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 Mountain Views News Saturday, February 10, 2024 


Valentine Sweets: VELVET & KIT

Can anyone help us out? These 2 
beautiful senior girls had a lov-ing 
owner. Now their owner is gone 
and their home is gone. They don't 
understand where their house and 
their person is. What they each need 
is a quiet home where they can feel 
loved, have warmth, and just live out 
their lives with no stress and com-fort. 

They are fairly shy, although Velvet is not as shy as Kit. They can 
be adopted or fostered separately, and we have a sen-ior-to-senior 
discount for adoption. They are healthy 
and current on their health exams. Won’t 
you please consider taking in one of these 
sweet girls? They deserve to live out their golden years in a happy and 
loving situation. Please have a heart and adopt or foster one or both!

Kit: Domestic Long Hair, age 15; 

Velvet: Domestic Short Hair, age 14.

See more at www.lifelineforpets.org/awesome-seniors.html or use the qr 
code.

CHRISTOPHER Nyerges 

 [www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]


WHEN VEGETARIANS EAT CHICKEN

A Lesson in Not Being Too Rigid

 

Christopher Nyerges [Nyerges is an educator and author of “Urban Survival Guide,” “Extreme 
Simplicity,” “Foraging California,” and other books. For information on his classes and books, 
go to www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]

Several years ago, after an outdoor Sunday morning gathering, many of the 
participants gathered to plant a tree as a remuneration to the facilitator. Most of us 
were helping the two main individuals who had planned the tree-planting.

 

As we gathered to plant the tree, the two planners began to argue. One had already taken the time to 
dig a hole of the appropriate depth, and watered it, and gotten the tree ready to place into the hole. 
The other individual, however, argued that it wasn’t exactly the right spot, and insisted that a new 
hole be dug about three feet away. Most of us observers didn’t say much, but we thought that a mere 
three feet wouldn’t make much difference.

The person who had dug the hole was rather upset at this turn of events, for she felt that all her work 
was now for naught. As it turned out, the man who wanted to move the hole got his way. He argued 
that he had a degree in landscaping (or some related field), and that therefore his argument had 
greater weight.

To all us observers, it was a sad sight -- something the two of them should have worked out ahead of 
time rather than force us all to witness their dispute (not to mention the time waste).

After it was over, Dr. Elan Neev told a little story to the few of us who remained. (Dr. Elan Neev, who 
was one of the tree-planting participants, is the author of Wholistic Healing, and the founder of the 
Self Improvement Institute in Los Angeles.)

He told us that people in Israeli villages adopt Army units, and would take care of the soldiers and 
feed them. In one case, a group of ladies had spent the entire day preparing a special meal for an 
Army unit, unaware that they were orthodox Jews and strict vegetarians. The meal that the ladies 
prepared included chicken.

The troops came to the dining room, and when they saw that the meal included chicken, they quickly 
and quietly spoke to their rabbi.

The rabbi told them that the value of honoring their hostesses was more important than their 
principle of being vegetarians. He said they needed to compare these two competing values. The 
rabbi said that the value of not hurting another -- in this case, the ladies who worked all day to 
provide a special meal -- was much more important than their dietary choice. He emphasized the 
word “choice.” He encouraged the soldiers to eat the meal and to say nothing of the chicken, which 
is what they did.

When Dr. Neev was finished telling us this story, I paused, and said, “So they should have just 
planted the tree in the first hole, right?”

“Of course!” Dr. Neev exclaimed. “The fact that the landscaper was ‘right’ about the location was 
less important than the way he hurt the woman’s feelings who had gone to all the work to plan the 
hole and to dig it. Of course they should have just planted the tree in that first hole. Now she will 
always have a bad feeling about that tree. It doesn’t matter that the landscaper was ‘right’ since the 
end result is a minus, not a plus.” [NOTE: The apple tree that we all planted in the “right” hole died 
within a few months.]

This story reminds me of people with strict self-imposed dietary guidelines who go out to eat at 
restaurants or other people’s homes, and who are endlessly picky about everything that may be in the 
food. “Oh, we can’t have sugar,” they say. “Oh, we can’t eat anything with pasteurized daily products 
in it,” “What type of oil did you use in this dressing,” etc., ad nauseam. The result is that the hosts 
feel disgusted, insulted, and everyone ends up with indigestion, regardless how “correct” the food 
happens to be.

You must wonder why such people don’t make such dietary arrangements ahead of time. Of course, 
it’s important for some to have the answers to these food questions, but folks with these very strict 
dietary demands, and then impose their systems and nuances upon everyone else, don’t realize that 
they spoil the atmosphere so much that it 
counteracts any of the positive effects of the 
“good food.” 

Dr. Neev then told me another story. Some 
years ago, he participated in a religious 
retreat in the Palm Springs area. The people 
leading the event were all strict vegetarians. 
On the last day of the retreat, the teacher 
served Hindu-style chicken. This shocked 
everyone, including his own students. The 
teacher encouraged everyone to enjoy the 
meal. He said, “One of my teachings is: No 
matter what you teach, you don’t want to be 
too attached to it.” 


Pet of the Week

 
Beautiful Delilah is a two-year-old Shepherd mix 
who is ready to provide all the cuddles you can 
handle! She may weigh sixty pounds, but she thinks 
she’s still a lap dog! 

 Delilah was quite nervous when she arrived to the 
shelter, but she has absolutely thrived in her foster 
home. Her foster family reports that she is so much 
fun! She’s an amazing snuggler- that seems to be her 
favorite thing to do. She’s also an avid hiker- she loves 
getting out and exploring the world. 

 Delilah is also very smart- she has learned many 
training cues and really seems to enjoy learning new 
ones- she's a people-pleaser who will be a star in a 
training class. 

 Delilah has even gotten to know a few cats and seems to enjoy their company. With a gradual 
introduction, she can get along with most anyone! 

 Delilah is ready to find her forever snuggle-buddy- maybe that’s you? 

 All other animals over 6 months old can be adopted for only $14 from February 8 – 18, during 
Pasadena Humane’s Make Your Heart Happy-Adopt A Pet promotion!

 The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-
appropriate vaccines. 

 New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, 
as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet. 

 View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org. Daily adoption appointments can be 
scheduled online. New adoption appointments are available every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 
a.m. Walk-in appointments are available daily from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Check website for details.

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or 
email.

ALL THINGS By Jeff Brown LOVE EXPRESSIONS TO USE 

 YEAR ROUND!

Showing love can take many forms, and the best ways to do so often depend 
on the individual preferences of the person you love and the dynamics of your 
relationship. However, here are some universally appreciated ways to express 
love:

Verbal Affirmation: Tell your partner directly that you love them and appreciate 
them. Simple phrases like "I love you" or "You mean the world to me" can go a long way in 
expressing your feelings.

Quality Time: Spend meaningful time together without distractions. Engage in activities you 
both enjoy, have deep conversations, or simply enjoy each other's company.

Acts of Service: Show your love by helping out with chores, running errands, or doing tasks that 
alleviate stress for your partner. Small acts of kindness can demonstrate your thoughtfulness and 
care.

Physical Touch: Physical affection, such as hugs, kisses, holding hands, or cuddling, can convey 
love and strengthen emotional bonds. Back rubs at bedtime are nice also.

Gift Giving: Thoughtful gifts, whether big or small, can demonstrate your love and appreciation. 
Consider giving gifts that hold sentimental value or reflect your partner's interests and 
preferences.

Words of Affirmation: Offer compliments, praise, and encouragement regularly. Acknowledge 
your partner's strengths and express gratitude for their presence in your life.

Surprises: Plan surprises to keep the spark alive in your relationship. It could be as simple as preparing 
a romantic dinner, arranging a weekend getaway, or writing a heartfelt letter.

Active Listening: Show genuine interest in your partner's thoughts, feelings, and experiences. 
Practice active listening by being attentive, empathetic, and non-judgmental.

Respect and Support: Respect your partner's opinions, choices, and boundaries. Offer unwavering 
support during both good times and challenging moments.

Understanding and Forgiveness: Foster an environment of understanding and forgiveness in 
your relationship. Accept each other's flaws and mistakes with compassion and empathy.

Remember, the best way to express love is through consistent, genuine, and heartfelt gestures that 
resonate with your partner's emotional needs and preferences. Communication and understanding 
are key to nurturing a healthy and loving relationship.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com