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Mountain View News Saturday, December 28, 2024


CHRISTOPHER Nyerges 

[Nyerges is the author of several books including “Self-Sufficient Home” 
and “How to Survive Anywhere.” He also leads wilderness classes every 
weekend. He can be reached at School of Self-Reliance, Box 41834, Eagle 
Rock, CA 90041, or www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]

Sweet ZEENA

Meet Zeena, the ultimate people-
loving kitty! This sweet girl lost 
her loving owner and was briefly 
at the shelter until her owner’s 
daughter found her. Unfortunately, 
the daughter can’t keep Zeena 
because of a big move coming up 
Jan. 6. 

Zeena, age 3, is a beautiful gray kitty with hints of white, and 
she’s full of affection and charm! She loves following her people 
around the house, showing off her quirky poses—she’ll 
make you laugh and melt your heart at the same time. Zeena’s 
favorite things include playtime, cuddle sessions, and delicious snacks. 

She’d love a forever home where she can always be by your side and share all her love! 

Please apply today at https://www.lifelineforpets.org/zeena.html where you can see more 
pictures of this adorable girl who is vetted and healthy.


BOOK REVIEW: 

“Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life” 

by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the most iconic and colorful figures of 
this era. Depending on your age and where you live, he is known as a weight-lifting body 
builder, an actor, or governor of California. Maybe you know him as all three.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is today a name that everyone knows, in one of his three careers. I 
knew that in the early days of his body building career, Arnold wrote some how-to guides 
and contributed to some of the magazines in the field. I only learned by accident that Arnold 
also wrote a book in 2023.

His book is titled, “Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life.” If you’re at all interested in Arnold, 
and if you’re at all interested in doing more with your life, you’ll love this book. At first, it 
seemed like a lightweight self-improvement book, but as I read, I realized it was so much 
more.

“Be Useful” is very much an autobiographical work, where Arnold takes you along the path 
of his life during his three careers, with all his challenges and uncertainties, and how he 
overcame those. And I like the fact that Arnold is open about his mistakes and failures, and 
doesn’t try to pretend that they didn’t happen.

He states in the introduction, “I wrote this book because I believe that anyone can benefit 
from the tools I’ve used through every phase of my life, and that all of us need a reliable road 
map for the kind of life we’ve always wanted to live.” His book is divided into seven chapter.

HAVE A CLEAR VISION. You can’t achieve a goal if you don’t have one. You must have a 
goal, and “making a lot of money” is NOT a goal. How do you get there? Arnold knew that 
he had to get to the United States to succeed in life and to expand beyond his small town 
limitations. He started with that big picture, and slowly the idea of body-building began to 
emerge. In this easy-to-read book, Arnold says that you really need to see your goal, not 
as some “woo woo manifestation mumbo jumbo like The Secret and all those law of attraction” 
books. He emphasizes that he’s not saying that you just visualize what you want and it 
manifests. According to Arnold, “Hell no. You have to plan and work and learn and fail and 
then learn and work and fail some more. That’s just life. Those are the rules.”

NEVER THINK SMALL

Arnold talks about his challenges from a body-builder to an actor, and how just about everyone 
said he’d never succeed. Remember, he’s telling you how to improve by telling you 
what he actually did. Have no Plan B. And whatever you choose, be your best!

WORK YOUR ASS OFF

Yes, Arnold tells you to have a dream, but you have to do all the work and training and 
studying to achieve that dream. It doesn’t just drop in your lap. He describes his body-
building training as a very exacting routine, working out for two and a half hours, twice a 
day, non -stop for 15 years. The pain is just temporary, he tells us, and pain is an indicator 
of your growth. Arnold explains that there are 24 hours in every day, and we need to use 
them as fully as possible. “Turn your TV off,” he says, “and throw your machines out the 
window. Save your excuses for someone who cares.”

SELL, SELL, SELL

Arnold’s advice in this chapter is that you need to know your “customer” and you need to 
know how to reach that customer. Be great at whatever you choose to do. Let people underestimate 
you, but you should over-deliver all the time. Be yourself, he advices, and take 
responsibility for your failures too. Arnold advises that you should not pretend that you 
didn’t fail at something when you clearly failed. You should admit it, and openly tell your 
“customers” how you will do better next time. People will respect your honesty, and your 
desire to improve. As an example, Arnold pokes a jab at Donald Trump for his weakness 
in continuing to pretend he won the 2020 election (Trump’s Big Lie) when he clearly didn’t 
win by any objective account. 

Those are just the first four chapters of this gripping book. All the advice given is telling you 
the reader to take focused action to pursue whatever goals you’ve defined. He tells it all in 
the context of what he actually did, errors and all. Arnold describes all the special training 
he took when taking on movie roles so he could be a more believable character. On a funny 
note, he suggests that he should get a refund on all the English speech training that he paid 
for.

He shares, “If there is one unavoidable truth in this world, it’s that there is no substitute for 
putting in the work. There is no shortcut that can get you around the hard work of doing 
your job well,” he tells us. He says that working hard is the only thing that works 100% of 
the time for 100% of the things worth achieving.

A highly recommended book of 263 pages published by Penguin Press in 2023. Whatever 
your goals, and whatever your status in life, this book is the inspiration to move you into 
higher levels of achievement.


Pet of the Week

 Frida is a stunning young German Shepherd mix with a 
world of potential. This lovely girl can be energetic, and she 
would love to expend her energy with a best friend.Frida is a 
sensitive soul who’s still getting used to the world around her. 

She’s happiest in calm surroundings and would do best in a 
low-traffic home where she can settle in without too much 
hustle and bustle. Frida is a bit unsure around other dogs, so 
she might be best as the only pet for now. With Frida’s sweet 
nature, she’ll thrive with someone who can provide gentle 
guidance and plenty of reassurance. Once she’s comfortable, 
Frida will reward you with affection, her beautiful Shepherd 
loyalty, and a bond that only grows deeper with time. If you’re 
looking for a loving companion and are ready to offer Frida 
the calm, patient home she needs, she could be the perfect 
match for you. Come meet Frida at Pasadena Humane and 
see if she’s the loyal friend you’ve been looking for!Frida and 
all other dogs over 40 pounds old have their adoption fees waived from December 19 – 
31 during the Roses & Wet Noses adoption promotion at Pasadena HumaneThe normal 
adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-
appropriate vaccines. 

Walk-in adoptions are available every day from 2:00 – 5:00. For those who prefer, adoption 
appointments are available daily from 10:30 – 1:30 and can be scheduled online. View 
photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org.

 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. 

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone 
CALLS OR EMAIL.

The Secret to Feeling Better and Achieving More in 2025: Sleep!

Are you looking to feel better, boost your performance, and shed a few pounds in 2025? 
It might be time to focus on something simple but powerful: sleep.

Sleep deprivation is more common than you might think. According to neuroscientist 
Dr. Claudia Aguirre, 30% of adults and a staggering 66% of teens are regularly sleep-
deprived. Beyond the grogginess, sleeplessness is linked to inflammation, high blood 
pressure, diabetes, obesity, and even heart disease, which all raise the risk of heart attacks 
or strokes.

Here’s a lesser-known bonus: quality sleep can make losing weight easier. It’s easier to 
resist late-night cravings and maintain healthy habits when well-rested.

So, how can you improve your sleep and reap these benefits? Here are some simple tips:

Create a wind-down routine: Prepare your body for rest by making bedtime enjoyable 
and relaxing.

Ditch the tech: Keep screens out of the bedroom to avoid overstimulation.

Set the mood: Lower the lights, add calming scents like lavender, and ensure your room 
is cool and cozy.

Be mindful of food and drink: Stop eating at least four hours before bed, and consider 
sipping herbal tea.

If you want to take things further, try adding mindfulness or meditation to your evening 
routine or regulate the humidity in your bedroom to ensure it’s comfortable for sleep.

The bottom line? Prioritize quality sleep, and you’ll see improvements in your energy, 
health, and weight.

Let’s make 2025 the year of feeling and performing our best—starting with a good night’s 
sleep!

Coach Lori

Lori A. Harris is a former trial lawyer and an award-winning coach. She helps good 
people do incredible things. Learn more about her at loriaharris.com.


626.355.1451c21village.com 
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