With my words, I hope to throw some oblique light upon your life.
I want to inspire you to see life in a different and/or better way.

*** Remember, to read past blog posts, go to >> kitsummers.com/blog/
*** If you are reading this through Facebook,
       check out my blog on my website.
*** If you are not my Facebook friend, yet, please, befriend me.
*** Thank you, my wife, Beth, for adding to the blog each week.
*** The happiness I am experiencing in my life is a marvelous thing!
*** I will have places to show you and tales to tell.
*** Secrets to unfold and good news!

BE TAKEN AWAY WITH ME
ON WONDERFUL ADVENTURES! 

Just got this photo of Jon Held and me
performing at our high school.
We made those juggling clubs ourselves. 

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Eating, we do it throughout every day.
Here are some things to think about >>

INTRO TO THIS WEEK

“While weight loss is important,
what’s more important is the
quality of food you put in your body,
food is information that quickly
changes your metabolism and genes.”
Mark Hyman
===========================
From my book series, “Beyond Your Potential.”

Perhaps because of brain change and going through my 37-day coma, I am never hungry, I am never full. The part of my brain which registers food consumption is no longer working right. I basically eat because I know I need to live.

Such a big part of life, something we do almost every day for much of the day. I recently discovered a video that tells about what is happening in the American food area, much of it pretty disgusting. Later, in my daily doings section, I will provide a link to the video, very important for you to watch and do.

Over the next month, Beth and I are going to go through a big change. First, we will fast (not eat any solid food) for some days (I am planning to go without for 1 or 2 weeks.) When we go back to eating we will change our eating habits, you will read more later.

Care to join us?

As I was recovering from my 37-day coma, I found that I had the same eating habits as before the accident but without the same amount of juggling practice and exercise, so I started to gain weight. After a time, I saw that the way I ate was a matter of discipline and control.

If I could learn to control my mind,
I knew that I could also learn to control my eating habits.

With some research, I learned quite a bit about health and eating habits. In reflecting on the changes I needed to make to keep myself from gaining more weight, I realized that much of what I ate was out of learned habit.

Many of us are habituated to eating a certain number of meals at a certain time of day following a prescribed way of making up our plates with this much carbohydrate and that much meat and the list could go on and on.

The first step I took in breaking the learned habits was to eat only when I was actually hungry. I also made sure that I stopped eating when I had had just enough to get me past that hungry feeling.

I also had learned that incompatible food combinations robbed me of energy and added to my weight gain, so I started to make up my meals and my plate in ways that would give me energy and not cause me to gain additional weight.

Control your eating and you control your life.

I later began a form of intermittent fasting and wouldn’t eat anything after nine at night (this later was moved to seven.) There are several reasons to put a buffer of at least three hours between food and sleep.

First, your body does most of its detoxification while you are sleeping, and if it has to digest food instead, you are missing out on crucial detoxification of other gunk and junk floating in your body.

Also, as you sleep, your body has to work extra hard to digest food and that food can transform into excess weight easily.

Many people might look at these habits and think they are difficult to do. Food cravings can be really strong sometimes and when you really want a cookie or some ice cream at eleven-thirty at night, it can be hard to just tell yourself no. Stop and think for a second though:

What is a food craving?

First, it might be helpful to know that you don’t get food cravings, you actually create them in your mind! If you tell yourself you aren’t allowed cookies before bed, and then guess what? You will crave cookies before bed.

You see, we actually create food cravings through our thought patterns toward food. Eventually, many of these thought patterns will become food habits.

Changing my eating habits wasn’t easy, and even now, sometimes, I struggle to maintain them. Especially after my accident, I would crave certain foods depending on how I felt that day, and often times I would be extremely fatigued.

At times, sleep was hard to come by and because I couldn’t sleep, I also had trouble concentrating. Often when I felt tired or frustrated, I would crave sugar, an indication that my adrenal glands were fatigued.

Dopamine is a good thing, sugar is not.

When we are tired, our bodies crave sugar to give us energy. I also appreciated the surge of dopamine the sugar would release in my brain almost immediately upon eating something sweet. Dopamine is known as the feel-good chemical because we feel good when it is released into our brains.

The well-known issue with sugar, however, is that it will only energize us for short spurts of time, and the dopamine release it provides is also only short-lived. Shortly after eating something sweet, I would be right back where I started – cranky and tired!

Eat right and you will get through changes better.

Besides feeling cranky and tired, I often also felt unproductive. Because I couldn’t concentrate, I also wasn’t able to do many of the things that I knew I needed to do or things I wanted to do.

Then depression started setting in, harming me in various ways.

I wasn’t physically stuck in bed, but I found it difficult to find any desire to get out of bed and get things started or to get things done.

Eventually, I got to a point where I could see time passing by, but I didn’t care. I didn’t even try to keep up with it because I felt so depressed. I would have frequent pity parties for myself and others didn’t seem to want to be around me anymore given my foul mood.

One of my doctors suggested that I start taking medication to help me deal with the low-grade depression and anxiety, but I decided to opt out of that recommendation. Instead, I decided I was going to retrain my mind to think in other and new directions.

Eventually, I found out that the food I was eating had a direct impact on my mood and was contributing to my depression and anxiety. I started implementing some of the changes that I listed earlier and quickly found that my attitude and my mind changed for the better.

What we eat directly affects what we think and how we feel,
exercise will help, too.

Another secret I discovered was that exercise works as well as any drug (better than, actually.) Work your body, and your mind will clear up any depression of bad thinking.

Brain function is dependent upon the body’s ability to properly metabolize the food you eat. Your brain depends on glucose (blood sugar) as a source of energy. To get your brain to use glucose properly it must have a sufficient supply of vitamins and minerals. The proper functioning of the brain is more dependent upon vitamins and minerals than any other organ in your body.

Your brain is the biggest consumer of what you eat, feed it right.

The food and nutrients that you feed your brain are directly responsible for the functions the brain must perform. These can include thinking, controlling your hormones, and regulating involuntary functions such as respiration and your heartbeat. And can also include controlling motor activity, juggling, and sense perception like smell and taste. If your brain doesn’t have enough energy, you will feel tired and sluggish.

What we eat also directly affects which neurotransmitters are produced and how much of them. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that ultimately determine our frame of mind In turn, your mood will affect your memory, your actions, your ability to learn and perform, and everything else about you.

We discussed previously that while sugar initiates the formation and release of dopamine for a good feeling in the body, that good feeling is short-lived. There are many other nutrients that we can feed our brains for increased production and prolonged release of dopamine.

Although your brain represents only two percent of total body weight, it accounts for over twenty percent of the total utilization of oxygen and fifteen percent of blood sugar. As you can see, your brain is very hungry and is dependent upon your nutritional intake to function properly.

Feed your brain right!

A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry compared a diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish with a diet of highly-processed meats, grains, and fast foods. Those who ate the whole foods diet had a one-third lower risk of becoming depressed. Not to mention that eating processed junk foods means you’re more likely to be overweight, often resulting in depression.

So what is driving your mind to eat?

Is your brain out of energy and looking for a refuel? Or are you running to the vending machine at three in the afternoon simply because that is what you do every day because your job is frustrating and you need that short-lived burst of dopamine?

Before you put your coins in the slot, ask yourself, “are you truly hungry?” If the honest answer is “no”, then put your coins back in your pocket. Remember it isn’t your body that craves food, it’s your mind.

Changing your eating habits for the better will literally change your life.

The first step you can take to change your eating habits for better health and mood is to keep a food diary. This is a book in which you record everything you eat or drink, no matter how little or how much of it went into your mouth. Studies have shown over time, people who maintain a food journal are more likely to lose weight.

For at least one week (month?), record everything you eat at meals and snack times and record the time. Use an online site such as SparkPeople.com to figure out the number of calories you have eaten and other nutritional information like how much fat, carbohydrate, protein, and fiber were in your meals.

After a week or so, review your diary and see where you need to make adjustments. Are you eating too many carbohydrates and not getting enough protein? Are you getting at least twenty-five grams of fiber each day?

Also, remember that nutritional guidelines and advice are just that – guidelines and advice.

When you eat, record how you feel afterward. If brown rice gives you gas, it obviously isn’t the healthier food for you regardless of what the food gurus say. If you start drinking soy milk and your cholesterol skyrockets fifty points, then soy products aren’t for you.

A Paleo diet isn’t for everyone, but neither is vegetarianism. All of our bodies have been through different triumphs and trials and will respond differently to different foods and eating patterns.

Review your diary for other eating habits.

Do you just eat without thinking? Perhaps you eat to feel better mentally. Inspect the causes of pressure in your everyday life, and one by one, take steps to remove each stress factor. Stress management could help you to control emotional eating or binge eating.

Make each bite smaller, but make each bit an experience.

Another thing to try is intentional eating. This is eating at its best. Don’t grab your bagel at ten of eight in the morning and chew it twice then swallow it while you are driving through ridiculous traffic to make it to that eight o’clock appointment that is thirty minutes away.

Instead, plan your meals, and when you get hungry, sit down and enjoy it. Savor each bite of food that goes into your mouth. Relish the smells as you bring the food to your mouth.

Chew your food thoroughly before you swallow making sure to get all of the juice and flavor out of it before it goes down your throat and into your belly to be dissected into the nutrients that your brain needs to function.

Yes, we can mindlessly stuff food in our mouths, or we can delightfully savor each morsel we consume. If you really take the time to just put your fork down between each bite and taste all of the aspects of your food, as well as examine the texture with your tongue, you can have a delightful eating experience, and you can do this each time you eat.

Make this way of eating intentional, and make it a habit.

Taking your time and relishing every aspect of your meal may be a new way of eating for you. This new way of eating might sound like a lot of bells and whistles, but you will quickly find that you will eat less but you will enjoy your food a lot more. If you are eating less food, then it follows that you will lose weight and keeps your mind and body in better shape.

Change your mind and change your taste.

Eating less won’t necessarily take you all the way to your weight loss goal. We also must be careful of what we eat. While the cravings might be strong, remember, you have control!

After I had been released from the hospital, I was drinking a lot of diet soda. I would typically have two or three cans a day. This went on for five years and diet soda had become simply another habit for me.

I happened to read an article reporting on how bad soda is for people. The chemicals in soda are known to cause bone loss and can also disrupt and inhibit organ function. Not a drop of soda has gone down my throat since then – and that was over thirty years ago.

It helped me to quit my habit by switching to tea instead. At that time, I would liven up the taste of my tea with some cream and non-sugar sweetener. Eventually, I came across some studies that talked about how artificial sweeteners can be extremely harmful to the body and brain. That was the end of my romance with non-sugar sweeteners. Now I use honey, honey (yes, you.)

Think before you put stuff down your throat

Of course, the literature is full of contradictory reports of this or that food is good for you or bad for you. The truth is, you have to be the one to figure it out for your body.

Some things are a matter of common sense, like the fact that an apple has more nutritional value than a sponge cake. Other things, like eating vegetarianism and a Paleo diet, as I mentioned before, are really about what your personal and individual body needs.

Salad, anyone?

In 1991 I started a habit of eating a salad every afternoon. I make my salad out of a combination of various types of lettuce, broccoli, spinach, carrot, and a few other things. In the summer, I grow much of my salad myself.

I start each week by making a salad big enough to last me for the rest of the week so it is always prepped and ready for easy munching. I hardly ever go a day without my salad and if I am out and about and wind up eating something else, I feel strange.

You too can develop better eating habits.

Don’t try to change everything at one time though. Changing everything all at once will be overwhelming and lead to a quick defeat.

This week or this month, pick one of my tips and give it a try. Next week or next month, pick another one while still maintaining the first. A year from now, you’ll look back and try to figure out why you didn’t make the changes sooner – they were so easy!

Develop a good habit for yourself
(and, no, not a chocolate chip cookie habit.)

Another thing you may want to consider when it comes to food is the idea that you have to eat three square meals a day and snacks in between.

Most of us eat at least three meals daily because we just always have.

I broke this cycle once by doing a four-day fast (and I did it really quick.) I drank water, but no food, and I lost fifteen pounds. The strange thing was that I didn’t get hungry at all in those four days. Since I didn’t get hungry, I’ve always been curious to know how long I could push myself to go without eating.

I enjoyed the challenge of the four-day fast. For me, being hungry doesn’t hurt. I’ve been through other things that were much more painful than I think hunger ever could be.

Going through the fast was quite interesting, and when it was over, I found it much easier to make healthier food choices, almost like the fast was a reboot towards eating success.

How quickly can you do your fast?

I’m thinking I might challenge myself some time to see just how long I can go without eating—I’ll let you know how it turns out (or you’ll hear about my death.) Mainly I did the fasting as a challenge to myself.

Barring any health or religious reasons not to fast, I challenge you to try it sometime (safely, of course.) Don’t eat anything for a day or two and see how you feel. You may want to have a friend or doctor watch you carefully as you go through this.

Remember to drink plenty of liquids.

This can be a new and different experience for you. I’ve mentioned before that the more experiences you have in your life, the more fulfilling a life you can lead. Going through this experience might open your mind and body to new thoughts and ideas. 

Get away from the idea that you HAVE to eat.

Food is often the focal point for social gatherings. Family picnics and community events always feature a plethora of palatial delights – hot dogs, hamburgers, potato chips, soda, and funnel cake—It’s party time!

It might shock you (and the other people at the party) to learn that you don’t have to join the crowd and eat what they eat or eat at all. It never hurts to ask for some vegetables or fruit or to just pass everything up altogether.

Examine your own life and what you eat.
Make changes where necessary.
Change your eating habits and change your life.

Remember, don’t eat for your stomach, eat for your brain – feed it right!

LIFE IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME – ARE YOU KEEPING UP?

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WORDS TO INSPIRE YOU! >>

Inspirational quotes and motivational sayings have an amazing ability to change the way we feel about life and can change our thinking.

This is why I find them so interesting, challenging, and important on our path to joy and happiness and finding ways to inspire ourselves as well as others.

Inspirational quotes and ideas provide us with a quick and timely burst of wisdom to get our focus back, offering the inspiration needed for the day or occasion.

I hope to inspire you with my words.

Words have power.

At any age, you can (and should) make changes to make your life better.

You see, the way you think and feel about yourself, including your beliefs and expectations about what is possible for you, determines everything that happens in your life. It all derives from your quality of thinking.

When you improve the quality of your thinking,
you change the quality of your life—sometimes instantly!

Just as positive words can make someone smile, and/or, a well-timed amusing quote can make someone laugh, your own thoughts react to the world in real-time. You have this control!

In fact, you have complete control over only one thing in the universe — Your Thinking — and that’s where motivational quotes come in!

To keep your motivation, you have to use each day as an opportunity for improvement, to be better, and to get a little bit closer to your goals. It might sound like a lot of work—and with your busy schedule—next to impossible. But you can do it!

Self-talk is so important—THINK RIGHT!

Motivational words, yes, they’re just words.

But they’re positive words; they will keep you on track.
Remember, you are only as young as the last time you changed your mind.

Keep your thoughts and self-talk fun and productive and always reaching for advancement.

VERY LITTLE IS NEEDED TO MAKE A GREAT LIFE.

********************

I HOPE THE FOLLOWING WORDS INSPIRE YOU >>

Let these words about eating inspire you.

1. “You are what you eat, so don’t be fast, cheap, easy, or fake.” – Unknown
It’s true – you are what you eat. Foods that contain unnatural ingredients are surprisingly quick to prepare and cheap. But you will pay a heavy price later. So, be mindful of the food choices you make now.

2. “If you keep good food in your fridge, you will eat good food.” – Errick McAdams
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever got! A kitchen makeover (includes your fridge and pantry) is essential if you want to eat healthily. No matter how much self-control you have, if you have unhealthy food stashed in your fridge or kitchen cabinets, you will end up eating it. So, toss out the unhealthy foods and re-stock them with healthy foods.

3. “By choosing healthy over skinny you are choosing self-love over self-judgment.” – Steve Maraboli
Healthy doesn’t mean skinny. We all have different genes, different body types, and different shapes. Eat healthily, stay active, and take less stress. Skinny or not, you will be in better shape than when you were eating unhealthy and not working out.

4. “Your diet is a bank account.
Good food choices are good investments.” – Bethenny Frankel
Think about it, good food is equal to a good investment. Money is not the only type of investment. You invest in yourself as well. You learn new skills and also pay for your food. Why not pay for food that’s healthy and gives a return in terms of good health and a fit body and mind? Choose right.

5. “Eat breakfast like a king,
lunch like a prince,
and dinner like a pauper.” – Adelle Davis
Never miss breakfast!
Have a light lunch!
Have a lighter dinner.

6. “Healthy eating is a way of life, so it’s important to establish routines that are simple, realistically, and ultimately livable.” – Horace
You are the one to choose what you eat, and, I am sure you know of thousands of diets. Most people fail to continue eating right because it’s different. Choose a diet that goes best with your food habits, make it a habit and part of your lifestyle over a period instead of a stint for three days. If you are used to eating apples, nothing wrong with that. Make sure you practice portion control and consume a source of protein and lots of veggies with it.

7. “Let food be thy medicine, thy medicine shall be thy food.” – Hippocrates
Food should be your medicine. Fruits, veggies, whole grains, healthy fats, lean proteins, seeds, and nuts are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that you need and they have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

8. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu
Start small, just start now. You might be craving unhealthy food and going back and forth deciding whether or not to have it. Don’t! Take control and action now, and you will not feel the same kind of craving tomorrow.

9. “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” – Jim Rohn
Well, of course, that’s obvious, yes? It’s not the four walls of your house, but your body is where you live. Keep it clean, keep it healthy. Choose foods that are good for you.

10. “The greatest wealth is Health.” – Unknown
Money cannot buy happiness or health. And it sure can buy a little bit of time. But why settle for “a little bit” when you can LIVE a long and fulfilling life for yourself?

11. “If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it.” – Common Sense
It’s as simple as that! Check the ingredients list at the back of packaged/canned/bottled foods. Most people don’t. If you see more than five ingredients, and you take some time to pronounce them, put them back on the rack.

12. “You don’t have to eat less, you just have to eat right.” – Unknown
It’s not how much you eat, you are the one to choose what you eat. Eating less is not going to make you healthy. It sure can make you skinny fat, which is not healthy either. Eat. But choose the most nutritious foods and practice portion control.

13. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” – Proverb
Apples and other fruits have many health benefits. Include at least two fruits in your daily diet. Your health will improve, and so will your nails, skin, and hair.

14. “Health is a relationship between you and your body.” – Terri Guillemets
The middleman is food. Take charge. Depending on the type of food you consume, your health will either improve or deteriorate.

15. “The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” – Ann Wigmore
Think fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, healthy fats, and plant and animal lean proteins.

COMPOSE A NOBLE BOOK AND WRITE A BEST-SELLER.
YOU ARE AMAZING—PLAY YOUR PART!

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MY DAILY JOTTINGS >>

Do you keep track of our daily doings?
At times, hard to remember the past week, but brings life fuller meaning by writing.
You might try keeping a daily writing of what you accomplish each week.
Let me know how it goes.

At home, the horses, the Kit, and the Jemma are quite happy

6/5—Today, Beth and I discovered this video.
We will be changing much in our eating habits.
Might it help you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-xrOHpDMj4&t=4046s

Also, I installed a new mailbox for Nancy up the street.
Just used the right tools, and now the mailman (or mailmame) is happy.6/6—In my last blog post I wrote that it is time to get in shape.

I need to also, so I joined >>

https://www.facebook.com/TalmadgeFitnessandWellnessComplex/

My Humana health insurance covers the cost which is nice.
Additionally, I rode my bike over there, to add to my workout.

It’s funny to me that someone who, perhaps, lives only one or two miles away, loads up everything in their car and drives to where they can work out. Why don’t they walk, or run, or bike, to get there, so it adds to their workout?

Plus, with the increases in gas prices, you really should be using your bike to get you there (anywhere), as often as you can.

Today we found a baby snake as we’ve done before. Not knowing if he was safe or not, I held the little one by the end of the tail.

6/7—Dandelions, they’re everywhere. If you have a lot of them all over the lawn, it can be very nice. Yet, they seem to take over and I didn’t want that on our grassy areas. So, out they come. But, they are not wasted, the rabbits love eating them. Without them on the lawn, the grassy areas do not even need to be cut.

The ramp I built had plane wood that I got from a few pallets. Today I painted the ramp white, just for now. Turned out nice. Building and adding to every day, I love that I am able to.

As I’ve written, I want the entire area of our yard to not be wasted. As I am building the areas for growing vegetables, the lawn and dandelion area are getting smaller. Eventually, the whole yard will be growing eatable merchandise.

6/8—My hand has been having significant pain a few times each week. I don’t know what brings it on, but it is very intense, like someone smashed my hand with a hammer. And, this happens in a very small area of my hand.

Today I went to see Dr. Christian at Orthopedic associates of the Lakelands. They put me through four x-rays of my hand, he found nothing. As I said, it flairs up just once or twice a day for just a few minutes. But, I find the pain to be intense.

Dr. Christian set me up to see a hand specialist.

Bought a sombrero (2 bucks) today to shade my head. 

6/9—Went to Gary’s land to clear more roots and rocks from the pathway. Things are turning out quite nice there.

6/10—Last night was kind of like a scary dream. Beth had giving me some Cannabidiol (CBD) Gummies to help me sleep, which has worked in the past. CBD—the abbreviation for cannabidiol, a substance that’s generally derived from the hemp plant—has skyrocketed in popularity over the last five years.

I found these words >> “Some of these research-backed uses of CBD even suggest it may help you feel relaxed. That can feel a bit like a high, though it’s not intoxicating. Research suggests CBD is beneficial for relieving symptoms of anxiety and depression. It might also ease inflammation and pain”.

At 8am I had a dentist appointment that was 40 miles away. I was driving extra carefully, knowing my mind was not as sharp as it usually is.

Per last night, Awakening at about midnight, I did not hear soundly, talk very audibly, or see clearly.

I was so scared!

Beth told me to relax and go to sleep, I heard her and thought, “no fucking way, if I go to sleep I will never wake up.” That is where my mind went, a very chilling place.

I did not know what was happening, my mind could not comprehend anything distinct. I remained quiet and knew I could get back on track. Somehow I had been drugged and had no control.

Awake from about midnight to 2 am, I tried to, but could not reenter my sleep brain—3 am, awake for the day I was.

I’ve never used drugs and you can see why I shant.

And, as you would know, I will never partake of this CBD ever again. Actually, my mind is still a little slow from the drug. As I know that I am being careful what I take up next. I have to use my brain, I would hate to lose that.

Now it is 2:30 in the afternoon and I am back home with Beth. The tiredness from not sleeping is affecting me now.

Here is Beth lounging in the hammock

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YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK >>

Is eating an unconscious habit for you?
Do you eat just because you are used to it?
Take control, learn to train your mind to eat right and it will add much to your life.

This week, take at least a few days (I will be doing a week or two) and do not eat any food, drink fluids, though.
“FAST”—as they say.
Report back to me how it goes for you.

*******************

NEXT BLOG >>

I will be starting my 1 to 2 week fast on Monday.
You will hear details in the next blog.

*******************

THIS WEEK, MAKE YOUR LIFE SOMETHING
THAT YOU CAN WRITE ABOUT!

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With my words, I hope to throw some oblique light upon your life.
I want to inspire you to see life in a different and/or better way.

*** Remember, to read past blog posts, go to >> kitsummers.com/blog/
*** If you are reading this through Facebook, check out my blog on my website.
*** If you are not my Facebook friend, yet, please, befriend me.
*** Thank you, my wife, Beth, for her superb editing and adding to the blog each week.
*** The happiness I am experiencing in my life is a marvelous thing!
*** I will have places to show you and tales to tell.
*** Secrets to unfold and good news!

BE TAKEN AWAY WITH ME
ON WONDERFUL ADVENTURES!

********************

INTRO TO THIS WEEK

Some important ideas for life >>

The quick list >>

1. Stop Making Excuses.

2. Stop Taking Things Personally.

3. Exercise.

4. Eliminate Distractions.

5. Stop Playing The Victim.

6. Face Fear.

1 – Be happy with what you have.
When you stop to remember what you have instead of worrying about what you may not be getting, it changes your perspective for the better. Think ahead.

2 – Be a doer, not a watcher.
So many enticements can lure you into sitting on the sidelines of life, just watching—fascinating TV shows and movies, websites, along with social media. Some of us emerge blinking and wondering where the time went. You need to turn off the distractions. Map your hopes. Take one step toward your goal every day.

3 – Your time is your most treasured asset.
Do not give your time away heedlessly, and don’t fritter it away. You choose, learn to say no to requests for your time that don’t get you closer to your hopes. Don’t let time get away from you. Wake up before everyone else and feed your dreams first.

4 – Learn to ask for what “you” want, and not to feel hurt if you are rejected.
“No” is just the beginning of the conversation. Every successful person has been jilted many times along the way. Keep going! Persistence is the most important quality that will get you to success.

5 – Never stop learning.
Life is a continuing education class you are in, and you have to keep up with the reading. Read, read, read, books that delight and thrill you, books that take you to a different place, books that challenge you, books that anger you, books that don’t make sense to you. Read across literary genres. Become the most knowledgeable person in your field. And stay ahead of the game.

6 – Unless you absolutely have to, don’t ask successful people for money.
Instead, ask them for advice you need to find success yourself. Find someone who is where you want to be, do your homework about them, and learn, learn. Make a list of three short questions, and ask them out for coffee or a meal to go over your questions.

7 – Learn social skills.
Don’t be fearful when you should be friendly and forthright. Don’t be overbearing of someone’s time. Be kind and respectful to everyone. Remember people’s names and say them when you’re speaking to them. Carefully listen when others are talking, and reflect back to them what they said so they know you did. Be open, lessen sentences that begin with “I.”

8 – Be the hero of your own life, not your own worst enemy.
Take care of your health.
Be close to your family.
Force yourself to smile.
Uplift those around you even when you don’t feel like it.
Have at least one close friend you can talk with.
Don’t burden everyone with your problems.
Elevate others with your joy.

9 – Relieve others’ slights of you.
Other people are probably going through their own difficulties that you know nothing about. They are just as broken as you are. Don’t waste time gossiping, it’s petty and beneath you, as you know. Live your worth. And, a part of your life should always be dedicated to improving your community. Do not make excuses for avoiding this obligation.

10 – Most of all—stay positive!
You are happy with life. Be appreciative every day. Learn to create your own happiness and how to contribute constantly to bring your happiness to those around you.

Use as many of these ideas as you can, as often as you can. Following this will add much to your life.

LIFE IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME – ARE YOU KEEPING UP?

********************

WORDS TO INSPIRE YOU! >>

Inspirational quotes and motivational sayings have an amazing ability to change the way we feel about life and can change our thinking.

This is why I find them so interesting, challenging, and important on our path to joy and happiness and finding ways to inspire ourselves as well as others.

Inspirational quotes and ideas provide us with a quick and timely burst of wisdom to get our focus back, offering the inspiration needed for the day or occasion.

hope to inspire you with my words.

Words have power.

At any age, you can (and should) make changes to make your life better.

You see, the way you think and feel about yourself, including your beliefs and expectations about what is possible for you, determines everything that happens in your life. It all derives from your quality of thinking.

When you improve the quality of your thinking,
you change the quality of your life—sometimes instantly!

Just as positive words can make someone smile, and/or, a well-timed amusing quote can make someone laugh, your own thoughts react to the world in real-time. You have this control!

In fact, you have complete control over only one thing in the universe — Your Thinking — and that’s where motivational quotes come in!

To keep your motivation, you have to use each day as an opportunity for improvement, to be better, and to get a little bit closer to your goals. It might sound like a lot of work—and with your busy schedule—next to impossible. But you can do it!

Self-talk is so important—THINK RIGHT!

Motivational words, yes, they’re just words.

But they’re positive words; they will keep you on track.
Remember, you are only as young as the last time you changed your mind.

Keep your thoughts and self-talk fun and productive and always reaching for advancement.

VERY LITTLE IS NEEDED TO MAKE A GREAT LIFE.

********************

I HOPE THE FOLLOWING WORDS INSPIRE YOU >>

When I lived in San Diego I had a chance to meet and become friends with Tony Robbins. Tony has inspired millions of people—are you one of?

Here are some of Tony’s better quotes >>

1. “The power of positive thinking is the ability to generate a feeling of certainty in yourself when nothing in the environment supports you.”

2. “When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.”

3. “If you can’t, you must. If you must, you can.”

4. “The only thing that’s keeping you from getting what you want is the story you keep telling yourself.”

5. “Your past does not equal your future.”

6. “Identify your problems, but give your power and energy to solutions.”

7. “Any time you sincerely want to make a change, the first thing you must do is to raise your standards.”

8. “The path to success is to take massive, determined action.”

9. “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”

10. “Goals are like magnets. They’ll attract the things that make them come true.”

11. “People who fail focus on what they have to go through; people who succeed focus on what it will feel like at the end.”

12. “Persistence overshadows even talent as the most valuable resource shaping the quality of life.”

13. “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”

14. “It’s what you practice in private that you’ll be rewarded for in public.”

15. “In life, you need either inspiration or desperation.”

16. “Every problem is a gift – without problems, we would not grow.”

17. “It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.”

18. “You see, in life, lots of people know what to do, but few actually do what they know. Knowing is not enough! You must take action.”

19. “You don’t have to have a reason to feel good. You’re alive! You can feel good for no reason at all!”

20. “If you talk about it, it’s a dream.
If you envision it, it’s possible.
If you schedule it, it’s real.”

COMPOSE A NOBLE BOOK AND WRITE A BEST-SELLER.
YOU ARE AMAZING—PLAY YOUR PART!

********************

MY DAILY JOTTINGS >>

5/28—We have some big trees on our land that put out roots. Some of these roots are near or above the surface of the dirt. Being one who likes to walk barefoot as much as possible, I did not like walking on roots in the back and side yards.

Trees send out hundreds of roots, if they lose some that will not hurt them. I bought some tools to cut them out and went to work. Today I removed many of the roots and can walk in comfort in the area now.

One of the tools I used has an open blade with deadly teeth to cut. One slip up and I could get badly cut. I was extremely careful using this tool and it helped much.

5/29—My friend, Daniel Powell, stopped by to visit Beth and me. As Daniel and Stacy drove up in his newer red Corvette, I was quite impressed. Daniel has a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van to live in and travel. He actually has a covered trailer that he tows behind his van to carry the Corvette in. This guy goes after class all the way.

While Daniel was here we continued our discussion about putting together a TV movie about what I have gone through in my life. This would be an inspirational movie that, I hope, will be released worldwide and help thousands to live a better life.

Daniel has some contacts and we connected with Scott and it sounds like something can be developed. That makes me very happy, as you would guess.

Riding along with Daniel is Stacy, and, after a few hours here, they were off to the South Carolina coast to continue to adventure.

Jemma has a new friend in Daniel

5/30 to 6/2—Not much to write about for these days.
As always, I am loving life (hope you are, too.)

6/3—I got some more pallets and built a compost bin. Compost is so good for your plants. If you grow, learn about composting, it will help your garden.

********************

YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK >>

Smiles are such a good thing, do you use yours enough?
This week, make your smile a permanent thing and keep it going beyond this week.

*******************

NEXT BLOG >>

Time to start working out. You will learn.
How about you – is it time to start?

*******************

THIS WEEK, MAKE YOUR LIFE SOMETHING
THAT YOU CAN WRITE ABOUT!

• Tweet
• Pin It

With my words, I hope to throw some oblique light upon your life.
I want to inspire you to see life in a different and/or better way.

*** Remember, to read past blog posts, go to >> kitsummers.com/blog/
*** If you are reading this through Facebook, check out my blog on my website.
*** If you are not my Facebook friend, yet, please, befriend me.
*** The happiness I am experiencing in my life is a marvelous thing!
*** I will have places to show you and tales to tell.
*** Secrets to unfold and good news!
*** I want to thank my wonderful wife Beth for her superb editing each week.

BE TAKEN AWAY WITH ME
ON WONDERFUL ADVENTURES!

********************

INTRO TO THIS WEEK >>

As I awoke this Thursday morning at 2am, the idea of curiosity and wonder came to my mind. You do know that as you sleep your mind is constantly working and thinking? No rest for my mind, therefore little sleep. Of course, I could not get back to sleep.

Curiosity and wonder are (should be) major factors in your life. I feel that these two ideas were a major asset in my recovery from my accident and 37-day coma. Always keep learning and growing, you only have this one life to live – live to the fullest!

Go back to your childhood–play, curiosity, and never-ending learning are what you had. This is a good place to be. If you are constantly curious, you will always stay happy.

From my book series, Beyond Your Potential >>

As a performer and juggler, I constantly had to be creative to develop new juggling patterns and being live on stage, I had to learn new and exciting routines for my performance.

Also, for most of my life, I have been self-employed, an endeavor that requires creativity and risk. I also had to tap into my creativity to find ways to recover after my accident and 37-day coma.

Then, of course, for this book and the other books in the Beyond Your Potential series, I had to develop more creativity to write words for you that will help to advance your life.

With my juggling partner, Randy Foster

You Are Creative
Being creative is taking a risk, trying something new, or finding new ways to do old things. Think back to when you were young and free to use your mind how you wanted to.

As a child, you probably saw a bright future for yourself with all the things you wanted to accomplish once you grew up. Your mind was always open to trying new things. In order to regain your natural creativity, learn to think like a child again.

Free yourself of the unproductive and dull norm of adulthood that says you can’t try new things or that creativity isn’t needed. So many adults lose their childhood fun, play, and creativeness and “turn” into adults.

To Make Creativity
Our brains have tremendous potential for creativity, analysis, and reasoning at any age and/or if you have recovered from any accident.

There are many paths to creativity. It could be as simple as combining two existing things in a new and different way. It could be taking something that is always done a certain way and discovering a new and better way to do it.

It’s simply a matter of taking the time to think about what you are doing instead of just going through the motions. The only thing that you and I need to do to release our creativity is to be whole-brain thinkers.

Be Open
Being a juggling performer, I had no choice but to be creative. To learn or create new juggling feats, I needed to be open to trying new ways to throw, new ways to catch, and new props to throw and catch, including fire and knives.

In my professional performing days, I would try tricks that many thought impossible, but I knew that there would be a way if I was creative in my approach to learning. To make my routines interesting and engaging, I had to think in new directions and be creative enough to always have the audience guessing (and laughing.)

What If?
Imagine yourself finding a way to make a product or service even better. This might be something you do every day. In your daily routines, I’m sure there are lots of things that frustrate you like toothpaste sticking to the sink or maybe your shoelaces constantly coming untied.

Why couldn’t you be the one to solve these frustrations or even larger issues like world hunger? Imagine if the person who invented the umbrella had never taken the time to think about how to keep themselves self-dry when they had to run errands on a rainy day.

To spark creativity in yourself, look at something and ask yourself “what if?” This question can open your mind to think of other ways and new directions. You could find that new way of doing something that might help alleviate stress in your life, cure someone of a terrible illness, or more simply maybe just make you lots of money.

Push Curiosity
Studies have shown that creativity and curiosity are positively correlated with intelligence, meaning that as one increases, the other also increases. In one study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 2002, researchers correctly predicted that highly curious toddlers would have higher IQs when they were older children than toddlers with lower levels of curiosity. Researchers measured the degree of creative behavior in 1,790 three-year-old children and then measured their cognitive ability at age eleven.

As they thought, the eleven-year-old children who had been highly curious three-year-old kids later scored twelve points higher on total IQ compared with low-stimulation seekers. They also had superior scholastic and reading abilities.

There are ways to make your child more curious in life. Open up their mind and push curiosity now to provide a better life for your child later. Stimulate your kids to find their creative side.

You Can Get Smarter!
Other studies have shown that adults who are highly curious also have the greater analytic aptitude, better problem-solving abilities, and higher intelligence overall. Studies are showing that it is possible for you to increase your IQ over the course of your life.

In the past, scientists were under the impression that the IQ you were born with would be the Intelligence Quotient you had your entire life, but this idea has changed. This suggests that additional curiosity in your daily life is likely to make you smarter.

You are not too old to be creative, to be curious, and to advance your life.
But, you must start – NOW! and make it happen.

LIFE IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME – ARE YOU KEEPING UP?

********************

WORDS TO INSPIRE YOU! >>

Inspirational quotes and motivational sayings have an amazing ability to change the way we feel about life and can change our thinking.

This is why I find them so interesting, challenging, and important on our path to joy and happiness and finding ways to inspire ourselves as well as others.

Inspirational quotes and ideas provide us with a quick and timely burst of wisdom to get our focus back, offering the inspiration needed for the day or occasion.

I hope to inspire you with my words.

Words have power.

At any age, you can (and should) make changes to make your life better.

You see, the way you think and feel about yourself, including your beliefs and expectations about what is possible for you, determines everything that happens in your life. It all derives from your quality of thinking.

When you improve the quality of your thinking,
you change the quality of your life—sometimes instantly!

Just as positive words can make someone smile, and/or, a well-timed amusing quote can make someone laugh, your own thoughts react to the world in real-time. You have this control!

In fact, you have complete control over only one thing in the universe — Your Thinking — and that’s where motivational quotes come in!

To keep your motivation, you have to use each day as an opportunity for improvement, to be better, and to get a little bit closer to your goals. It might sound like a lot of work—and with your busy schedule—next to impossible. But you can do it!

Self-talk is so important—THINK RIGHT!

Motivational words, yes, they’re just words.

But they’re positive words; they will keep you on track.
Remember, you are only as young as the last time you changed your mind.

Keep your thoughts and self-talk fun and productive and always reaching for advancement.

VERY LITTLE IS NEEDED TO MAKE A GREAT LIFE.

********************

I HOPE THE FOLLOWING WORDS INSPIRE YOU >>

“Pain is unavoidable.
Pleasure, fleeting.
Suffering is optional.
Happiness – a choice.
Curiosity and wonder should be a dynamic force.
Know this as you drive forward.”
Kit Summers

COMPOSE A NOBLE BOOK AND WRITE A BEST-SELLER.
YOU ARE AMAZING—PLAY YOUR PART!

********************

MY DAILY JOTTINGS >>

5/21—Sedentary, but still moving. I loved my travels (hope you did, too),
but I am loving my new life with Beth.
Not a lot happened this week, but always moving ahead.

5/22—Nancy, who lives up the street, has much bamboo growing. I needed bamboo to hold my pinwheel spinners that will go on each corner of the four above-ground gardens that I built. With a good wind, these look great in the yard.

5/23—The reason we are staying here is, first because of our animals, and this week we are taking care of Don and Teresa’s four huge horses and 3 dogs, two of which are Great Danes, and a cute little Spaniel. We are finding this incredibly enjoyable.

I’ve not taken care of horses before, they are very big. Eating twice a day, they do eat much. And, almost as big as a small horse, their Great Danes and just that, great.

5/24—Still gathering food for our collection, we returned to “The Dented Can Store> >>
https://www.facebook.com/Dented-Deals-Discount-Grocery-555241687918088/
With a large assortment of different foods at an excellent discount, we stocked up.

We did pick our first tomato today! 

With all the changes that are going on in the world, we are hearing that food might become difficult to obtain. So, we are gathering much so that what we have will last us over six months. This might be something you may aim toward, too?

5/26—A rainy day, so good for the plants and the earth.

********************

YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK >>

Bring back your childhood curiosity and wonder.
As you apply this to your life, you will see life differently and bring on joy in your life.

*******************

NEXT BLOG >>

We will be, along with you, celebrating Memorial Day weekend – I will let you know . . . 

*******************

THIS WEEK, MAKE YOUR LIFE SOMETHING
THAT YOU CAN WRITE ABOUT!

• Tweet
• Pin It

With my words, I hope to throw some oblique light upon your life.
I want to inspire you to see life in a different and/or better way.

BE TAKEN AWAY WITH ME
ON WONDERFUL ADVENTURES!

********************

INTRO TO THIS WEEK >>

As you might know, Beth and I help take care of some animals. I would not say, own the animals. They live for themselves, with no ownership involved. Jemma, being a dog, naturally goes after cats, which Dolly is one.

At first, Jemma would go after Dolly whenever she could, I started introducing them and they get along well now. I wouldn’t call it a friendship, but they get along. Dolly even rubs up against Jemma as cats do.

Why can’t humans find the same way to get along?

With new people, show warmth, love, and respect. Do things because you want to, and not because you think you have to. Care for this new person like you would yourself.

If you approach others with ingenuity, you will attract people who want to connect genuinely. Among them will be your future true friends.

Here are some ways to find friendship >>

1. Attend workshops/courses on subjects you care about.
   
2. Volunteer.
3. Go to parties and gatherings.
4. Visit gyms and clubs.
5. Find online communities.

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

1—Realize your fear of meeting people is in your head.
The first step is to develop a healthy mental picture of meeting new people. Many of us see meeting new people as a scary event. We are concerned about making a good impression, whether the other person will like us, and how to keep the conversation going. The more we think about it, the scarier it seems. Shyness toward others is actually a result of fear.

2—Start small with people you know with current friends.
If you haven’t been socializing much, meeting a whole bunch of new people may seem intimidating. If so, start small first. Lower the difficulty of the task by starting with your circle of friends, people you are familiar with.

3—Connect with ingenuity
Don’t think too much about how the situation “might” be. Before you meet people, you can work on the presentation aspects such as how you look, what you say, and “how” you say things, but don’t obsess about them. These actions don’t sincerely define the friendship. What defines friendship is the connection between you and your new friend.

4—Be yourself
Don’t change yourself to make new friends.
That’s the worst thing you can do.
Why do I say that?

Just be yourself. Potential new friends will know you as you, and they’ll use that to decide if they want to take the friendship a step further, as you might. It’s all about being you. The truest friendships are built with both parties accepting each other for who they really are.

5—Get yourself out there where people are.
Join one of the computer groups. There are many interest groups, such as groups for entrepreneurs, aspiring authors, jugglers, vegetarians, board-game lovers, cycling enthusiasts, etc. Pick out your interests and join those groups.

Also, attend workshops or courses. These serve as central avenues that gather like-minded people as you. People are looking for people, are you the one?

Go to a local library function. Most libraries have scheduled authors nights or special programs. Just going to a library for books, you can introduce yourself to the person reading the same type books and possibly start up a friendship.

In fact, that is how Beth and I met, at the McCormick library, where she was working. Now we are together for life!

Go to parties. Parties such as block parties, birthday parties, Christmas/new year/celebration parties, housewarmings, functions/events, etc. Probably a place where you’ll make a high quantity of new friends but not necessarily quality relationships. A good way to meet more people nonetheless. Remember, friends have friends.

The internet is a great way to meet new people. Some of my best friendships started online. Check out online forums on your interest topics. Participate constructively and add value to the discussion. Soon, you’ll get to know the people there better.

6—Take the first step
Once you are out there with people around you, someone has to make the first move, you? If the other party doesn’t initiate a talk, take the first step to say hi. Then, get to know each other a little better! Share something about yourself, and then give the other party a chance to share about him/her.

7—Be open

Be open-minded.
Don’t judge.
You know nothing of them, they know nothing of you.
Change that.

Sometimes you may have a preset feeling of the kind of friend you want. Maybe someone who is understanding, listens, may have the same hobbies, watches the same movies, has a similar educational background as you, etc.

8—Get to know the person
What motivates/drives him/her?
What are his/her passions in life? Goals? Dreams?
What does he/she do to get money?
What are his/her hobbies?
What has he/she been up to recently?
What are his/her upcoming priorities/goals?
What does he/she value the most?
What are his/her values?

9—Be there for them
A friendship is a supportive union between two people. Be there for your friends where and when you can. Do any of your friends need help currently? Is there anything you can help them with? How can you better support them?

Treat this new friend with emotional generosity. Give because you want to, not because you feel obliged to. I find that the satisfaction I get from helping others and knowing they are better off is a reward greater than anything I can get in return.

10—Make the effort to stay in touch
There are so many ways to stay in touch with someone these days. Willingness to make the effort is what separate great friends from hi-bye friends. The strength of your relationship is not measured by how frequently you meet, Just keep up that connection.

LIFE IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME – ARE YOU KEEPING UP?

********************

WORDS TO INSPIRE YOU! >>

Inspirational quotes and motivational sayings have an amazing ability to change the way we feel about life and can change our thinking.

This is why I find them so interesting, challenging, and important on our path to joy and happiness and finding ways to inspire ourselves as well as others.

Inspirational quotes and ideas provide us with a quick and timely burst of wisdom to get our focus back, offering the inspiration needed for the day or occasion.

I hope to inspire you with my words.

Words have power.

At any age, you can (and should) make changes to make your life better.

You see, the way you think and feel about yourself, including your beliefs and expectations about what is possible for you, determines everything that happens in your life. It all derives from your quality of thinking.

When you improve the quality of your thinking,
you change the quality of your life—sometimes instantly!

Just as positive words can make someone smile, and/or, a well-timed amusing quote can make someone laugh, your own thoughts react to the world in real-time. You have this control!

In fact, you have complete control over only one thing in the universe — Your Thinking — and that’s where motivational quotes come in!

To keep your motivation, you have to use each day as an opportunity for improvement, to be better, and to get a little bit closer to your goals. It might sound like a lot of work—and with your busy schedule—next to impossible. But you can do it!

Self-talk is so important—THINK RIGHT!

Motivational words, yes, they’re just words.

But they’re positive words; they will keep you on track.
Remember, you are only as young as the last time you changed your mind.

Keep your thoughts and self-talk fun and productive and always reaching for advancement.

VERY LITTLE IS NEEDED TO MAKE A GREAT LIFE.

********************

I HOPE THE FOLLOWING WORDS INSPIRE YOU >>

“It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The holy passion of Friendship is of so sweet and steady and loyal and enduring a nature that it will last through a whole lifetime, if not asked to lend money.”
Mark Twain

“There is nothing like puking with somebody to make you into old friends.”
Sylvia Plath

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.”
Elbert Hubbard

“Friends give you a shoulder to cry on. But best friends are ready with a shovel to hurt the person who made you cry.”
Unknown

“It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like ‘What about lunch?’”
A. A. Milne

“Most of us don’t need a psychiatric therapist as much as a friend to be silly with.”
Robert Brault

“True friends don’t judge each other, they judge other people together.”
Emilie Saint-Genis

“Love is blind. Friendship closes its eyes.”
Friedrich Nietzsche

There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.”
Linda Grayson

“You can always tell a real friend: when you’ve made a fool of yourself he doesn’t feel you’ve done a permanent job.”
Laurence J. Peter

“A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked.”
Bernard Meltzer

“Tis the privilege of friendship to talk nonsense, and to have her nonsense respected.”
Charles Lamb

“A true friend stabs you in the front, not the back.”
Oscar Wilde

“One good reason to only maintain a small circle of friends is that three out of four murders are committed by people who know the victim.”
George Carlin

“Friendship is like peeing in your pants. Everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warm feeling inside.”
Robert Bloch

“Friends are those rare people who ask how we are, and then wait to hear the answer.”
Ed Cunningham

“We’ll be best friends forever because you already know too much.”
Unknown

“When you’re in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, ‘Damn, that was fun.’”
Groucho Marx

COMPOSE A NOBLE BOOK AND WRITE A BEST-SELLER.
YOU ARE AMAZING—PLAY YOUR PART!

********************

MY DAILY JOTTINGS >>

5/14—The one-year anniversary of the day Beth and I met at the McCormick, SC library. As you might know, for about six years I was living in my van and traveling all over the US, mainly going to national parks and wilderness areas, as I wrote my weekly blog to inspire people (YOU!)

I would go to libraries to get online and to charge my things. Beth happened to be working at the McCormick library when I went in. I asked her where I could plugin.

And Beth’s version of the events that day:

“On May 14 in 2021, a normal Friday afternoon at the library, one week before I was to retire, this skinny man dressed in mismatched shorts and a flamboyantly colored shirt, breezed in asking for a place to plug in his laptop. I pointed to a place with an outlet, he turned around and smiled at me with big white teeth and the most beautiful smile and I felt it shoot straight into my heart. I am not kidding. I knew instantly that he was going to mess up all of my retirement plans.”

Need I tell you?, on 2/22/22 at 2:22pm we were married.
We are both very happy about our life together.

5/15—One of our cats was after and playing with something. I rushed over to see what it was and if I could save it. The Green Anole lizard was very happy for my help, I released him (or her?) out in the woods.

Anolis carolinensis or green anole is a tree-dwelling species of anole lizard native to the southeastern United States and introduced to islands in the Pacific and Caribbean. The one we found was in South Carolina, of course.

A small to medium-sized lizard, the green anole is a trunk-crown ecomorph and can change its color to several shades from brown to green.

(Hi Phyllis, are you there?)

5/16—Today I went to Costco and bought a big freezer for us. Do you know what is coming? From what I am hearing there will be more shutdowns and food might be difficult to obtain in the future. I do not want to scare you, and things will be changing, you must stay on top.

Over the last months, we have gathered enough food to last us at least six months. Our cupboards are full (what a strange word – cup-boards, how was the word developed?) All the essentials to live, plus some pleasure food. Frozen meats and things, that’s why the new freezer.

Also, as you might know, I built four above-ground gardens to grow our veggies. I used 24 free pallets to construct the gardens. I used two on each side and one on each end. I used 2-inch drywall screws to hold each side together. See the photos?

Sitting on the one complete above-ground garden.

I cut each pallet on one side of the center board, each 22 inches wide. Then, after they were put together I used plastic to secure them inside so that nothing can fall through. The bottom you want to leave open so that worms and creepy crawlies can get into the dirt and make it better. Used pallets are usually free, will you build?

Then, I found a local guy who cuts his own wood, I bought eight 8-foot pieces to go on top of the sides. This made things very solid, it will not fall apart. I will be staining the new wood that goes on top, and painting the lower, pallet parts, a forest green. You will see photos in the future when it is complete.

Each side is 22” high, great to sit on, and watch plants grow.

Once you have your above-ground gardens built, start to fill them with grass clippings, branches, dead trees, and other natural materials. Finally, the last six inches, fill in with good dirt. This will eventually compost down to give you great soil.

Once again, perhaps something that you might do?

Yes, there will be changes upcoming, and I am not trying to scare you. People have said to me, “What about the times when you cannot get food?” The thing is, at times like this, people are very likely to help each other; to feed your neighbor. I will, anyway—will you?

Along with the food gathering, we are putting away spare cash, as opposed to keeping it in the bank. I hear about a crash coming up and banks will not give money, save how you can now. Save large bills, and also small bills and change. There may be a time when someone can not break a bigger bill. There may also come a time when money is no longer accepted and bartering will become the standard of trade.

So, some things to gather and have at hand >>

• Six months’ worth of food.

• At least $1000 cash on hand.

• Six months of medication that you currently take.

• At least 25 one-gallon containers of water.

• Don’t forget your pets! They will need food, too.

I am not trying to scare you, I am hoping you might join what we are doing and put things aside. People have asked me what can they do when there is no food. Like I wrote before, I think people will help each other as, perhaps, things get bad in the world. I will help how I can, anyway.

Summer has come to fruition today. “On a side note, the word “fruition” came into my mind somehow. I have never used that word and did not clearly know what it meant. I used it correctly, good to know.” Are you using new words, too?

Back to summer. The heat is coming on this week. Beth says she will be turning on the air conditioning. I can get through any heat, but I must work with Beth. The electric cost to run the AC is quite high, I think. Do you have any ideas to find coolness without using AC?

5/18—Worked more on the above-ground gardens. I put 2×6” wood on top, which greatly secured each entire structure. For these projects I do, often, at first, I don’t know how to accomplish what I envision. Then I combine the knowledge I have of doing other projects, and things turn out well.

This is like the first book I wrote, “Juggling with Finesse”. Having no idea how to get a book together and then published, I just kept learning and going. I had no classes in writing, let alone scripting a book.

I’ve always been good at organizing, I think I got that from juggling. I remembered how to paste up a page from high school graphic arts class, so I put each individual page together for the book. I received waxed back text of what I wrote from a printing company, then cut this and added the photos and drawings where they go.

This self-published book found success, selling over 25,000 copies worldwide. I’ve been told by people that I advanced the juggling world much with my personal juggling and writing the books that I did. This way people will remember me after I am long dead?
My legacy?

As I’ve written before >>

IF SOMEONE ELSE CAN DO IT – SO CAN YOU!
You just have to find a way that will work for you.
Thinking in this way will greatly improve your confidence and you are sure to find more success in your life.

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YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK >>

WEIGHT A MINUTE!

When you are watching TV.
When you are cooking something on the grill and have time.
Start lifting weights.
Start with lighter ones, then increase as you gain strength.
Here are some benefits you will find >>

Brings you a positive mind.
Improved Bone Health.
Better Cardiovascular Health.
Increase your confidence.
Increased Energy Levels.
Lower Abdominal Fat.
Improved Mood.
Better Flexibility and Mobility.
Elevated Body Image.
Enhanced Brain Health.

Please, let me know how your lifting goes.

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NEXT BLOG >>

This week we took on the task of watching over 3 dogs (two of which are Great Danes) and 4 horses. We will take good care of them for our “neigh”bors, who are away on vacation. We are very excited to be able to help out.

Next week you will read of horse tales (tails?) and dog adventures.

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THIS WEEK, MAKE YOUR LIFE SOMETHING
THAT YOU CAN WRITE ABOUT!

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With my words, I hope to throw some oblique light upon your life.
I want to inspire you to see life in a different and/or better way.

*** Remember, to read past blog posts, go to >> kitsummers.com/blog/
*** If you are reading this through Facebook, check out my blog on my website.
*** If you are not my Facebook friend, yet, please, befriend me.
*** The happiness I am experiencing in my life is a marvelous thing!
*** Going where I want, when I want, and seeing wonderful places and people, too. (But no longer alone, Beth is by my side.)
*** I will have places to show you and tales to tell.
*** Secrets to unfold and good news!
*** I want to thank my wonderful wife Beth for her superb editing and adding to the blog each week.

BE TAKEN AWAY WITH ME
ON WONDERFUL ADVENTURES!

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INTRO TO THIS WEEK >>

All my life I have approached life in a playful manner. Childhood play is one of the main reasons I became a juggler. Also, I believe, the skill of play is one of the main things that helped me come back from my accident and 37-day coma.

Curiosity is one of the main traits of playfulness that will make a better life for you. As humans age, they often loose their curiosity and playfulness, such a sad thing that is.

Play allows you to use your creativity while developing your imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain activity. It is through play that children (and adults) engage and interact in the world around them.

Play, for adults, is critical in our stressful busy lives. Play has been shown to improve brain functionality, release endorphins, and stimulate creativity. And it can even help to keep us youthful and feeling energetic. Play improves memory and stimulates the growth of your cerebral cortex.

So get out there and play some more!

You’ll learn a new task faster and better if it’s amusing and you’re in a relaxed and playful mood. Play will also excite your imagination, helping you adapt and solve problems. It will improve relationships and your connection to others. Sharing laughter and fun can foster empathy, compassion, trust, and intimacy with others.

YOU MUST BRING PLAY INTO YOUR LIFE!

So many benefits of PLAY >>

Play Builds Imagination and Creativity.

Fosters Cognitive Growth.

Delivers Emotional and Behavioral Benefits.

Improves Literacy.

Encourages Greater Independence.

Promotes Physical Fitness.

Builds a Healthy Body.

Builds a Healthy Brain.

Relieves stress.

Improves brain function.

Stimulates the mind and boosts creativity.

Improves relationships and your connection to others.

Keeps you feeling young and energetic.

Develops and improves social skills.

Teaches cooperation with others.

Teaches Emotional Intelligence and Boosts Self-Esteem.

Play heals emotional wounds.

Forges a Healthy Parent-Child Relationship.

Builds Healthy Friendships and Romantic Relationships.

Teaches Cooperation.

Play Teaches Problem Solving.

It Stimulates Creativity.

Many people think playtime is just for kids. As a result, it’s not always something that many adults intentionally schedule into their daily routines. Some of the many benefits of making time for playing include a reduction in stress and anxiety, increased social bonding, instant mood-boosting, and a way to foster creativity and problem-solving. Plus, it’s just plain old fun!

Any fun, joyful moment where you forget about time is considered to be play.

You can choose to face everyday activities in a playful state of mind. As I’ve said before, don’t be so seriness. So, you can choose to turn a challenging task or even a day on the job into something that is fun—you are in charge of that. You can make your job more playful simply by changing the attitude that you have towards it.

Or how about ice cream for dinner? Why not! That is something that Beth likes to do. Doing something that feels so out of the ordinary will produce loads of serotonin, the feel-good hormone.

Fly a kite.
Go for a bike ride in the afternoon.
Do the hula hoop.
Put together a puzzle.
Juggle 3 balls.
Go lay down on the grass and watch some birds.
Do a dance in your living room.
Use some play-doh to play with.
You did it while young, bring back the play.

LIFE IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME – ARE YOU KEEPING UP?

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WORDS TO INSPIRE YOU! >>

Inspirational quotes and motivational sayings have an amazing ability to change the way we feel about life and can change our thinking.

This is why I find them so interesting, challenging, and important on our path to joy and happiness and finding ways to inspire ourselves as well as others.

Inspirational quotes and ideas provide us with a quick and timely burst of wisdom to get our focus back, offering the inspiration needed for the day or occasion.

I hope to inspire you with my words.

Words have power.

At any age, you can (and should) make changes to make your life better.

You see, the way you think and feel about yourself, including your beliefs and expectations about what is possible for you, determines everything that happens in your life. It all derives from your quality of thinking.

When you improve the quality of your thinking,
you change the quality of your life—sometimes instantly!

Just as positive words can make someone smile, and/or, a well-timed amusing quote can make someone laugh, your own thoughts react to the world in real-time. You have this control!

In fact, you have complete control over only one thing in the universe — Your Thinking — and that’s where motivational quotes come in!

To keep your motivation, you have to use each day as an opportunity for improvement, to be better, and to get a little bit closer to your goals. It might sound like a lot of work—and with your busy schedule—next to impossible. But you can do it!

Self-talk is so important—THINK RIGHT!

Motivational words, yes, they’re just words.

But they’re positive words; they will keep you on track.
Remember, you are only as young as the last time you changed your mind.

Keep your thoughts and self-talk fun and productive and always reaching for advancement.

VERY LITTLE IS NEEDED TO MAKE A GREAT LIFE.

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I HOPE THE FOLLOWING WORDS INSPIRE YOU >>

Be inspired by these fun quotes >>

1. “I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.” – Lily Tomlin

2. “If at first, you don’t succeed, then skydiving definitely isn’t for you.” – Steven Wright

3. “I find television very educational. Every time someone turns it on, I go in the other room and read a book.” – Groucho Marx

4. “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.” – Mark Twain

5. “If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.” – Yogi Berra

6. “There never was a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him asleep.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

7. “It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn’t give it up because by then I was too famous.” – Robert Benchley

8. “Luck is what you have leftover after you give 100 percent.” – Langston Coleman

9. “Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door.” – Kyle Chandler

10. “Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia.” – Charles Schulz

COMPOSE A NOBLE BOOK AND WRITE A BEST-SELLER.

YOU ARE AMAZING—PLAY YOUR PART!

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MY DAILY JOTTINGS >>

5/7-8—My friend Gary DuTeau, every year, has a camp out on land he owns which is on Stevens Creek, where we got married! Gary is an excellent chef, having owned a great restaurant, The Plum, which, sadly, burnt down.

Along with Gary, another excellent chef was there, so we ate well, I must say.
I camped over with them, very nice.

5/9—Returned to join Gary to hang out and have dinner—quite nice it was.

5/10—Back with Gary to help him pack up to get back home. Hard to believe how much stuff Gary had with him. It was easier to pack out because I have a cart that we used to carry his stuff.

5/11-12—Back to projects around here. I started on building a deck for the back of the house. These projects I think up, I have no idea how they will be accomplished, but each always turns out just right. Like me, I’m sure you can do more than you think you can.

5/13—So close, yet we never even saw it. Sumter National Park is all around our area. We took a dirt road not having any idea where it would lead. As a deer pranced across the road in front of us, we knew we loved this area.

We drove down a road toward Long Cane Creek picnic area, no one around anywhere, we loved it. After a few miles we came to Clarks Hill Lake. All around was beauty, it was mythical.

We will be going back to spend a night, then we will do it again and again.

When’s the last time you camped out somewhere?

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YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK >>

Look back to your childhood and think of some playful things you could bring back into your life that will bring you pleasant memories.

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NEXT BLOG >>

We will both find out then.

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THIS WEEK, MAKE YOUR LIFE SOMETHING
THAT YOU CAN WRITE ABOUT!

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