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 SPORTS, FITNESS & SPORTS, FITNESS & 
HEALTHY LIVINGHEALTHY LIVING

Mountain View News Saturday, November 15, 2025

LA SALLE GIRLS’ TENNIS CAPS PLAYOFF RUN WITH 
QUARTERFINAL FINISH

Lori A. Harris

FREE YOUR MIND AND YOUR 
BUTT WILL FOLLOW!


Tools of Transformation: Simple, but not easy. 
Start with the discipline of decision.

Black people 
make up just 3% 
of California's 
licensed attorneys. 
Nearly all 
of us have one 
man to thank for helping us cross the finish 
line of the California Bar Exam: Attorney Al 
Jenkins, affectionately known as Bar Daddy.

Thirty-six years ago, he said something I've 
never forgotten: "You can't just have a hand-
waving interest in this. It requires precision."

He was talking about the bar exam. But that 
lesson has followed me through every transformation 
since.

We can't be kinda interested in life. We can't 
approach our dreams with casual commitment. 
We have to take a stand. We have to 
get precise.

These days, I'm applying that same precision 
to my own life, not through willpower 
or hustle, but through something simpler 
and more challenging: the discipline of 
decision-making.

One of the biggest shifts? A time audit. 
Learning where my hours actually go and 
how I honor my most precious commodity: 
life itself.

The science backs this up: recent research 
from Timewatch found that 94% of people 
agree that better time management increases 
productivity. Those who track their time report 
being in control of their schedule five 
days a week, compared to just 26% of those 
who don't track at all.

Adam Leipzig, Academy Award-winning 
producer, early TED speaker, and friend 
of over thirty years, was the first to tell me: 
"Control your calendar, control your life."

Coming from arguably the most productive 
person I know, that hit differently.

I resisted that wisdom for years. My mentor, 
Mary, reinforced this for nearly a decade, insisting 
that my calendar could be my most 
powerful tool for transformation. But calendars 
reminded me of my J.O.B., of being 
controlled rather than free. So I pushed back.

If 2024 was one of the most challenging years 
of my life, it was also one of the most transformative. 
In 2025, I finally decided to honor 
my calendar, not for a boss or external expectations, 
but for myself.

I tried it imperfectly. Informally. Some 
weeks, I followed it religiously. At other 
times, I ignored it completely. But even imperfectly 
done, 2025 became calmer, more 
directed, more mine.

Now, as I map out 2026, I'm energized in a 
way I haven't been in years. I'm building my 
calendar around my big rocks—the non-negotiables 
that make life worth living:

Spirit. Family. Fun. My salons and retreats. 
I'm attending two big graduations: Howard 
University School of Law and Pepperdine 
University School of Law. These anchor my 
year. Everything else gets evaluated against 
them.

Stephen Covey, who popularized the "big 
rocks" time management philosophy in his 
landmark book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective 
People, taught that if you don't put your 
most important priorities, your big rocks, 
into your schedule first, they'll never fit. The 
urgent will always crowd out the important. 
By scheduling what matters most first, everything 
else falls into place around it.

When opportunities appear now—and they 
always do—I can see at a glance: Will this 
create expansion, growth, or joy? Or will it 
constrict and deplete me? Does it align with 
my core values, or am I saying yes out of obligation, 
fear, or old programming?

That's what precision looks like in real life. 
Not perfection. Not rigid control. But clear, 
intentional decision-making about how I 
spend my irreplaceable hours. And here's 
what I've discovered: that's what freedom 
feels like.

Bar Daddy was right all those years ago. You 
can't have a hand-waving interest in passing 
the bar—or in living a life you love. It 
requires precision. It requires deciding what 
matters most and building your days around 
that truth.

Here's my invitation: Make your calendar 
a partner in the life you love. Not someday. 
Now. Start with one week. Put your big 
rocks in first, the things that feed your soul, 
strengthen your relationships, and align with 
your values. Then see what happens when 
everything else has to fit around what truly 
matters.

Free your mind from the tyranny of other 
people's urgencies.

And watch your whole life follow.

Lori A. Harris is an Integrative Change Coach and 
Life Mastery Consultant. Learn more about her at 
loriaharris.com.

 The La Salle girls’ tennis team’s season came to an 
end Monday afternoon after a hard-fought 8–10 loss 
to Segerstrom in the CIF Southern Section quarterfinals. 
The defeat capped an impressive postseason run 
that saw the Lancers battle through adversity, win two 
tough playoff matches, and reassert their reputation 
as one of the most resilient programs in the area.

 Just two days earlier, La Salle earned a thrilling 10–8 
win over Norwalk in the second round—a match 
that showcased the team’s composure and competitive 
edge. “Man, that Norwalk match was tough,” said 
Coach Javier. “They were slightly better than us on paper, 
so I was nervous. Our singles played amazing and 
won us that match. Both Zoey and Sima won all of 
their sets, which meant we only needed four sets from 
doubles—and we got just that. But the doubles line 
up was tough. We were fortunate enough to win two 
tiebreak sets. That ended up winning us the match.”

 The win over Norwalk advanced La Salle to the 
quarterfinals against Segerstrom, where the Lancers 
once again played short-handed but full of heart. 
“We’ve been down a player all season,” said Coach Javier. 
“We’ve been playing at level 10 all season, and 
I think we just ran out of gas. We got behind early 
which made rounds 2 and 3 tougher than they should 
have been. In the end, my team played hard all the 
way through, and that’s all I can ask for.”

 Despite the loss, the 2025 season was a testament 
to the Lancers’ culture and character. “What I’m most 
proud of is how well everyone connected, bonded, and 
truly put their teammates’ needs before their own,” 
Coach Javier reflected. “As a coach, I care more about 
raising caring players—ones who will make a difference 
in this world—and I feel like I accomplished that 
the most this season. ”

 Looking ahead, the future is bright for La Salle tennis. 
With seven of eight players returning next season, 
the Lancers are poised to make another deep run. 
“My lineup is so deep—I’m already looking forward 
to next year,” Coach Javier said. “I’ll be honest, I was 
a bit discouraged in the beginning of the season with 
all the setbacks we had. But this group of young ladies 
made me feel like this season was worth all the sacrifices. 
I’m so happy with how well they did.”

 Through every challenge—short rosters, lineup 
changes, and long playoff drives—the 2025 La Salle 
girls’ tennis team proved that their foundation of 
teamwork, perseverance, and heart can withstand 
anything. And with nearly the entire roster returning, 
the Lancers are already building toward something 
even greater.

La Salle finishes the 2025 season with a 6–4 record 
and a CIF Quarterfinal appearance.


ALL THINGS by Jeff Brown

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND THE FATE OF 
THE WORLD BY RICHARD BELL

A prize-winning historian's fascinating and unfamiliar 
recasting of America's war of independence as a transformative 
international event

In this revelatory and enthralling book, award-winning 
historian Richard Bell reveals the full breadth and depth 
of America’s founding event. The American Revolution 
was not only the colonies’ triumphant liberation from the 
rule of an overbearing England; it was also a cataclysm 
that pulled in participants from around the globe and 
threw the entire world order into chaos. Repositioning 
the Revolution at the center of an international web, Bell’s 
narrative ranges as far afield as India, Africa, Central 
America, and Australia.

As his lens widens, the “War of Independence” manifests 
itself as a sprawling struggle that upended the lives of millions of people on every continent 
and fundamentally transformed the way the world works, disrupting trade, restructuring 
penal systems, stirring famine, and creating the first global refugee crisis.

Bell conveys the impact of these developments at home and abroad by grounding the narrative 
in the gripping stories of individuals—including women, minorities, and other disenfranchised 
people. The result is an unforgettable and unexpected work of American history 
that shifts everything we thought we knew about our creation story.

Richard Bell teaches Early American history at the University of Maryland. He has received 
several teaching prizes and major research fellowships including the National Endowment 
for the Humanities Public Scholar Award.

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.

STAND TALL

Take a good look at the 
next person you see 
scrolling on their phone. 
Notice the head jutting 
forward, shoulders 
rounded, eyes squinting 
downward. Now, take a 
look at yourself. Chances 
are, you’re doing the 
same thing right now. 
Our modern posture has 
evolved into something 
between a question mark 
and a croissant.

Most of us don’t realize 
how much our bodies 
are literally shaped by 
our daily scrolling. The 
average American spends around seven hours a day looking 
at screens, and it’s not just our eyes that pay the price. Poor 
posture doesn’t just make us look tired or older. It can actually 
make us feel that way, too.

We often think emotions shape posture — slumped when 
sad, upright when confident — but the reverse is also true. 
Research has shown that when people simply sit or stand 
taller, they feel more alert, confident, and even happier. Good 
posture opens the chest, deepens breathing, and activates 
muscles that make you feel grounded and strong.

Slouching, on the other hand, does the opposite. When your 
head is forward and shoulders are hunched, your lungs can’t 
expand fully, and you get less oxygen. That can make you 
feel more tired, anxious, or even down. It’s no wonder many 
people report that they feel more sluggish after a long day on 
their devices. Their body is literally stuck in “rest” mode.

Your head weighs about 10 to 12 pounds. That’s about the same 
as a bowling ball. When it’s centered over your shoulders, that 
weight is easy for your muscles to support. But for every inch 
your head juts forward, the strain on your neck doubles. It’s 
like carrying that bowling ball at arm’s length for hours every 
day.

Over time, the muscles in the front of your body, like your 
chest and neck, tighten, while the muscles in the back, 
including your upper back, shoulders, and spine, weaken. 
This imbalance leads to pain, stiffness, and that all-too-
familiar “tech neck.” The good news is you can reverse it with 
a few key movements done consistently.

Start with a chest opener. Stand tall and clasp your hands 
behind your back, straighten your arms, and gently lift them 
while opening your chest. Years of hunching make these 
muscles short and tight, and this stretch reopens the front 
of your body, letting your shoulders return to their natural 
position. Many people feel the difference immediately — like 
taking a deep breath after being stuck in a box.

Next, try the chin tuck. Sit or stand tall and gently pull 
your chin straight back, as if making a double chin. Hold 
briefly and repeat several times. This exercise strengthens 
the small neck muscles that keep your head aligned over 
your shoulders. It can reduce tension in the neck and even 
improve your breathing and vocal quality, since your airway 
opens when your head is neutral.

For your upper back and shoulder stabilizers, resistance band 
rows are highly effective. Secure a band around something 
that is at chest height and stable, like a door handle, sturdy 
pole, or railing. Hold the ends, and step back to create 
tension. Pull your elbows straight back, squeezing your 
shoulder blades together, then return slowly. Doing 12 to 15 
repetitions strengthens the muscles that pull your shoulders 
into proper alignment, counteracting the forward slump 
from scrolling. Strong back muscles also make everyday 
movements, like lifting, reaching, and standing tall, feel easier 
and more comfortable.

To keep your spine mobile, the cat-cow stretch is excellent. On 
hands and knees, round your back up like a cat, then slowly 
arch it down, lifting your chest and tailbone. Repeating this 
10 times keeps the spine flexible and awakens the muscles 
that support your core and back.

Finally, the glute bridge strengthens your glutes and lower 
back, which often weaken from prolonged sitting. Lie on 
your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Lift your 
hips until your body forms a straight line from shoulders to 
knees, hold briefly, then lower slowly. Doing 15 repetitions 
activates these muscles, supporting your lower back and hips, 
and making it easier to maintain good posture when standing 
or walking.

Improving posture isn’t about looking like a soldier or 
walking stiffly. It’s about finding balance — where your 
body works efficiently and comfortably. When your head, 
shoulders, and hips line up naturally, movement feels easier. 
You breathe better, digestion improves, and you look more 
energetic without trying. Every time you lift your head, roll 
your shoulders back, or engage your back and glutes, you’re 
addressing the fact that posture is often overlooked but one of 
the most important and simplest things to correct

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