This is sent to you a day late, sorry on that. Trying to get this out every Sunday for your eyes to peruse, things come up. Seems like just last week I had sent you blog 50, time goes fast when you don’t keep track.

I can tell we are in California–more people, more cars, traffic jams—AND—more people are friendly-look you in the eyes–and smile–good to return to CA.

Oct 22-23– What a beautiful place Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks are. So intriguing to see these old Sequoia trees, trees that grow nowhere else on Earth, so unique an area. Although, once again, we are seeing areas with dying trees, too, a sad thing. This is because California has been on a drought for about four years now–hardly any rainfall.

Once drought stresses trees, some of them lose their ability to fight off diseases and insects.

Because of the drought, more and more trees are dying. And, because of climate change, trees that grow well at a certain elevation do not do so well with the change in weather. Yet, because sequoias are so strong with a thick bark, they can live through much, like fire and insects impeding them.

One thing I did not know was fire helps release seeds from the sequoia tree, so fire is a good thing for these trees. Many years ago they tried to squelch all fires as soon as the fire developed. Now, fires are watched, but left to burn as natural.

Here are some facts on these amazing sequoia trees:
· Can grow to 94.7 meters (311 feet)

· Can live to 3,200 years

· Their weight can exceed 2.7 million pounds

· The bark can grow to be 31 inches thick

· Branches can become 8 feet in diameter

· The trees can grow to be 40 feet in diameter at the bottom

We went to see The General Sherman Tree, the world’s largest living tree. It’s a competition for height of trees between Redwood and Sequoia, and the two grow right in the same area. The roads we are taking limit what we see in these magnificent parks. I am looking forward to returning and doing much hiking and camping in these woods.

We will be visiting my friend Barry in later this week. Currently he is in New York City doing a seminar on performing. I am looking forward to hearing about how it went. So, we have three days to spend; what to do, what to do?

Until th en, where to stay?

On freecampsites.org we saw a campground, so we aimed toward it. The dirt road got narrow and, because there had been some rain, the surface was not solid. After a ways there were hills, too, bigger and bigger.

On Tina’s phone we saw that it was still a ways of a drive. We decided, since there were no people around, anywhere, it would be better to turn around and get out of there. If we got stuck there would not be anyone for miles, and, because we had been stuck before, we hit the road (as they say.)

I saw that Lake Tahoe was near, so we went, but too cloudy to take good photos, sorry. Mainly I wanted to return to the area to show Tina this spectacular area. While here right now, many clouds make a dull day, yet, these clouds are not dropping rain, something the lands here need, much.

I remember I was at this beautiful clean and clear Lake Tahoe many years ago. I went for a swim, dove to the bottom, and took a drink of the crystal clear water while down there. Seemed like a strange thing to do at the time (still does.)

Take a look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XANWCeKSXt8

Having no where to stay in this tourist Mecca, at about 8pm we found a campground. We searched around for anyone working at this place, as well as called the number on the sign, nothing. So, we just took a spot and spent the night.

We discovered later on the internet that it is $50 a night to simply stay the night. This would have been too much cost for us, so, good we were able to stay there like we did.
Are we bad?
Are you going to tell them?

As we were driving through the central valley of California we saw much growth of edibles–fruit trees, nut trees and plants growing on the ground. We found out that this state grows much of the produce that the US consumes, and much of the world eats, too. Orange, lemon, avocado, nut trees, a big variety.

Along with produce growing, we saw herds of cows, too. Cows take up so much land and use so many resources; humans need to get away from living off of these animals.

Rice?

We saw one sign that said something about rice fields. I am surprised they can grow rice here, it takes so much water that the state does not have.

Then, as soon as we arrived in the Sacramento area we came upon many many vehicles. As you know, we like to be away from traffic and people and be in the wilderness, so this was hard to take. Currently driving on I-5 north, no more trees and basic California shrubbery emerges. Years ago I drove on this freeway, much, down in the San Diego area. These days much of this freeway is like a parking lot; so many people driving on this road.

Oct 25–For a couple days we have been held up in a Walmart/McDonalds parking lot. But, getting things done with improvements to the van and cleaning.

As I have met and dealt with people here, I am just finding that people are mostly the same worldwide. It does not matter where you are from, humans live life much the same, to me, a sad thing when people don’t find better ways to live their life and remain as they have always been.

Oct 27-28–Right now I am typing while sitting in my friend Barry’s kitchen. Staying with my friends, Barry and Annie and their son Zed, what a great thing. I have always been impressed with Barry’s accomplishments.

Here is Barry Friedman and his juggling partner Dan >>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZfyoei-Kew
And, on the Tonight show with Johnny Carson >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eklhxS7kI8

Yet, now Barry has gone beyond performing in his career, helping performers make a better performance and helping people to live an exceptional life. And, his home shows his excellence he has in the world–what a superb abode; Barry and Annie have designed their house and living situation well. And, they will just go better and better for their future.

It’s funny, I have known Barry since he was young (I guess I was younger, too?) To see him now as an adult is great to me. When young, we look up to adults and wonder how they became what they are. Now, to see the final result is tremendous. I’m sure he would never admit he is an, “adult”, as I wouldn’t, either. We are all just living our life and doing the best we can. Too bad some people don’t keep trying to reach excellence as they age.

I mentioned before, my computer power connection messed up, so a week ago I left it off at Best Buy, this is the company where Albert Lucas bought me the computer when we were in Branson, Missouri. It was supposed to be fixed in 30 days from when I left it off. We went by the store and it happened to just arrive back yesterday, so good timing, I am quite pleased.

Driving down on freeway 99 toward San Diego, we are seeing many produce trees (fruit, nut and avocado) on each side of the road. It’s amazing how many grow here. There must be underground watering systems; the trees look good and we don’t see any above ground watering systems.

And, we just passed a cotton field; I did not know cotton grows in CA.

Also seeing many cows in stockyards, smell them, too. These are places where cows are kept and they are feed and never see real grass or life. All along the trip we have been seeing many cows in open eating fresh/live grass. Tina says these cows that eat fresh grass end up tasting much better. I would think they have a better life, too.

I wrote before about how we need to stop consuming beef so much and go more vegetarian. Better for the planet, and better for you, too.

Sunday, October 30–From one juggling friend to another, from one Barry to another, from one big success to another, here we go. On the way down to San Diego from seeing Barry Friedman we went to visit Barry and Sue Inger Bakalor Bakalor. I’ve known them through juggling for many years.

I knew that Barry was successful with computers, but not this flourishing. I found out that Barry developed that little box you click on to take you to a link for the store near you. He had licensed this development and has done quite well. Currently I am sitting on a couch in a suite within his house.

Here is his company >> http://www.know-where.com/

After raising Mark and Scott (who are also very successful) in this home, this fabulous house if on the market, they want to move to something smaller. The current price of 5.5 million is well worth it for this house and the land.

Here is a video if you might have interest in buying? >> http://lobocanyon.com/

Vova and Olga Galchenko are two Russian jugglers who advanced to the highest level in their juggling. Many years ago Barry and Sue found out that they needed somewhere to live in the United States. Still in their teens, Sue and Barry took them in, where these two amazing jugglers lived for a number of years.

This was filmed in Barry’s house of Vova >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEb3YknGUks
Both Vova and Olga have gone away from juggling and have found the same success in the computer field as they did with their juggling. Seems that nothing can hold them back in any pursuits they attempt. From Russia, with love.

Oct 31—Drivinig down route 1, coast highway right now through Malibu. Every house we are seeing is worth at least one million bucks. Must be some good stories in these people’s lives about success.

Seeing this drive right now reminds me of when I rode my bike down this road in 1976. You see, during high school me and two friends decided to right our bikes down from San Francisco to San Diego on spring break. We did the 804.6 kilometer (500 mile) ride in five days.
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From my book >>>

Beyond Your Potential

The Comeback Kit, From Coma to Comedy

BOOK THREE—FINDING SUCCESS!

A Series of Books to Change Your Life

By Kit Summers
Chapter 20 Fitness and Health

“When you exercise your
body, you exercise your
mind even more.”
Kit Summers

Prior to my accident, I worked out quite a bit and kept in good physical shape. After my life change, it was difficult for me to accept that it would take a while for me to get back to running or bicycling, or, my passion, juggling.

For a time, my mind was not together enough to even think about exercising. I couldn’t even walk at first. While in rehab, I did a lot of stretching, and then would continue stretching on my own in my room, but this was really the extent of what I could do physically at first. I literally had to start back at the beginning and little did I know then that I would never be the person I once was.
We all change, we all develop.

We have to learn to direct these changes and developments to be of benefit to us rather than just going with the flow. We are what we are now, at this very moment. We will never be what we once were – EVER. After my accident, exercise would have to wait until I could catch up in my mind and body.

When you give your body a workout, you are exercising your brain, even more.

Blood that flows through your body also flows through and supports your brain. So, stay fit for a better and stronger mind. If you learn how to take care of your body and how to use all of its wonderful qualities, you will be much more effective, productive, and happy.

When you are physically fit, both your body and your mind work better.

By working out, your brain gets more oxygen, blood gets better circulation, and your body and mind work better together. Exercise prolongs your life, and it helps to fight against disease, and it gives you more stamina in tight situations.

The health payoff of regular exercise is hard to disregard, and the benefits of exercise are available to you, regardless of sex, age, or physical aptitude.

You just have to start!

Prioritize time at least five days a week, even if it’s only ten minutes, and you will add a great deal of health and happiness to your life.

I’m not saying you have to lift sixty pounds and run two miles a day. Just do enough that you start breathing heavier, and your blood flows. It doesn’t matter what activity it is either. Something is truly better than nothing.

Get out of your head about it and just move! After you see how much better you feel with only ten minutes, I guarantee you’ll start adding even more time because it makes you feel that much better.

There is a phenomenon in exercise called runner’s high. After a certain point of physical exertion, you will literally start to almost feel high and quite euphoric. While the term was coined runner’s high because it was typically only seen in people who ran long distances, you can really get runners high by doing any endurance exercise.

Now, get high today.

I have experienced this euphoric feeling through running (of course) and also through juggling. It comes at a point where you stretch your body (and mind) to the limit and then go beyond, knowing that you are reaching toward excellence. This euphoria is as good as any drug encouraged high. Stretch yourself and find your runner’s high – it is fantastic.

This natural high is produced in your body when your brain releases natural opiate-like chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins activate the reward centers in the brain (just like drugs do) associated with feeling euphoric. Most athletes (jugglers are part of that group, as well as unicyclists, after all, it is a workout on one wheel) routinely experience runner’s high.

Try riding on one wheel—You will love it!

Riding a unicycle and juggling are excellent exercise activities for both the mind and the body. Besides unicycling and juggling, I also ran cross county and did the pole vault in high school. I chose pole vaulting because, like juggling, not too many people tried it. I was in pretty good physical shape at the time and I felt great.

In high school, pole vaulting became a passion. I was able to glide over the bar at a height of eighteen feet and six inches – the best record at the school. This was the first passion that I really aimed for excellence in.

Running and bicycling always intrigued me. I would run and ride mostly because it was terrific fun, but also because the exercise would help me in life both physically and mentally. I never tried drugs in my life, and I believe that the aggressive physical activity kept me feeling great such that I really didn’t have any desire to partake in any other mind altering substances.

Many studies have shown that exercise promotes mental health and reduces the symptoms of depression. Although it may take at least thirty minutes of intense exercise at least three to five days a week to significantly improve symptoms of depression, the antidepressant result of regular exercise is comparable to potent antidepressant drugs like Prozac.

Depressed? Workout and you will fix you.

The relief may not come right away, but give it time, and you will find your depression fading away. Do not try illegal drugs as an escape from depression, and carefully consider the risks of prescription medications. Push yourself to exercise more and to stay on track in your mind and your body.

Besides helping to diminish depression, regular physical activity can also have the follow profound and awesome effects.
Exercise reduces high-blood pressure. Physical activity also reduces excess body fat, which is associated with high blood-pressure.
Daily physical movement can help prevent heart disease and stroke by firming your heart muscle. This reduces your blood pressure, raising your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels (good cholesterol) and lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels (bad cholesterol). As a result, your blood flow is refined, which increases your heart’s functioning capacity.
You can experience that runner’s high that we talked about earlier.
A good workout basically makes you feel excellent. You will be revitalized to pursue projects and passions with renewed vigor.
Exercise helps with non-insulin dependent diabetes. By reducing your extra body fat, working out prevent and control this type of diabetes. If you don’t have non-insulin dependent diabetes, exercise will help to increase your insulin and lepton sensitivity to prevent diabetes.
Exercise helps to lose weight. Physical activity helps to lower body fat by building or preserving muscle mass and refining your body’s capability to use calories that you eat. When exercise is combined with good nutrition, it can help manage weight and prevent obesity, a major risk factor for many diseases, including high blood pressure and heart disease.
Habitual exercise helps to prevent back pain and can help heal other parts of your body by increasing muscle strength and improving posture and flexibility.
8. Regular exercise encourages proper bone growth and contributes to bone strength that may prevent many forms of bone loss.

9. You could make new friends with the same interest as you – more and more people are recognizing the benefits of working out and are prioritizing that time each day.

Regular physical activity can get you into a better mood and help you to build greater self-confidence. Exercise will help to diminish depression and anxiety, and is a great stress reliever.

Remember that your brain needs regular stimulation also.

Try to think of your brain as a muscle. You must strengthen your brain muscle to have it function at its best. You can do this by challenging yourself with puzzles, math skills, or by learning a new language.

You’ve always wanted to learn to speak Japanese, remember? Or, start writing that book that is in your head. It is important to keep that brain muscle just as limber as your body.

As I was recovering from my accident, it felt so good to get back to bicycling and running. In fact, some of my best thoughts to put in this book came to me as I was working out.

Exercise helps blood to flow better, especially in the brain. If the blood is flowing better, that means you will think more clearly.

Is juggling the best exercise for the human body and mind? There is a good chance that the answer is yes. Researchers are discovering things about our brains and bodies that show juggling can be an important creator of excellent physical and mental health.

Studies suggest we can optimize our overall performance in life by broadening our focus. Where we focus is quite important. Juggling is one excellent way to find focus. Most people have a narrow focus in their life and a lack of awareness of their own bodies and emotions.

This lack of awareness and narrow focus can be useful when directed a certain way – when talking on the phone, when driving, or when getting a spa treatment. This directed focus is what we are doing at the time; this is the focus we want to aim for.

When learning how to juggle, we have to develop that directed focus. While juggling, the directed focus needs to be aimed at a certain ball or club.

As an exercise, juggling is great fun.
When you juggle, you have to see the whole picture of what you are doing. While maintaining directed focus to know the right way to catch or throw, you will also need broad focus to see the whole juggling pattern.

You could mindlessly sit and pedal on an exercise bike for an hour, run on a treadmill for thirty minutes, or you could juggle for a half hour. All three activities will have comparable results as far as increasing heart rate and requiring movement, yet, juggling is much more involved.

Watching a juggling pattern is fun and mesmerizing and will benefit your brain, too. And don’t worry; you will enjoy juggling more and more as you get better at it.

Juggling integrates use of both the right brain and left brain. When you first learn to juggle, you will break down the technique into small steps, just like you would break a big project down into small steps or milestones. This will help to teach you more about goal setting – a necessary thing if you are not doing so already in your life.

At first you are mainly using the left brain – this is the logical, analytical, and narrowly focused side. After you have learned to juggle, you move into right-brained thinking, the side that is more creative, holistic and intuitive in nature. At this point, juggling becomes automatic and relaxing.

Once you learn how to juggle, you are using your whole brain – a good thing!

As I wrote before, juggling becomes almost a moving meditation of your body. The left and right movement of your hands across your body accurately changes our focus from left to right and back again, and you are using and exercising our whole brain.

Research has shown that there is a direct association between hand-eye coordination and the aptitude to read and write. For young people, many schools are teaching juggling as a way to improve academic learning. The eye crosses midline and the undertaking improves concentration, encourages sequencing, and grows tracking ability.

Recent study has found that it is never too late to develop new dendrites or connective cells in the brain which will only benefit you. Nerve cells are designed to be stirred by new input which builds a stronger brain configuration.

New learning (such as juggling) creates a reserve of thick associations partially defending us against cell loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other mental disorders. Researchers acknowledge that the brain benefits most from learning that is exotic and unusual, and juggling, as you know, could not be more exotic!

Learning to juggle gives kids and adults tangible evidence of accomplishment. Why look – I can do that trick now, and that trick! The learning is never ending.
When juggling students perform successfully for others, their self-esteem will soar. Juggling is also being used by many companies to help add to creativity and inventive problem solving in their employees.

Learning this skill makes us all take a second look at the other things we thought unfeasible for us. It challenges all our other thinking about what is doable.
This skill trains you not to limit yourself in any way.
As an art, throwing stuff in the air has been the wonder of society for thousands of years. Street performers have dazzled audiences and circus type jugglers have produced impossible feats while they have entertained thousands. I’m happy to say that I am a part of that crowd.
Aside from the joys of performing, there are positive benefits of juggling which make it unique and truly beneficial to every person. There are many paybacks that enhance the mind and the body.

On the subject of the mind, there has been studies showing that juggling can increase brain mass. A story most famously covered by the BBC was about an experiment conducted by a group of German researchers.

Twenty-four people participated who could not juggle.

Prior to conducting the tests, the subjects’ brains were scanned, measuring the size of brain matter. After the measurements were taken, the researchers taught half of the subjects to juggle three balls for at least sixty seconds. The jugglers were given three months to practice. The other half did nothing.

After the period had passed, the researchers took brain scans of the twenty-four people again. The twelve people who did not juggle had no brain mass changes, but the twelve who learned to juggle showed an increase in their brain matter, an impressive fact.

Researchers also revealed that the people who learned to juggle had more grey matter in their brain, which primarily consists of nerve cells in the regions that process visual motion information. To keep your brain in healthy condition, juggling is the best!

There are many reasons that juggling is a beneficial and worthwhile skill to learn.
Juggling is a good physical workout. Just bending down to pick up a dropped prop will give you some good exercise.
Juggling is excellent aerobic exercise. It’s better than just jumping on a machine that makes your body move.
Juggling improves your hand-eye coordination. Better hand-eye coordination will help you in other sports such as tennis or baseball.
Juggling helps you to become ambidextrous. You must work with each hand and arm the same.
Juggling improves balance. Learning to use both sides of your body evenly helps to develop your balance center.
Juggling improves your rhythm. You must learn and develop an even tempo to be good at juggling.
Juggling relieves stress. Almost being a meditation, juggling gets your mind off all the other junk in life.
Juggling improves motor skills. Catching, throwing, and general movement are all improved as you practice.
Juggling makes you more intelligent. Studies have revealed that juggling increases brain matter, and, the more matter, the smarter you are (so, what’s the matter?)
Juggling will give you a sense of accomplishment. What you can learn and do with the skill is unlimited.
Now that you know about ALL the benefits of learning to juggle, it’s time to learn the skill!

ONE BALL

Throw one ball back and forth, hand to hand, so that it crosses the same center point. The ball should reach a peak of about five inches above your head. Only watch the ball when it’s at the top arc, as it is thrown back and forth. Throw from the center and catch on the outside.

TWO BALLS

Put one ball in each hand. Throw a ball from one hand to the other. When the ball gets to the peak, throw the second ball underneath, so it goes to the same height as the first ball. The balls will trace a figure eight pattern in the air before landing in opposite hands. You basically do an “x” pattern as the balls go to opposite hands. The first ball you throw is the first ball you catch. Switch off the starting hand each time you make the two throws.
It can help you work toward juggling three props by working on juggling two balls in one hand.

THREE BALLS

Hold two balls in your preferred hand and one ball in your other hand. Start the pattern with the hand that has two balls in it. When the first ball gets to the peak, throw the second ball. Then do the same with the other hand, and back and forth. The hand that the ball is coming to is the hand that you are going to throw with. NOW YOU ARE JUGGLING!

It helps to think of two imaginary points, about twelve inches above each hand, at which to aim. Seen from the front, your hands should throw from the center and catch on the outside. Seen from the side, your pattern should be in one even plane.

Remember that you release one throw at a time. Many people try to go too fast with their juggling at first. Above all, have fun with your juggling.

To continue with your juggling, my book, Juggling with Finesse, will help you a great deal. Advance your juggling, and now that you are a juggler, buy yourself the book.

You know all the benefits of physical exercise for your mind and your body. Start today and make it a daily habit to move and think.

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So, since the van broke down ($630 I did not have), my computer decided to, too. The connection from the power cord to the computer did not work anymore,. I had bought it at Best Buy and still under warranty, I went to the store. They had to send it out to get repaired and told me it might be 30 days until it is fixed–yikes.

I had a long blog prepared for you, at least five pages. I could try and go by memory and get words off to you, but my memory would not hold all. So, look for Blog 58 at a future time. It will have much about Yosemite, with photos, too. I’ve included a few photos now–an incredible place.

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Need to find blog 58

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Need to find blog 57

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Sorry this is a day late, we ran into some problems and had to delay, you will learn more later in this blog. Hoping to get these words to you each Sunday.

Still in Las Vegas, I do like it here, the weather is superb, but, still, too much traffic and people. Last night we went to dinner with the excellent juggler Wally Eastwood and his lovely wife, Heidi. We talked about old juggling days and plans for the future, a good talk. They have two daughters, twins, who are successful and away at college.

As you see from photos, my beard is growing longer and longer. Don’t know when I might shave again, I will let you know. I had a beard once before, but never this long. Do you think I should shave, or keep going with it?

Oct 11–Today I could not find my wallet–anywhere. I keep minimal stuff in the wallet, and keep a record of what is in it. I have not lost my wallet in years, feeling terrible. Normally I keep no more than $40 cash in the wallet, keeping the rest in the van. I had about $100, so I feel bad about that.

Really though, through my life I have had so many losses, and have lost much. So, losing money or “stuff” does not really affect me. I’ve had to start my life anew a number of times, so, I am not bothered. Life will go on, things will get reestablished and back to happy again.

It ended up that I had left the wallet in some long pants I was wearing the night before, so, much relief. I learned to make sure I keep no more than $40 cash in the wallet.

Oct 12–Today we had lunch with Michael Goudeau, another good juggler and someone I have not seen in years. We first met in the 70’s when he juggled in San Francisco with three others, calling themselves, The Fly-By-Night Jugglers. Here is Mike >>

http://www.mikegoudeau.com/

Then, tonight we went to see Wally Eastwood perform, and what a fun/good show we saw. On warming up backstage, I saw Wally do very tight triple flips with 3 clubs, below the height of his head. 5 club triple flips, low, and next, clubs thrown behind the back with the 5. He says he really does not need to do the warm up; he has done the routines so many times.

In the show, he did fantastic comedy with juggling, including, 3 top hats, 3 and 5 pongs out of the mouth, and club juggling. He also did a routine bouncing balls off a small musical keyboard on the stage as it played a song. This routine I have seen before, but Wally personalized it and has a great rapport with the audience while performing. Here’s Wally:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U-Vwr6BziM

This is really the first time, I think, that Wally and I have met in person, although we had heard about each other. He did not even know of my book, Juggling with Finesse, I gave him a copy.

Coming from a six-generation circus family, he had learned all circus events—trapeze, wire, etc. He focused on juggling and got quite good. And, his comedy and humor are so natural—he had the audience in the palm of his hand.

http://wallyeastwood.com/

Oct 14–Before we left Vegas we went to see Albert Lucas’ parents. His dad is about to turn 100, his mom is in her late 70’s. Amazing to see this age of people doing so well, Albert’s mom is taking care of some properties and also Albert’s dad, his dad’s memory, and mind are slipping a little, but we saw a fantastic smile.

Albert’s father also named Albert, trained Albert starting at the age of three on juggling and performing. Albert has taken off with juggling and is currently working on juggling 14 rings, which would be a world-record in the juggling world.

​Leaving Las Vegas

Oct 15–On the way out, we went from about 2500 to about 7500 feet. Ears popped and felt the change. The weather and foliage turned, too. We drove to Pahrump, Nevada, and spent the night in a Walmart parking lot. The photos below do now do Death Valley justice, things look much more colorful.

And, into the Valley of Death we went (actually, we drove into Death Valley.) We stopped at a few overlooks and saw tremendous lands. Also, as before, we heard Japanese, Russian, Italian, French, even some people singing the Happy Birthday song in French to someone (a first for me.) Foreign people seeing the majestic views of the USA, but, where are the Americans?

The only wildlife we saw was one bird and one butterfly; this is Death Valley, after all. The lands here look like Mars might look. The winds were blowing strong, also.

Now, we did see a lot of human life (too much?) All the different nationalities were quite interesting.

Yesterday we were up above 8500 feet in height, today we are down to -300 feet in height, below sea level, that is.

Yes, we did witness a death in Death Valley–the van. We drove up to see Natural Bridge on a long dirt road and then hiked up some ways toward it. We did not go all the way (knowing we can always see the area later on YouTube) and decided to walk back to the van. When we arrived, we saw on the ground what looked to be water from the engine—yikes.

Being some miles away from anywhere we could get help, we started the drive to find assistance. GPS told us there was a garage type place about ten miles away, so off we went, scared of what “might” happen.

Stuck in the desert?

At first, it was alright, then the temperature gauge started going up, higher and higher. We had gotten within five miles and the gauge went to red. We pulled over to the side to sit for a time and let the engine cool down. Then it got to the point where we had to do this more and more often.

Finally arriving at farabeesjeeprentals.com, they were a tremendous help. Tina’s phone could not connect out here, so Teresa allowed us to use their phone. We then waited three hours for the tow truck to arrive. We are waiting now; I will continue the story when there is more to write.

And, while all this is occurring, the winds have been blowing very strong and nonstop.

When bad things do happen, I don’t panic, in my mind, I say to myself, “The story continues”, and move to find ways to find solutions to the problem at hand. I think of the worst of what could happen, and also the least of the worries. Once I think toward both ends, I develop strategies for making things good once again.

We were told that we may have to wait three hours for the tow truck to arrive; typing this gives me something to do. And, this problem gives me more material to write to you about in this blog, so it’s a good thing, yes? As you know, I am hoping these travel stories will one day turn into a future book. Have you been reading words on my blog that would make a good book?

When you run into problems, think toward solutions first.

In fact, I am typing this while we await the tow truck; I am not wallowing in sorrow and worry. If this van does not work any longer, Tina has a car back in Pennsylvania which we could use. This car of hers is quite small; we will find a way to make it work, though.

The truck finally did arrive and our van was put up onto the flatbed. He came from Pahrump, where we had slept the night before. In fact, we were dropped off at the same Walmart we slept at before, knowing we can drive the van the short distance to get the repair done on Monday when they are open.

The tow driver had a flatbed truck and put the rig up top.

It ended up that this driver, who is from Pahrump, drove about 65 miles to get us, then 65 back, a long ride. I helped how I could with loading the van onboard, then there was the unload upon arrival.

So, this problem with the van happened last Saturday, we were delivered to the Walmart we stayed at before that same day. The repair place is not open until Monday, so we had an entire day to fix up and repair van stuff, clean ourselves at Walmart, and do what we needed to do.

You will find out more about the story in the next blog post.

Will they continue, or . . . ?

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Here are words from my third book in the series I am writing. If you would like me to email you the entire book, send me your email address and I will do just that.

Beyond Your Potential

The Comeback Kit, From Coma to Comedy

BOOK THREE—FINDING SUCCESS!

A Series of Books to Change Your Life

By Kit Summers

PREFACE

What you are holding now is the third in a series of books that will add to and expand your life. I developed these books after I went through a number of tragic life changes. I have included strategies that helped me to take my life to a higher level, and then higher.

As these help me, these strategies can do the same for you.

• These books are written in a way that will help you find the success that you desire for yourself.
• In book one you learned how I came back from various accidents and how you can make it back, too.
• Book two taught you about your brain, its potential, and how to tap into that potential.
• In this book you will learn various ways I have found success through change and lessons on how you can find a variety of successes for yourself.
• Book four, “Life Changing”, will help guide you toward changes to take your life beyond fantastic.
• In the final book in the series the subject of God and belief will be addressed. Are you a believer, or non-believer like me? Open your mind to the idea that your beliefs could be changed. In reading this book you may bring on a stronger faith, or the alternative.

As I was recovering from a series of life altering experiences, I gathered a lot of knowledge that helped me to recover. I’m passing this knowledge on to you to help you in your life. This series of books is designed for you to change your life for an even better future than you could imagine.

As we live our lives, we all go through many changes. As you might know, it is how we face these changes and how we learn to change with the changes that will help us to get ahead in life.

As you know, I have gone through a number of incidents and accidents. I’ve basically had to learn to build my life over again—again and again. In seeing life through the eyes of an open mind, I saw and learned many techniques to making life better and advance towards my goals.

The techniques I discovered are described in this series of books.

Could you imagine being hit by a truck, and then many years later being hit by another truck? As if those incidents weren’t bad enough, now imagine only eight months after being hit by that second truck you have to spend a month in jail on a false charge?

Changes – we all experience them.

I am sure that you too have gone through many changes in your life. We all have. In my recoveries, I have gained many ideas of how to move through the changes, obstacles, and walls that life presents in order to move toward success.

Everyone is recovering from something. It is how we face our recovery and the direction we take ourselves in that will matter toward our happiness. I hope this book helps you to understand the potential you possess and use that potential to drive your life forward and achieve greatness.

You have the ability and potential to attract success and happiness.

Happiness is always there and waiting for you, you just have to build the right road to your success. More than just helping you through difficulties in your life, this series of books is packed full of ideas to help you attract and achieve a better future.

Your future is up to you. Are you content with remaining in a pleasant but mundane life, or will you upgrade to a better life for you and for others around you? Continuing to better our lives is a choice we make.

The attitude you hold toward your future will determine your life.

Your income is directly related to your attitude and the approach you take toward your future. A positive attitude will take you far. A pessimistic approach to life will hinder you.

If you expect to be successful, then there is a good chance you will do just that. If you expect failure, then you are on your way. Use the ideas in the Beyond Your Potential books to become more interactive with and in charge of your life.

If you expect to fail, that’s where you will end up.

This book is interactive in the sense that it will help you to think about your attitude and your life. As you know, you will find yourself analyzing exactly where you are now in your life versus where you would like to be. Read these words, take them to heart, and change your life.

Each paragraph that you read will help you to discover more about who you are and what true success really means to you. Like I have done, study successful people around you to see how they accomplished the great things that they have achieved.

Over the years, I have watched and listened to a number of successful people to learn ideas they have used. As I followed them, I analyzed the path they took to gain their success. I have discovered a common trait:

“They know why they’re here in their life”

Success is knowing your purpose in life. But there’s more to it than that. I know people who know their purpose in life but they’re not thriving.

You need a growth plan to help you reach your top potential. It’s not only knowing what you should do, it’s also about growing in that area to maximize and highlight the things that you do well. Growth is an ongoing progression.

Development is not an automatic process. If you’re going to grow, you need to do so intentionally and with purpose. Basically, you need a reason for your growth.

That’s continual growth.

Knowing your purpose in life gives you stability. While things might get hard and shaky for others, you can use this assurance to steady the boat and to ride out the storm because you know where you want to go.

This direction becomes an anchor in life—a confidence based upon the knowledge of one’s purpose. Someone once said there are two great days in life—the day you are born and the day you discover why you’re here.

Remember this—highly successful people have discovered why they are here.

Join me as I help move my life forward and higher. See your future and see that you can change, that you will change. Don’t remain in that easy or ordinary life—jump up to that higher life that is awaiting you.

INTRODUCTION

Look at your life, see the past, see the now, see your future, and see your passions:

• What are you truly passionate about?
• What do you really care about?
• Who do you hold in high esteem?
• What are you living for?
• What would you die for?
• What is most important to you?

Have you ever asked yourself these questions? The answers we are looking for are important issues that each of us should meditate on and keep in the backs of our minds. Each of us must take the time to examine our own life, posing these questions to ourselves.

Many successful people have answered these questions and have taken time for self-reflection.

A lot of highly successful people have a continual thirst for knowledge and are always asking questions such as those above. These successful people first think and ask the questions that will provide answers to advance. These people know that it is the people who ask the better questions who get a better life.

Remember, it is often the people who ask the most and the best questions who succeed.

When you start to answer these questions you will produce great energy within your life. Zealous people usually have a lot of energy to pursue what they do.

Passionate people are doing what they love and loving what they do.

We’ve all known people who do not resonate with this passion. A lackluster life at best is how they live. They do just enough to get by and meander through the time they have on earth. This book will teach you how to find this love, apply it to your own life, and achieve the excellence that you desire.

Often, people who find the desire are highly successful and they love their journey toward the end result. Along the way, even though they have not yet arrived at their goal, they constantly fuel themselves with this driving passion.

More importantly, they often bring others up with them.

We have to work together in the world and find success for all of us. Yes, we can all be at the top – it will work. Help others to move up and you shift forward and up.

Generating this passion from the bottom of your mind and the bottom of your heart will keep you driving forward. When you develop this love, it will help to build your life, I guarantee it. You can go from average to more than you would ever think.

Sorry to say, it seems to me that many of the people in America have settled with being “average” and living ordinary lives. We all should aim higher (and then higher and higher) to be (as they say in The Marines) all that we can be.

This is about going beyond being normal to becoming more and more. Being average never caught anyone’s attention or found them the excellence that they may crave. No one ever says, “I want to grow up to be average” when they are a youth, yet so many people end up there.

At any age, you can make the change and aim your life anew.

As you live your life, develop a purpose for living and understand why you want to be alive. Once you discover and understand your purpose, muster up an intense passion toward the end result.

This will give you stability in your life and help to make things more solid for you. People without a passion in their life lack energy and will often go nowhere–quickly.

Having passion will give you energy. In your life, you must love the journey as much as you love the destination you are aiming toward. Find your purpose, bring on your passion, and you will live the life that you want.

Start today to make your life the masterpiece that you desire!

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