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 FITNESS FITNESS 

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HEALTHY LIVINGHEALTHY LIVING

Mountain View News Saturday, July 26, 2025


Lori A. Harris

FRUIT FOODIE QUIZ

Michele Silence, M.A. is a 37-year certified fitness 

professional who offers semi-private/virtual fitness 
classes. Contact Michele at michele@kid-fit.
com. Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness 
Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness.

THE ART OF DREAMING: 

What GYPSY Teaches Us About Life's 
Journey

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy juicy, sweet fruits that are 
not only delicious but good for your health. From berries to 
melons to stone fruits, summer brings us natural treats that 
can cool us down and boost our energy. But how much do you 
really know about these tasty treats?

Test your fruit smarts with this fun 10-question quiz!

1. Which summer fruit is known as the “king of fruits” in 
many tropical countries and has a strong smell some people 
find funny?

A) Mango

B) Durian

C) Watermelon

D) Peach

2. Strawberries are a summer favorite. Which vitamin are they 
especially rich in?

A) Vitamin A

B) Vitamin C

C) Vitamin D

D) Vitamin B12

I'm a '60s kid who grew up loving musical theatre. The American 
songbook was my soundtrack from The Music Man to Guys and 
Dolls to West Side Story. After school, I'd sit rapt in front of our 
television, watching Ethel Merman belt out show tunes with that 
powerhouse voice of hers.

This week I'm in New York City, and I got to see GYPSY on Broadway. 
Funny how perspective shifts with time. As a kid, I completely 
related to Louise, Natalie Wood's shy, overlooked character, who 
eventually finds her voice. But now, as an adult and mother, I realize GYPSY is really Rose's 
story. And that changes everything.

The Dream That Consumed the Dreamer

 In the world of musical theater, few productions capture the complexity of ambition 
quite like GYPSY. The musical's deeper wisdom lies in its unflinching examination of what it 
means to chase a dream, how we choose to live while pursuing it, and who we become in the 
process.

 Rose's relentless pursuit of stardom for her daughters becomes a cautionary tale about 
losing sight of the present moment in favor of an imagined future. Watching her push, scheme, 
and sacrifice, I couldn't help but wonder: How often do we sacrifice today's joys for tomorrow's 
possibilities?

 This tension between ambition and presence hits so close to home in our achievement-
oriented world. We set goals, create vision boards, and map out five-year plans, all valuable 
pursuits. Yet GYPSY suggests that the most meaningful growth happens not when we finally 
"arrive," but in the daily choices we make while traveling.

Are we constantly looking elsewhere rather than enjoying the present moment? Do we look 
outside ourselves for validation, and from whom?

Permission to Pivot

 For leaders and dreamers, GYPSY offers profound permission: it's okay to pivot, to 
discover new passions, to let our understanding of "success" mature as we do. Louise's transformation 
into Gypsy Rose Lee wasn't the original plan, but it became her authentic path to 
self-expression, and self-validation

 The willingness to remain curious about where our journey might lead, rather than 
rigid about where we think it should go, often opens doors we never knew existed.

The Power of Present-Moment Awareness

 Perhaps GYPSY's most valuable lesson is that sustainable achievement grows from a 
foundation of present-moment awareness. When we're constantly focused on the next milestone, 
we miss the small victories, the meaningful connections, and the daily satisfactions that 
actually fuel long-term success.

 The musical shows us characters so focused on "making it" that they forget to notice 
when they already have. This isn't an argument against ambition, it's a call for conscious ambition, 
where we pursue our visions while remaining grounded in gratitude for what's already 
here.

 My mission is to help my clients live today, for today. Not next week, not when the 
promotion comes through, not when the kids leave home, today.

An Invitation to Conscious Dreaming

That's why I'm hosting the Visionary Leaders Salon. For those ready to gather and explore, 
GYPSY offers an invitation to embrace what I call "conscious dreaming":

 Holding our visions lightly, passionate enough to pursue them, flexible enough to let them 
evolve.

 Finding meaning in the process, celebrating the skills we develop, the relationships we build, 
and the person we become while chasing our goals.

 Staying present to opportunity, remaining open to unexpected paths that might serve our 
deeper purpose even better than our original plan.

 Balancing striving with being, learning to work toward tomorrow while fully inhabiting 
today.

The Real Transformation

 GYPSY ultimately reminds us that the most extraordinary lives aren't necessarily 
those that reach the highest peaks, but those lived with the greatest awareness, courage, and 
authenticity. The characters who find genuine fulfillment are those who learn to honor both 
their dreams and their reality, discovering that the journey itself, with all its unexpected turns, 
is where the real transformation occurs.

As visionary leaders, our power lies not just in where we're going, but in how consciously we 
choose to travel there.

 If this speaks to you, if you're ready to pursue your boldest dreams while staying 
grounded in the richness of the present moment, I invite you to join us. Together, we'll discover 
that the art of living and the art of dreaming are not separate pursuits, but one integrated 
path toward a life of meaning and impact.

Join me, our Master of Ceremonies, and comedienne and community leader, Fred Thomas, at 
the Visionary Leaders Salon. We’ll have entertainment, mindful movement, and transformative 
teaching. Learn more and register at loriaharris.com/workshop. 

Because the journey is the destination, and today is all we really have.

--

Lori A. Harris, is an award-winning transformational coach, she loves helping leaders reach their 
dreams joyfully. Learn more at loriaharris.com

3. Pineapple is known for being juicy 
and sweet. What important nutrient 
does pineapple provide that helps with digestion?

A) Vitamin C

B) Fiber

C) Bromelain (a digestive enzyme)

D) Calcium

4. Peaches and nectarines belong to which fruit 
family?

A) Citrus

B) Berry

C) Stone fruit

D) Melon

5. Blueberries are known for being a superfood. 
What is the special nutrient they contain that helps 
fight cell damage?

A) Antioxidants

B) Calcium

C) Iron

D) Carbohydrates

6. Which fruit is NOT typically in season during 
the summer?

A) Cherries

B) Apples

C) Raspberries

D) Blackberries

7. Some fruits and veggies make the “Dirty Dozen” 
list because they tend to have more pesticide 
residues. What’s the best way to deal with the 
pesticides?

A) Avoid eating them altogether

B) Only buy frozen versions

C) Wash them thoroughly before eating

D) Peel off the skin

8. What makes summer fruits like melons and berries 
a great snack for hot days?

A) They have a lot of sugar

B) They are high in water content

C) They make you sweat

D) They have caffeine

9. Which fruit’s seeds are sometimes called “pips” 
and are often planted to grow new trees?

A) Mango

B) Peach

C) Watermelon

D) Cherry

10. If you want to boost your vitamin intake during 
summer, which fruit is an especially good choice 
because it’s packed with beta-carotene (which your 
body changes into vitamin A)?

A) Watermelon

B) Mango

C) Blueberry

D) Blackberry

Answers and Fun Facts:

1. B) Durian — Known as the “king of fruits” in 
Southeast Asia, durian has a very strong smell that 
some love and others can’t stand. It’s creamy inside 
and full of nutrients!

2. B) Vitamin C — Strawberries are loaded with vitamin 
C, which helps keep your skin glowing and 
your immune system strong.

3. C) Bromelain (a digestive enzyme) — Pineapple 
contains bromelain, a natural enzyme that helps 
break down proteins and aids digestion. 

4. C) Stone fruit — Peaches and nectarines are 
stone fruits; they have a big pit or “stone” inside.

5. A) Antioxidants — Blueberries are packed with 
antioxidants, which help protect your cells from 
damage and keep you healthy.

6. B) Apples — Apples are mostly harvested in the 
fall, not summer. 

7. C) Wash them thoroughly before eating — Many 
fruits and vegetables on the Dirty Dozen list offer 
great nutrition. The best way to enjoy them safely is 
to wash them well under running water. 

8. B) They are high in water content — Many summer 
fruits have a lot of water, helping you stay hydrated 
when it’s hot outside.

9. B) Peach — Peaches have a large pit or stone 
inside, which people often call a seed or “pip.” If 
planted properly, that pit can grow into a peach 
tree.

10. B) Mango — Mangoes are full of beta-carotene, 
the nutrient that gives them their bright orange 
color and helps your body produce vitamin A, 
great for your eyes and skin.

Summer fruits are more than just sweet treats. 
They give you vitamins, antioxidants, and water to 
keep your body strong and cool. Whether you’re 
munching on sweet cherries, juicy peaches, or refreshing 
watermelon, these fruits make healthy eating 
fun and easy. Eating a rainbow of fruits can 
help protect you from illnesses, improve digestion, 
and even make your skin look better. Plus, many 
summer fruits are low in calories but high in fiber 
and nutrients.

Although fruits and veggies may have pesticide 
residues, that doesn’t mean you should stop eating 
them. Washing fruits thoroughly under running 
water can remove most pesticides, dirt, and germs. 
You can also soak fruits in a vinegar-water solution 
for a few minutes and then rinse well to be extra 
safe.

So go ahead and enjoy the season’s colorful, refreshing 
fruits while they are still in season!

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