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!
********************
INTRO TO THIS WEEK
Yes, time goes on. Seems that Fridays come so quickly each week. But, that is something that can’t be controlled. Time is important, do you spend your time right?

As you know, Beth and I have a new life together to spend as we want. Because we are both about age 63, we know we have limited time left in which to spend our time. We have much planned, but human life comes to an end. We strive to live in joy the rest of the time we have left together.

That last paragraph reminds me of a song.
Do you know?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7TANPFMf1k

You always have that choice for your life, too.
Choose to spend your time left to you how YOU want.

We can’t control it, time goes on all the time. Because of my accident and 37-day coma, much time was taken away from me. I’ve had to learn to adjust and use time in better ways. I am hoping that the words below will help you control your time better.

From my book series, Beyond Your Potential >>

You control your time, never let time control you!

The Cost of Time
• What’s time worth to you?
• Do you squander time?
• Do you analyze your life and see how you are spending your time?
Time certainly is more valuable than money. Time is a resource that everyone is given equally, yet why is it that some people have more time than others? Time is often more precious than money, we must use it well. We can’t deposit time into a bank like we can money. We can only spend time.

How Do You Spend Your Time?
Be careful how you spend the time you are allotted. Wasting time is such a massive mistake, you must control how you spend this time you have. Pack your day with productive tasks, phone calls, and interactions with others that will have rewarding results for you.

Moment to moment.
Every moment of your life you have to analyze and ask yourself if you might be wasting time. Are you making time to bring joy into your life? What about relaxing, socializing, and playing? Balance is key. Examine how you use the time you have.

Careful.
Be more cautious with how you spend your time. Arrange for business meetings at mealtimes. Make phone calls when you’re having your hair cut, waiting to see a doctor, or getting your nails done. Listen to motivational or how-to recordings when you are driving. Really examine your life to see where you could “make” more time.

DO IT NOW!
If you have a task to do
Do it now
Today the skies are bright and blue
So do what you have to do
Yesterday is not for you
Do it now
If you have to juggle
Juggle now
Tomorrow may not work
Throw things like you’re in a cirque
You must, you must, like a Turk
Juggle now
If you have a song to sing
Sing it now
Let the sounds of gladness ring
Clear as the song of a bird in spring
Let every moment some music bring
Sing it now
If you have pleasant words to say
Say them now
Tomorrow may not come your way
Do kindness while you may
Loved ones will not always stay
Say them now
If you have a smile to show
Bring it on now
Make hearts happy, roses grow
Let the friends around you know
The love you have before they go
Show it now

Time is of the Essence?
Many people tell themselves, “I’ll do it when I have more time.” Each of us has all the time there is (think about those words for a moment). We make time for what’s important to us. If it’s important to you, you will find or make time. Come to think of it, how do you find the time?

Where?
I’ve looked under rocks, in the mountains, in caves at the ocean. I’ve never found time ever in my life. If it isn’t that important to you, don’t lie to yourself and others and say, “I don’t have time.” You just don’t want to fit it into your schedule. We all have time to fill, to get things done, it’s our choice of how we spend the time we have.

How to Spend Time
When we are waiting in line, waiting for a client, waiting for a bus, figure out some projects and tasks that can be worked on during the times while you are waiting. Perhaps work on learning that new language you want to learn while waiting to see a doctor, or read a book that will benefit you, or make those calls you need to make. Break things down into segments of time that you can document.

Time Wasters
People who steal your time – I call them time-wasters. What or who are your time-bandits? People who keep us in a meaningless conversation that never ends, people asking unintelligent questions that don’t stop coming or someone who doesn’t speak coherently and you have to keep asking them to repeat what they are saying.

Pardon me.
You must find a way to pardon yourself and get away from these people. Are you, yourself, a time-waster? Do you spend too much time on the computer looking at trivial websites or reading an email that is of no value, or making personal calls for no reason?

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 >>
“Learn from the past,
set vivid, detailed goals
for the future, and live
in the only moment of
time over which you have
any control: NOW.”
Denis Waitley

Please, let me know how things are turning out for you, my friend.

COMPOSE A NOBLE BOOK AND WRITE A BEST-SELLER.
YOU ARE AMAZING—PLAY YOUR PART!
********************
MY DAILY JOTTINGS >>
6/25—I’m surprised that, since changing my diet and not eating meat or cheese, my asthma and allergies have not been a problem whatsoever.

Normally I was using my Albuterol Inhaler sometimes a couple of times a day, and a few times a week. Since changing my eating habits I have not had to use my breath freshener (what I call my inhaler) once.

6/26—We are still eating healthier, it is showing. Here is my salsa recipe, have you made some? Very healthy it is.

HOW TO MAKE SUMMERS SALSA:
Use a food processor to mix the following as you then put it all into a 16-quart bowl >>

One 15-ounce can of corn, drained of the juice
One 15-ounce can of black beans, drained of the juice
One large can of peaches drained of the juice
1 tbs of garlic salt
½ cup of diced garlic
½ cup maple syrup
½ cup of lime juice
½ cup of lemon juice
One bundle of cilantro
One jalapeno pepper
1 big red onion
About 15 plum tomatoes

On peaches >>
One 29 ounces can of peaches along with the maple syrup
In the food processor, slightly chop peach into ¼” portions then blend with maple syrup and add into the mix.

On onion >>
Use the food processor to cut the large red onion into ¼” pieces.

On cilantro >>
One two-inch bundle of cilantro
Chop fresh cilantro by hand into about ¼” pieces and add to mix

On jalapeno pepper >>
Chop in the food processor one jalapeno pepper into fine pieces

On Plum Tomatoes >>
Cut about 15 plum tomatoes in the food processor into ¼” pieces and mix them into the brew.

Keep mixing the brew off and on the entire time.

For hot salsa leave out maple syrup and peaches,
add enough habanero Peppers and jalapeno peppers
for the heat you want.

6/27—We are still gathering a lot of food for our stock, are you? I am hearing more and more that food is going to become difficult to obtain. Start saving now for your future.

Also, we have vegetables planted for future eating. Gather and save seeds, and get food together for later. Help other people how you can as often as you can. Need my help, I’m here for you.
Here is Kit juggling small tomatoes from our garden. 

6/28—We voted today, but it was just a simple vote for someone in the district. Looking forward to voting in 2024, time to get Trump back in to get things repaired and right again.

Since I’ve been living with Beth I noticed she did not have a number sign for the house. So today I made a nice-looking one. Now we will never get lost again.

6/29—It’s 40 miles each way, but I found a place that does dental work for low-income people (like me.) I’m hoping they will be able to work on my mouth quickly; getting much done each visit. I will let you know.

6/30—As the world becomes more chaotic, we are planning for that. Currently, we have two vans and a car. We use the car for traveling, it gets the best gas mileage. Bikes and going to be used, too. Are you planning for your future?

Also, seems that we will have to be more careful by putting up a security gate at the entrance to our home. Looking into that now.

7/1—We purchased another bunny today–Clementine. The guy Beth found with the bunny grows them to sell the meat for eating. She wants to save it, I understand. But, what if I get hungry??

*******************
YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK >>
Shoes off.
Can you move your little toe with your foot flat on the ground?
I can’t.
Can you?
Let me know.
*******************
NEXT BLOG >>
We will be exploring Thurmond Dam next week (oh damn.)

*******************
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.
*** 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!
********************
INTRO TO THIS WEEK

All about changes, you will like this blog. Beth and I have recently gone through a big change. We are only eating a plant-based diet. No more meat or dairy for us. We have recently been reading proven facts about how a meat diet can bring on cancer and cause other bad things to your mind and body.

This is from my book series, Beyond Your Potential >>

A number of times I’ve had to start my life anew—

• Hit by two different trucks
• Different Performance Venues.
• Love to be on the road.

How to start.
The first step in starting a new life is picturing the life you want >>
Where do you live in this new life?
What kind of work are you doing?
What type of partnership do you find yourself in?
How are you dressing?
What kind of friends do you have?
What kind of toothpaste do you use?

You can change just small details.
You can change major parts.
It’s your life, it’s your choice.
Examine even the smallest details of the life you want and write them down.
You don’t have to change every part of your current life.
Start small.

Living the Dream?
Define what living your dream life really means to you. It’s not as tough as it sounds. Just envision yourself at the end of your life and looking back. Is this the life you had truly wanted? What words would you want others to use to portray how you lived your life and who you are as a person? Also ask yourself, “How did I add to other people’s lives?

Brain Injury?
If you, like me, have had to go through a major brain change, you can still bring on and have an amazing life. Use ideas from this and move your life up and forward.

What’s Important?
Sure, you have obligations. Decide what is more valuable – your commitments or your life? You may have a family – make them part of the change, too. It will add to their lives as the change adds to yours.

Your Future?
Every time you think about the future or when you might have time – STOP! Ask yourself, “Why not now, this instant?” All of a sudden, look at that, you’re dead. All your ideas never came to be. Think about what you will tell yourself in the years to come. “I constantly wanted to, but never did.” Start doing the things you always planned to do.

Start now!
It’s your life, don’t waste it! In fact, choose to start a new life every morning when you awaken. Plan one project you will do that day to make yourself feel alive, something new and creative. Start today, my friend.

Find somewhere else to live?
That’s right, make the move! You’ve always liked the mountains, or you’ve always liked the city, or you’ve always liked the beach, you’ve always wanted to live on a farm. Nothing is holding you back, move yourself to the place you like.

The Change?
If you need, change your name and your identity, just like my sister did. This can be done, legally, for a small fee. Doing so might free up your mind to get back on track in your life.

Get the Right Attitude Toward the New You!
The old you is a memory. You are an altogether new person now. You can be who you want and what you want. Have the self-assurance to go where you want with “your” future. Do whatever it takes to make “you” a better person.

The Four Steps?
Make yourself a promise to make this change a top priority in your life. If you don’t, the life changes will never happen and you will be stuck living the same awful life. What are four steps you can take today to jump-start your upcoming change?

Start Again—Again?
There are no restrictions on the number of times you can start anew. You can completely start life one more time over and over again. You can and will always find the inspiration necessary.

Thanks
Change your life. You will thank yourself, much. What sounds better, this new life or the old life that you didn’t like and that was going nowhere?

You Are On Your Way, Congratulations!

The thing is, you just “have to start” on your path to your own success.
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 OF CHANGE INSPIRE YOU >>

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change” -Albert Einstein

“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude” -Oprah Winfrey

“Every day the clock resets.
Your wins don’t matter.
Your failures don’t matter.
Don’t stress on what was, fight for what could be.” -Sean Higgins

“Don’t let rejection create self-doubt. The founder of Starbucks was turned down by 217 of the 242 investors he initially spoke with.” -Elizabeth Galbut

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” -Leo Tolstoy

“Play to your strengths. If you aren’t great at something, do more of what you’re great at.” -Jason Lemkin

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” -Harriet Tubman

“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” -Winston Churchill

“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” -Jimmy Dean

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” -Maya Angelou

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” -Nelson Mandela

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new” -Socrates

“Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality.” -Nikos Kazantzakis

“There is nothing permanent except change.” -Heraclitus

“Our dilemma is that we hate change and love it at the same time; what we really want is for things to remain the same but get better.” -Sydney J. Harris

“Change before you have to.” -Jack Welch

Please, let me know how things are turning out for you, my friend.

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

********************
MY DAILY JOTTINGS >>
6/19—A wonderful and quiet day. Both Beth and I are, as they say, retired? We get a check each month from the government, not much, but keeps us going well.

6/20—We had turtles in the house in a clear container. They told me they wanted to be free, so I built them an enclosure outside. Have you ever seen a turtle dance? Yes, they were quite happy.

6/21—Have you ever had quinoa? We tried a recipe and it turned out quite well. We are eating quite well, just no meat or dairy. Have you tried this kind of diet?

6/22—My fried rice recipe, have you tried it? I usually make it with chicken, you know, chicken fried rice. Well, I did the fried rice, but without the chicken. As tasty as usual it was.

Here is the recipe, you must try it >>
Fried Rice

4 cups cooked rice

4 green onions

1 cup chopped onions

3 large eggs, fried

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 cup diced carrots

1/2 cup red pepper

salt and pepper to taste

1 or 2 cups of chicken or shrimp or not

Use olive oil to stir fry

6/23—Today my friend, Gary Duteau, was in town. Gary owns the land where Beth and I wed. I have been working on making the path wider and better. Gary and I actually met up through Facebook and, coming to see his land a year ago, that is when Beth and I met. So, I owe much to Gary.

The spider lilies are beautiful plants. You will find some photos.

********************
YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK >>
On common tasks that you do, such as brushing your teeth, this week work on finding the most efficient and quickest way to perform the task. There are always better ways to do everything—find that better way to do all that you do.
*******************
NEXT BLOG >>
Hmm, I guess we will both find out as the week presents itself.
*******************

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.
*** 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!
********************
INTRO TO THIS WEEK
A successful person is someone who sets and achieves goals, always reaching for more.
Is that you?

Some people may define success as being happy and fulfilled, while others may define it as having status and accomplishments. To me, it means being able to live the life that “YOU” want. Often when talking about success, all of these elements are relevant.

Success is something that you have to define for yourself, and no one can specify success for you. Success could mean a sense of giving back to the world and making a difference.

The key to finding out what motivates you, and ultimately, being successful, is to work out what makes you truly happy and helps you to reach your highest potential, as you help others.

Success could mean a sense of accomplishment and career progression.
It could mean being able to buy that expensive car you love.
It might mean helping that old lady down the street with her life.

When successful, you are no longer the center of the universe, there is more >>
1. You stay positive.
2. You know that failure isn’t forever.
3. You keep things in perspective.
4. You ask for help when you need it.
5. You realize that life isn’t a zero-sum game.

Remember, it’s never too late to start over >>
At age 23, Oprah had just been fired from her first broadcasting job.
At age 30, Jonah Peretti was teaching middle schoolers before founding his billion-dollar media companies, Buzzfeed and The Huffington Post.
At age 40, Stan Lee finally achieved success with Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and X-Men comics.
In his 40s, with no background in food preparation, Kit started his successful summerssalsa.com
At age 50, Julia Child wrote her first cookbook.
At age 62, Kernel Sanders’ fried chicken business KFC finally succeeded.
At age 77, Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s president after spending 27 years in jail.

The thing is, you just “have to start” on your path to your own success.
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 >>
What would you do if you knew you could not fail at something?

This is a question that you have to ask yourself when you are hesitant about doing something that you know you can and should do.

Asking yourself this question will trigger positive energy within you to accomplish your desire.

Success comes to those who are conscious of success. The only thing you have to give up to get what you want is the idea that you cannot have it.

Now, become that success that you know you are and report back to me with progress. Please, let me know how things are turning out for you, my friend.

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

********************
MY DAILY JOTTINGS >>
6/13—Today I am starting my no eating of anything solid. I will be drinking green tea the entire time. My plan was to go at least a week (or, perhaps two) eating no food, as I have done in the past. But, this time my body is weak and craving nourishment.

As I go back to eating I will not eat any meat or dairy products.

Today I was helping Frank with his jewelry store. He got some new display cases (very heavy), so we moved the old out and the new in.

6/14—Second day of no eating. Did not sleep last night through the night, then awoke early. I am feeling very tired and not very well. Sorry to say, I broke my fast today. I ate some rice, it did make me feel better.

Now that I have broken my fast, I will be careful of everything that enters my mouth. We have that choice. For most of my life, I would just put stuff in my mouth and just scarf it down. What you eat is what you are, be careful. How are your eating habits?

Beth and I are both doing this main eating change >>
No more meat.
No more dairy.
Limited sweet.

Watch this video with an open mind.
You may change your eating habits, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-xrOHpDMj4&t=4047s

6/15—Some time ago Beth bought a hammock for me. It holds two people; quite big it is. I put it up on the front porch, takes up a lot of room. I may end up finding two big trees out back to put it between.

The heat is here. Close to 32c (high 80s f) today. We have to put water bottles in with the rabbits. Each animal takes special care (including Beth and me.)

6/16—As you know, I built four raised bed gardens out front (where there will be plenty of sunshine.) For the bottom half of each garden, I put leaves, green vegetation, and wood. These things will compost down and add nutrients to the soil over time.

Today I bought soil for the gardens. The difference between dirt and soil is dirt is dead, it has none of the minerals, nutrients, or living organisms found in garden soil. Good soil makes great gardens. We will be (and already are, some) growing our own food.

6-17—As I wrote, yesterday I bought soil. I went and got a “yard” of soil. A yard turns out to be a tremendous amount. I started to shovel the soil into the gardens. It will take a lot of work, but I will get it done, you will see.
********************
YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK >>
Have you gone without meat before?
This week, spend a few days being a non-carnivore.
Don’t eat meat for at least two days this week.
This may become a life change for you, too.
*******************
NEXT BLOG >>
As my gardens are set in place and growing, you will learn more.
*******************

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.
*** 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. 

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

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?

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

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!

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

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

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

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!

• 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.
*** 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