal, it’s opening night.
   
Because one day—and it comes quicker than we think—the curtain will fall. Not with a warning. Not with a drumroll. Just quietly. And when it does, he wants a life that echoes, a life that shouts back through time: I WAS HERE. I LIVED. I LOVED. I TRIED. I FELL. I ROSE. I LIVED UNTIL I DIED!
   
So at 3:33 p.m., I rise again. Not perfect. Not finished. But alive in the truest sense of the word—moving, reaching, daring. Because “LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE!” isn’t just something you say. It’s something you prove—moment by moment, step by step, catch by catch.
     
And if you listen closely—in that sacred hush before the world stretches and yawns—you might hear it… that inner voice with a grin on its face, giving you a gentle nudge and a bold invitation: You’re still here. So don’t tiptoe through it, don’t sit this one out—step in, speak up, light it up—because this moment, this breath, this chance is your cue: LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE! 🎉 
===========================
PART 4) 🔥 A FEW SPARKS TO SLIP INTO YOUR POCKET
    ✨ THE MAGIC OF QUOTES ✨
“Go for it now.
The future is promised to no one.” — Wayne Dyer.
   
“We only die once.
BUT!
We must live daily.” — Kit Summers.
   
Happiness is the only thing that.
multiplies when you share it.
—Albert Schweitzer
   
Positive anything is better.
than negative nothing.”  — Elbert Hubbard
     
“Dream as if you’ll live forever.
Live as if you’ll die today.” — James Dean.
     
“Every man dies.
Not every man really lives.” — Braveheart.
   
“The trouble is,
” You think you have time?” — Buddha.
   
“Life is not lost by dying.
Life is lost minute by minute,
day by dragging day…” — Stephen Vincent Benét
   
“You only live once, for a very short time.
So make every second divine.” — Mitch Lucker.
     
“Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
So love the people who treat you right.
Forget about those who don’t.
Believe everything happens for a reason.
If you get a chance, take it.
If it changes your life, let it.
Nobody said life would be easy.
They just promised it would most likely be worth it.” — Harvey Mackay.
=============================
PART 5) YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK >>
Just imagine—tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. So the real question is: are you finishing what truly matters before the curtain falls? This week isn’t just another stretch of days—it’s a chance to lean into your future, get honest, and draw a bold line toward what counts. What do you want to accomplish before the end—and are you moving toward it today? You must always remember — LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE! 🎯
==============================
PART 6) NEXT WEEK>>
BLOG 376–DON’T LIVE FOR THE FUTURE OR THE PAST
=============================== 

🌟 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!
🌟

✨KITTING AROUND✨
BLOG 374–WHEN PASSION MEETS PURPOSE
This Video will let you know more about me–
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr8QFnD1yGc
This Blog is Best Read on a Laptop, Rather than Your Phone.
By KIT SUMMERS — World-Class Juggler to World-Class Comeback
To Learn More about Kit, Go Here >> https://kitsummers.com/about-kit/

Once upon a life, I made gravity nervous—
Headlining at Ballys, tossing clubs with a grin.
Seven of them. A world record—
Because physics loves a good insult. 😄
Then came the truck—the coma.
     
Thirty-seven silent days offstage.
And here I am now—not juggling clubs.
But throwing purpose, grit, and joy.
Balancing healing, catching courage.
Tossing hope sky-high. 🤹‍♂️

The mission grew bigger than applause.
Now I lift humans. I write to stay connected.
I write because it’s how I breathe.
If these words help you, too?
That’s magic catching air. 🎉
     
What’s next on Kit’s journey through life?
Back to juggling? Back to life?
Stay with Kit and find out.
Life can get better.
Life will get better. ✨

========================

Part 1)  THE BEGINNINGS 

As I woke this morning, the sickness didn’t knock politely—it kicked the door clean off the hinges. Every cough thundered through me like a drum solo in a metal can, rattling bones, nerves, and patience alike.
   
And somewhere between breaths, I caught myself wondering… I’m already in a hospital—so why does it feel like I’m still standing in line, ticket in hand, waiting to be called?
   
And yet—on cue, like a stubborn old alarm clock—my body chimed in at 3 a.m.: “Up we go!” No snooze, no negotiation. The hallways stretched out in silence, quiet as a held breath. Just me, the stillness, and this scrappy, determined body trying to piece itself together one inhale at a time.
HEY–ARE THOSE MY LUNGS? 
 
They’ve been watching my oxygen/blood levels, tracking the numbers like a scoreboard. And today, they’ve dipped—just a little—but enough to matter.
   
My lungs aren’t dancing; they’re shuffling, doing their best with what they’ve got. Last night, a nurse suggested a transfer. I waved it off with a brave little “no thanks.” This morning? The head nurse took one look and said, “Not so fast.” Now the ride may be on its way after all.
   
So here I sit—a slightly worn, slightly wobbly Kit—waiting for the next move. I usually hover around 9.4 on the blood/oxygen level; now I’m at 9.1. Small numbers. Big message. Funny how life works like that—the tiniest shifts can carry the loudest truths.
   
But here’s the thing—I’ve lived through bigger drops than this. I’ve missed catches, stumbled hard, hit the ground… and still found a way to get back into rhythm. This moment? Just another toss into the air. And I’ve still got my eyes on it. I’m still in the game. 🎯
   
This afternoon—Sunday—I saw a doctor.
No grand speech, no dramatic verdict.
The X-ray machine wasn’t working.
     
But she treated me for pneumonia anyway.
And there it is—the question hanging in the air like a high throw:
Will I live… or will I die?
       
I actually paused after typing that.
Not out of fear—but curiosity.
Even that word—pneumonia—starts with a silent letter.
   
Ahh, the sneaky “p”—just sitting there like it owns the place and refuses to make a sound. 😄
Here’s the story:
The word “pneumonia” comes from the ancient Greek word pneumon, which means “lung.” In Greek, that “pn” combination at the beginning was actually pronounced—something like puh-NOO-monia.
          
But English? Oh, English looked at that and said, “Yeah… we’re not doing that.” 😄
So over time, we kept the spelling (because English loves tradition)… but dropped the “p” sound when speaking.
   
👉 Same thing happens with other words:
psychology (silent “p”)
pterodactyl (silent “p”)
pneumatic (silent “p”)

Can you imagine my name with a silent “P”? 
💡 Think of the “p” as a historical souvenir—
a little linguistic fossil reminding us where the word came from.
     
So the “p” isn’t useless… It’s just quietly honoring its Greek roots while letting the “n” do all the talking. Kind of like a backup juggler who never gets thrown into the act—but still helped build the show. 🤹‍♂️
     
Today I got a ride from Logan to the doctor.
Logan is a good guy, and I was glad to be with him.
Now I wonder if the doc helped.
     
I taught another person to juggle today!
I must have taught at least 35 people here to juggle 3.
That makes me happy, as he was happy with his new skill.
=============================  

PART 2)  THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK

Kit’s Daily Delights — Inspiration, Freshly Served. Every week, I sit down to map my week—and every time, it begins the same way: a blank canvas. Nothing there. It still surprises me. That quiet moment, just before I fill it in… when the whole week is wide open, waiting for me to decide what it becomes. And here’s the beautiful truth—you’ve got that same wide-open canvas, too. Start now and make the life YOU want!   

>>>>>April 18

Of course—it’s Saturday. Everything has slowed to a near standstill… the kind of quiet that almost echoes. Time stretches out in a strange way here—unbelievably slow, like the world hit a pause button and forgot to press play again. You can almost hear the minutes ticking by, one at a time, asking, “Now what?”
   
And in that quiet stillness. I’ve found myself thinking… really thinking. And here’s what keeps rising to the surface: there’s a quiet kind of power in a life lived solo. Not lonely—no, not even close—but deeply self-owned. Clean. Uncluttered. Yours from edge to edge.
   
It’s a life where your thoughts don’t have to compete for space. It’s where your direction isn’t pulled off course by noise or expectation—just you at the wheel—steady hands, clear road, open sky. There’s a strength in that kind of simplicity, a confidence that builds when every choice is yours to make and every step is yours to take.
   
A life where your choices are yours. Your rhythm is yours, your direction isn’t negotiated—it’s declared. There’s a kind of freedom in that, a quiet strength. No need to explain your path, no need to wait for agreement—just you, moving forward, fully in your own lane.
     
That doesn’t mean connection isn’t beautiful—it absolutely is. But there’s something deeply grounding about knowing you can stand strong on your own two feet, build your own days, and still find meaning, purpose, and even joy without depending on anyone else to supply it.
   
It’s like juggling solo—you feel every toss in your fingertips, every catch in your bones, every tiny correction in real time. There’s no autopilot, no hiding—just you, fully present, fully alive, dancing with the moment as it unfolds. 
     
So yes… a single life can be better—if it’s lived with intention. If it’s filled with growth, curiosity, and a willingness to stay engaged with the world rather than shrink away from it. The magic isn’t in being alone—it’s in being awake in your own life.
     
Are you… her? It’s a simple question, but not a small one.
It carries a pause, a curiosity.
Maybe even a quiet hope tucked between the words.
So I’ll ask it again—clearly, honestly, and without disguise:
Are you “her”? If you are, please let me know.
   
No guessing games. No circling it. Just a straight line from one human to another, reaching out for clarity. Because sometimes, the smallest questions hold the biggest meaning—and getting a real answer matters.
   
And who knows? Sometimes the strongest, most centered individuals—the ones who’ve learned how to stand alone—are the very ones who, later on, choose connection not out of need… but out of abundance. That’s a powerful place to live from.
   
At 10:44, a meal arrived—mysterious in its identity. Breakfast? Lunch? A surprise plot twist? I wasn’t hungry, so that “whatever-it-was” made a quick exit to the trash. 🎭
   
Then came round two. At 3:33, Octavio showed up with dinner—early enough to qualify as a sneak preview. I asked him to bring it back at actual dinnertime, when my appetite might be ready to make an appearance.
     
Somewhere between breakfast, lunch, and dinner… we’ve invented a new meal: confusion. 😄 A little clearer training for the meal staff could turn this into a smooth, well-timed performance—because even in a simple routine like eating, timing is everything.
     
As dinnertime approached, Octavio brought my meal at 3:33—well before I was ready to eat. I let him know it was too early and asked that it be brought back at an appropriate time, hopefully still warm. It left me wondering—were meals intentionally moved earlier because I raised concerns? If so, that solution misses the mark.

When the meal arrived, it also included medication in a small cup, and I was told it needed to be taken immediately while he watched. That added to the sense that timing and coordination are off track. Consistency matters—not just for comfort, but for dignity and routine.

There may be a need for better training and communication among the meal staff. Delivering meals at the proper times, ensuring food quality, and coordinating respectfully with medication schedules should be standard practice. With the right guidance and systems in place, this could run smoothly for everyone.

>>>> April 19

Awake around 3, I lingered there for a while—caught between rest and the quiet hum of a waking mind—until I finally stepped out of bed at five. Sometimes you just need a starting point… and once I gave myself that, my mind clicked on like a light in a dark room.
   
For a brief, beautiful moment, I felt clear. My nose opened up, my body felt lighter, and I had a clear head, no headache. And I thought, Ahh… maybe this is the turn. Maybe I am back to life once again. But then, as my mind was turning on—plot twist—the sickness came rolling back in like an uninvited encore. Body aches, a pounding head, that all-over ugh feeling settling in again.
   
The head of nursing, Winsom, was with me this morning.
   
And yet… here we are. Sunday. A church day. A day that still belongs to me—aches, doubts, and all. Often, around me, some lean into prayer, who find their footing in hope. I see it. I respect it. But that path isn’t mine. My faith, if I have one, lives somewhere else—maybe in showing up when it’s hard, in breathing through the pain, in choosing to stand in my own truth even when it shakes a little.
   
No choir needed. No script required. Just me—still here, still in the game, still claiming the day as my own. If you believe, think carefully about your choices; you may change your perspective. Maybe no higher power swoops in to fix everything. Maybe that was never the assignment. Maybe the miracle isn’t rescue… maybe it’s resilience—the quiet, stubborn act of showing up anyway.

I’ll admit it—I’ve always questioned the whole idea of a higher being. Where is she, after all? Hiding? LoganxWaiting? Or maybe… living in the small, defiant moments when I rise, even when I don’t feel like it. Or maybe not there at all. 

Because here’s what I know for sure:
I’m still here.
Still standing.
Still in the game.
And on a Sunday like this, that feels like something worth believing in.
     
Because even on a rough morning like this, something steady remains. I’m here. I’m breathing. I’m still stepping onto the field of my own life. And that, in its own quiet way, is powerful. Not perfect—but present. Not healed—but in motion. Still showing up… still in the game.
     
Today I got a ride from Logan to see the doc. Their results were weak, and I wonder if they helped at all. And, I got to teach Key to juggle! He did well and did great with his new skill.

>>>>>April 20

I’m starting to feel like this blog isn’t just something I do… It’s something I’ve been called to do. Like the world tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Hey, Kit—get in the game. Your story matters.” And if there’s one thing I’ve learned—from stages, from setbacks, from hospital beds and hard roads—it’s this: when life calls your name, you answer. Even if your voice is a little scratchy that day.
   
I’ve lived a few lifetimes in one body. From juggling on stages across the world… to lying still in a coma, not even able to speak. From building a business… to rebuilding a life. From getting knocked down—twice, literally—to getting back up again, again, and again. So no, I don’t write to pass the time. I write to honor it. Because every moment I’m still here? That’s a catch worth celebrating. 🤹‍♂️
     
Now, speaking of timing—my schedule rolled in today at 9:40. Fashionably late, like it had somewhere better to be first. Usually, it shows up at 8, ready to greet the day like a punctual little soldier. Today? More like a confused tourist.
   
And what’s on the big agenda? Cornhole at 10 a.m. I passed.
   
Not because I’m against fun—but because I’m wired a little differently. I’ve juggled five clubs in front of crowds. I’ve built things from scratch. I’ve fought my way back from places most people never even see. So tossing one beanbag back and forth? It feels like trying to fly with one wing.
     
Some people love it—and that’s great. Truly. But me? I’m still reaching for that next level. That next stretch. That next spark. 🔥
   
Meanwhile, my body has decided to audition for the role of
“Miserable Human, Part 2.”
The coughing? Loud.
The congestion? Stubborn.
The overall feeling?
Let’s just say if misery had a mascot,
I’d be wearing the costume today.
And yet… here I am.
Still thinking. Still observing. Still writing.
   
Because even on the slow days—especially on the slow days—something is brewing beneath the surface. That’s where growth hides. That’s where ideas stretch their legs and say, “We’re not done yet.”
   
I drifted into YouTube land for a bit and found The Center Seat—a look at 55 years of Star Trek. Fifty-five years! That hit me right in the memory bank. Suddenly I wasn’t here—I was there. Younger. Watching. Dreaming. Back when the future felt wide open and just waiting for me to step into it.
   
And here’s a beautiful twist—Lucille Ball, of all people, helped make Star Trek happen. A comedian backed a sci-fi gamble when others hesitated. She saw something. She believed early. I love that.
   
Because that’s the story, isn’t it? The real magic often starts with someone saying “yes” before it makes sense. Before it’s proven. Before it’s safe.
     
That’s been my whole life. Say yes. Step forward. Figure it out mid-air. 🤹‍♂️
Now, on the practical side of things… I saw the doctor yesterday.
Prescription called in. I made sure people here knew.
And so far? Silence. No updates. No movement.
And I’ll be honest—that part’s frustrating.
   
Not because I expect perfection—but because when you’re already feeling low, the little things matter even more. Timing matters. Care matters. Follow-through matters.
     
But here’s what I know—deep in my bones:
I’ve been through worse than delays.
I’ve come back from deeper valleys than this.
And I’m still here… still writing… still reaching.
   
So no dramatic exits today. Not this guy. This is just another chapter.
A slower one, sure—but even slow chapters move the story forward.
And you?
   
Are you coasting today…
Or are you tossing something new into the air and daring yourself to catch it? 🎯

>>>>> April 21

Today, I woke at 1:33 a.m.—not to an alarm, but to a mind already in motion. Thoughts about a past dental procedure were lining up, one after another, to be written down. So I’ll put those words together and reach out. I’ll keep you posted on how it unfolds. 
       
I returned to bed for a short rest, but no sleep, though. It is 7 am now. I put together a good letter for the dentist. If you would like to see the letter, let me know, and I will send you a copy. The letter clearly states my wants and needs.
     
Just got my schedule from Maryann. All I have today is I teach juggling at 2 pm for half an hour. Looks like I will need to “make” some things happen for myself today. I will let you know. All the staff have given up on me, thinking that I no longer want to advance or something. That hurts.
     
A doctor came through just and said I definitely had pneumonia (such a strange spelling for this word.) He ordered a higher dose of the antibiotic to help me. Night and day, I am feeling terrible.
     
2:00 time for juggling for a half-hour. One therapist, me, and 3 brain injury folk. A couple is starting to get the idea of the throw-and-catch. The therapist is having trouble throwing her left-hand ball away from her, a common problem for people learning to throw. At one point, she got 3 good throws off and felt the pattern, which was great!

So close, they are building across the street, new condos. Often, they start a project, and nothing is done for a long time. These are going up fast.

>>>>> April 22

So quiet at 4 am, yet here I am.
8 am now. Usually breakfast is here by now, and the schedule. NOTHING.
I would like to go out and run, but with the pneumonia, I can’t.
And, with their rules–that would be a no.
   
At 9:33, it was time to clean. It’s been a couple of days, so, yes, there was stuff. I get so sick of people throwing the putts out as they smoke.
     
At 10 am, there was an Exercise Group. Feeling the way I do, I stayed out for that. Now my only therapy today will be speech with Dino at 2.
     
Looking through YouTube, bored and trying.

        >>>>> April 23

Up early—with a smile already winning the day. 😄
I’m not waiting to see what the day brings…
I’m stepping out to shape it.
That’s the deal: life doesn’t just offer—you create.
Toss the first ball, and the rhythm follows.
   
Every day, I head out to the garden and patio—my own little stage—and do a cleanup. Fifty cigarette butts? Easy. Add in some stray trash, and it’s a full performance. I do it because it feels right, because I like the space better when it’s cared for. The bonus? People notice (?) A thank you here, a smile there. Turns out, when you raise the standard, the world quietly rises with you.
     
And here’s what’s next on the horizon:
https://www.legacypreservetampa.com/
April and Jasmine are working toward getting me in here.
     
This could be the next chapter—and it looks like a good one. Clean lines, fresh start, new energy. I can see myself there… building, growing, living fully. Because no matter where you land, the magic isn’t the place—it’s the person showing up inside it.
   
So maybe today isn’t a “they’re done with me” day…
Maybe it’s a “hold your ground, stay steady… something new is quietly lining itself up” kind of day.

I feel the pull to get outside and run—to move, to fly, to feel that rhythm again…
But today, my lungs are waving a small white flag—
“Easy there, champ… the full show isn’t on stage just yet.”
My mind is laced up and ready to run.
My body’s leaning forward, eager to go.

But my lungs? They’re the wise old coach on the sideline, arms crossed, saying,
“Not today. Heal first—then fly.” 🕊️
And maybe that’s not a setback…
Maybe it’s a setup for a stronger comeback.
   
Alright then. No sprint today.
But this isn’t stopping—it’s strategic pacing.
Because even when the body slows…

The spirit can still stretch, sharpen, and prepare.
And when those lungs say “go” again?
Ohhh… watch out, world. 🏃‍♂️💥

>>>>> April 24

As I woke, I had to laugh a little—is it Friday already… again?
Time isn’t walking these days; it’s juggling flaming torches and sprinting.
The blog? Already built. All that’s left is this final toss—the words you’re reading right now.
   
Today was cardiologist day. Over the past month, I’ve made a handful of visits, and this was the moment when all the pieces came together. The big question: what’s going on with the swelling in my feet?
   
The early word? Heart and veins are looking good. That’s a win. A solid, breathe-easier kind of win. The full results are coming by email, but for now, I’ll take that small victory and tuck it in my pocket. Progress doesn’t always arrive with fireworks—sometimes it whispers, “You’re okay… keep going.”
   
A friend drove me to the appointment, and afterward we celebrated in the most heroic way possible—IHOP (Do you hop?) This is written with Olympic-level pancake enthusiasm. Good food, good company, good conversation. Sometimes that’s the real therapy.
   
Now, the official schedule rolls in:
Game Group at 10 a.m. (we’ll see…)
“Hot Potato” in the therapy gym at 2 p.m. (also… we’ll see…)
Here’s the honest truth—my brain is craving more than reruns and simple games. I’m ready for a challenge, for growth, for something that stretches me. Toss me three balls, not one. Let’s build skill, not just pass time.
   
Because after being here for months, I’m noticing a pattern—too much of the same. And while I truly respect that many therapists care deeply (you can feel that, and it matters), the system itself feels stuck in neutral. I’m just not seeing enough challenges presented for people to climb.
   
For something this important—and yes, this expensive—it should be shifting, adapting, evolving. These are people’s lives, which have been set back by a brain injury. Too often, it leans toward babysitting rather than rebuilding.
   
And that’s the heart of it. People aren’t being challenged to rise—they’re being kept at a level that doesn’t match who they are. These are grown adults, full of potential, yet they’re too often treated as if that maturity hasn’t been earned.
   
Raise the bar, and watch what happens. People don’t just meet expectations—they stretch, they grow, they surprise you. Give them real challenge, real responsibility… and suddenly, you’re not managing people—you’re unlocking them.
   
Lunchtime has started to wear on me. I see many therapists head into the therapy room and lock the door behind them. I understand the need for a break—we all need a moment to reset—but it feels like it sometimes goes too far.
   
At the heart of this place are the patients and their progress. That should always come first. Even small moments of connection, presence, or availability can make a real difference. Right now, it feels like those moments are being missed—and that’s tough to watch.
   
I believe my time at NeuroRestorative is nearing its final chapter. I’ve been treated kindly, and I’m grateful for that—but there are too many limits placed on people who are trying to reclaim their independence.
   
I’ve talked with others here—patients and staff—and the same theme keeps popping up: too many unnecessary restrictions. When a grown adult can’t simply step outside for a walk alone… something’s off.
     
This isn’t about rebellion—it’s about dignity.
It’s about growth.
It’s about being trusted to live again, not just managed.
     
I’ve seen moments of real help here, yes. But I’ve also seen adults handed children’s games, over and over, as if that’s the ceiling. And I’ve seen doors closed—literally—when they should be open. People are here to improve, to rebuild, to rise again. That mission deserves energy, creativity, and bold thinking—not routine and retreat.
     
But here’s the twist—and you knew it was coming…
Even in a place that feels limiting, I’m not limited.
Even in a system that feels stuck, I’m still moving forward.
     
Because the real work? That’s happening inside me.
Every thought, every decision, every refusal to settle.
🎯 The next chapter is warming up backstage.
And when that curtain rises… I’ll be ready.
Stay tuned. This story’s not slowing down—it’s just getting interesting.
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PART 3)–BLOG 374–WHEN PASSION MEETS PURPOSE   

⚡ When Passion Meets Purpose… BOOM ⚡
When passion meets purpose, something inside you doesn’t just click—it ignites. You stop pushing your life uphill like a stubborn wheel… and suddenly, life starts pulling you forward, not by force—but by alignment.
     
🪄🎩Where passion meets purpose is the magical crossroads where what you love aligns with what truly matters. It’s the moment when your energy and the world’s needs meet and say, “Let’s do something great.” In that space, life feels different. You’re not just going through the motions—you’re fully in it, with a sense of fulfillment, authenticity, and a quiet confidence that says, this is exactly where I’m meant to be.

👨‍🏭When passion meets purpose, work stops feeling like work and becomes a form of expression—your voice, your story, your impact all rolled into one. What once felt like effort starts to feel like flow. This is your “sweet spot,” where your inner fire meets a meaningful “why,” turning ordinary days into something powerful… where you don’t just do things—you become them. 🔥🤹 
   
📦You’re no longer just checking boxes—you’re building something that matters. The ordinary begins to glow. The small moments carry weight. And the work you once had to do transforms into something you get to live.
   
💥 It’s the beautiful collision of what lights you up (passion) and why you’re here (purpose). That’s where effort turns into energy. Where joy sneaks into the grind, where your days stop feeling random—and start stacking into something meaningful.
   
📖And here’s where it gets real…
Because I didn’t learn this from a book.
I learned it on the road.
On stages.
On sidewalks.
On hospital beds.
     
🤹 I’ve stood in front of crowds juggling fire and dreams… and I’ve also lain still, unable to move, learning how to speak and walk again. I’ve gone from world-class performer to starting over—more than once, from building a salsa business with my own hands… to rebuilding myself from the ground up.
   
📘And here’s the truth those chapters taught me:
Passion alone won’t carry you through the storms. But purpose will.
You must find your passion and purpose to have a better life.
   
🔥When passion meets purpose, something electric jumps the wire. Suddenly, work isn’t a chore—it’s a stage. You’re not dragging your feet… you’re stepping into the spotlight. Effort becomes fuel. Routine becomes rhythm. And somewhere in the middle of it all—you come alive again.
   
🙄Even when life knocks you flat…
Even when the balls hit the ground…
You don’t quit the act.
You pick them back up—and this time, you juggle with meaning.
   
🔥 What Happens When Passion and Purpose High-Five Each Other?
Your world will explode with joy.
     
🎯 Elevated Performance
When your heart is in it and your “why” is locked in, everything sharpens.
This isn’t about grinding harder—it’s about flowing stronger. You stop forcing excellence… and start embodying it.
   
💪 Greater Resilience
I’ve had life knock me down—hard. Twice over. But purpose? Purpose is the quiet voice that says, “Get up. There’s more in you.” It turns pain into momentum. Setbacks into setups. Drops into the next throw.
     
🌟 Enhanced Meaning
Work stops being a to-do list and becomes a reflection of who you are. Your voice shows up. Your story shows up. And suddenly, what you create carries weight—not just for you… But for everyone it touches.
   
🎪 And here’s the grand finale…
When what lights you up lines up with what calls you forward—watch out. That’s not just productivity… that’s poetry in motion. That’s a life fully engaged. That’s you juggling passion and purpose in the same airspace—and even when you drop one?
     
😀You smile…
You scoop it up…
And you keep the show going.
     
👷This isn’t just work anymore.
This is a comeback story in motion.
This is a life rebuilt with intention.
This is you—on fire in the best possible way.
     
And trust me…
🔥 The world needs that version of you.  🔥
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PART 4) 🔥 A FEW SPARKS TO SLIP INTO YOUR POCKET

     ✨ THE MAGIC OF QUOTES ✨
     
“If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion.
For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.” — T.D. Jakes
   
“You are your purpose, now make it happen!”  —  Kit Summers.
   
“When you walk in purpose,
” You collide with destiny.” — Ralph Buchanan.
   
“Purpose is the place where your deep gladness
meets the world’s needs.” — Frederick Buechner.
     
“When purpose meets passion, you’re unstoppable.” — Shelley Zalis.
     
“The meaning of life is to find your gift.
The purpose of life is to give it away.” — Picasso.
     
“Passion is the key that opens the door to joy and abundance.” — David Cuschieri.
     
“There is no passion to be found playing small –
in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” — Nelson Mandela
     
“Passion and purpose go hand in hand.
When you discover your purpose. 
“You will often find it’s something
you’re tremendously…” — Steve Pavlina.
     
“Your dreams are the blueprints of your soul.
They should take you by the hand and lead you toward your life’s purpose and passion.
They are one of, if not the greatest, sources of self-motivation that you have.
So nurture them and feed them inspiration whenever you can.” — Mac Anderson
     
Passion is energy.
Feel the power that
comes from focusing
on what excites you. — Oprah Winfrey
     
Allow your passion to become your purpose,
And it will one day become your profession. — Gabrielle Bernstein
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PART 5) YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK >>

🔥 Passion is the spark.
It’s what lights you up from the inside—your inner fire whispering, “Let’s go!”

🧭 Purpose is the direction.
It gives that fire a path, turning raw energy into something meaningful.

⚒️ Challenge is the forge.
It shapes you, tests you, and strengthens you—where potential becomes power.

✨ PUT THEM TOGETHER, and you don’t just live—YOU IGNITE!
You grow sharper, stronger, more alive with every step.
     
Because the magic isn’t in staying comfortable…
It’s in stepping up, leaning in, and saying:
“Let’s see what I’m really made of.”

You’ve got projects. You’ve got plans. You’ve got goals.
Now bring the fire, aim it with purpose, and step into the forge.
This week—APPLY ALL THREE… to everything.
============================== 

PART 6) NEXT WEEK>>BLOG 375-BREAK THE SCRIPT 

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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!
🌟