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 SPORTS, FITNESS & SPORTS, FITNESS & 
HEALTHY LIVINGHEALTHY LIVING

Mountain View News Saturday, December 6, 2025


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.

A PRICELESS GIFT

UNLOCK YOUR LIFE


Everyone knows someone they love who could benefit from a 
little more regular exercise. Maybe it’s an older relative, a friend 
who’s been out of shape for years, or even just an acquaintance 
who seems to be struggling to stay healthy. The holidays are a 
wonderful time to show we care, and this year—when budgets 
are tight and people are feeling stressed—there’s a priceless kind 
of present you can give: the gift of fitness.

It’s a gift that costs little or nothing, yet it can bring huge rewards 
like better health, a brighter mood, and even more years of life. 
Giving someone the tools, motivation, or support to move their 
body can be one of the most thoughtful things you do this season. 
And in the process, you might even inspire yourself to move 
a little more too. Here are some creative, meaningful ways to give 
the gift of health that don’t come with a price tag.

1. Customized Music Playlist. Music is one of the best motivators 
for movement. Create a playlist of upbeat songs you know your 
friend or loved one will enjoy. Choose tunes that make them tap 
their toes, sing along, or maybe even dance a little. Whether they 
play it while walking, cleaning the house, or doing light stretches, 
music can turn movement into something fun instead of a chore. It shows that you know their taste and 
care enough to personalize something just for them.

2. Try-Something-New Buddy Pass. Many people want to try a fitness class but feel nervous going alone. 
Offer to be their workout buddy for a free community class—like yoga in the park, a dance session, or a 
SilverSneakers class. A fun first experience can change someone’s entire attitude toward exercise.

3. Fitness Challenge Jar. Add a little surprise and motivation to each day. Write simple fitness challenges 
on slips of paper. Things like “do 10 wall push-ups,” “walk for three songs,” or “stretch your arms and 
shoulders.” Place them in a decorative jar and label it “Your Daily Challenge.” For an older person or 
someone who’s been inactive, this can make fitness fun again and help them feel successful with each 
small step.

4. Healthy Snack Basket. Include small, affordable items like fruit, herbal tea, or popcorn, with a note 
that says, “Fuel for feeling good.” Add healthy foods they may not have tried, like dried fruit or flavored 
sparkling water. A gift like this encourages better nutrition without preaching.

5. Stretching Help. For someone who deals with stiffness, back pain, or a chronic condition, a few gentle 
stretches can make a world of difference. Create one or two short stretching routines and show them 
how to do them safely. You can even offer to join them—by phone, video chat, or in person—to help 
them get started.

6. Sleep or Relaxation Kit. Since rest supports fitness, gift a relaxation playlist, eye mask, or chamomile 
tea to promote recovery and balance. An especially important gift for someone who is under a great 
deal of daily stress and needs to unwind. Better sleep can improve mood, energy, and motivation to 
move more during the day.

7. “5-Minute Fitness” Video Playlist. Curate a YouTube playlist of beginner-friendly workouts (chair 
exercises, gentle yoga, or walking workouts). Write down the links or make a QR code they can scan 
easily. This gives them a ready-made library of safe, doable exercises they can do at home on their own 
schedule.

8. Inspirational Wall Print. Design or handwrite a short motivational saying about movement or health 
and frame it. Even better if you create it yourself. Every time they look at it they’ll think of you and 
know that you care.

9. “Active Day Together” Voucher. Gift a day out involves movement but doesn’t feel like exercise (like 
visiting a botanical garden, holiday light walk, or museum).

These ideas require something even more precious than money—your time and attention. When you 
show up for someone, it sends a powerful message: “You matter to me.”

An older person might look forward to pulling one note from that challenge jar each morning. A friend 
might cherish your company during a walk more than any store-bought gift. These simple experiences 
create memories that last far longer than anything wrapped in a box.

This holiday season, forget the expensive gadgets and trendy gym gear. Give something better. Gift encouragement, 
companionship, and a gentle nudge toward better health. Fitness truly is a gift that keeps 
on giving, for both the giver and the receiver.

STOP CHASING THE HORIZON: 

A More Sustainable way to measure your 
progress

We’ve been taught to measure our lives by distance from perfection.

How far am I from the goal?

How much more should I have by now?

Why am I not there yet?

That constant horizon-watching builds a silent misery. No matter how much ground we’ve covered, 
the horizon always moves. We walk. It retreats. We improve. The standard rises. The result: 
chronic dissatisfaction in a life that may actually be working.

I was recently re-reading The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy, and 
one line landed hard: When we measure ourselves against an ideal future instead of our real past 
progress, we rob ourselves of momentum.

They call this “living in the gap.” The gap is the emotional space between where you are and 
where you think you should be. Comparison, pressure, and perfectionism all rolled into one 
painful, negative cocktail. And it’s very American. We’ve baked dissatisfaction into our success 
culture.

I see the cost of this mindset daily in brilliant people leading organizations, raising families, 
changing communities, artists, and actors who still privately confess, “I never feel like I’m doing 
enough.”

Meanwhile, research confirms what our bodies already know. Chronic self-criticism increases 
stress hormones, such as cortisol, reducing cognitive flexibility and emotional resilience. In plain 
language: beating yourself up doesn’t produce growth — it produces burnout. Harvard Business 
School has published research showing that progress fuels motivation more reliably than pressure 
or unrealistic standards. Small wins create momentum; constant dissatisfaction does the 
opposite.

There’s a healthier measurement system: the gain.

The gain asks one powerful question:

Who was I a year ago, and how far have I come?

This shifts the reference point from an imagined future to your lived growth. When we measure 
backward instead of forward, motivation strengthens. Self-trust increases. Confidence solidifies. 
We stop chasing the horizon and start stabilizing our momentum.

Here’s what I invite you to practice this week:

Instead of asking “Why am I not there yet?”

Ask “What have I already built that once felt impossible?”

Instead of naming what’s missing, list what’s changed, what has improved:

Skills you’ve developed

Fears you’ve outgrown

Boundaries you’ve learned to hold

Relationships you’ve healed

Courage you didn’t have before

From a neuroscience standpoint, this matters. Studies from UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science 
Center show that reflective gratitude, actively noticing progress and positive change, boosts well-
being, resilience, and perseverance. Our brains literally move forward faster when we acknowledge 
how far we’ve come.

This isn’t about settling or shrinking our dreams. Vision still matters. Vision needs nourishment, 
enjoy the journey, notice your life, and appreciate it. And nothing feeds the journey more than 
honest recognition of growth already earned.

Progress measured by inadequacy feels exhausting.

Progress measured by gains is sustaining.

Lori A. Harris is an award-winning Integrative Change Coach and host of "Unlock Your Life 
with Lori Harris." Learn more at loriaharris.com.--

ALL THINGS by Jeff Brown

 
25 LIFE FACTS TO BE THANKFUL 
FOR 

Realities we often take for 
granted, but are truly worth 
appreciating!

1. You’re alive: The simple fact that you’re 
breathing and living today is a miracle. So many 
factors contribute to being alive at this very moment.
14 billion years worth at least.

2. Your body works: Every day, your heart 
beats, your lungs breathe, and your body maintains 
homeostasis without you even thinking 
about it.

3. The power of choice: You have the ability 
to make decisions—big or small—that can shape 
your life and the world around you.

4. Relationships: Whether friends, family, or 
significant others, having connections that provide 
love, support, and laughter is something to 
cherish.

5. The beauty of nature: Sunsets, mountains, 
oceans, forests, and the changing seasons all offer 
moments of awe.

6. Technological advances: You can connect 
with anyone, anywhere in the world, learn 
nearly anything, and access entertainment at your 
fingertips.

7. The capacity for growth: No matter where 
you are, you have the potential to learn, evolve, 
and improve.

8. Food: You have access to nourishment that 
sustains your body—whether it's a home-cooked 
meal, a cup of coffee, or a delicious treat. Farmer’s 
markets, supermarkets,endless restaurants.

9. Laughter: It’s a natural gift that can instantly 
brighten your mood, connect you with 
others, and help you cope with stress.

10. Your mind: The ability to think, problem-
solve, and create is a powerful gift that shapes your 
life every day.

11. Freedom of expression: You have the ability 
to express your thoughts, opinions, and ideas, 
something that many people throughout history 
fought for.

12. The kindness of strangers: There are 
countless moments where people show compassion 
or help each other, sometimes without even 
knowing the impact they make.

13. Art and creativity: The ability to experience 
or create art, music, literature, and other 
forms of creative expression enriches life.

14. Health: Even when it's not perfect, the fact 

that you have health, or access to healthcare, is 
something to appreciate.

15. Memory: The ability to recall the past—
whether to learn from it, enjoy good times, or reflect 
on how far you’ve come.

16. The internet: A vast resource for knowledge, 
connection, and entertainment that has revolutionized 
the way we live and learn.

17. The gift of time: Each day is a fresh opportunity 
to make a difference, pursue passions, and 
be with the people you care about.

18. Perspective: The ability to see the world 
from different angles and appreciate diversity in 
people, cultures, and experiences.

19. Hobbies and passions: Whether it’s sports, 
writing, painting, spiritual growth or anything in 
between, having interests that bring joy and purpose 
is invaluable.

20. Emotions: Your ability to feel joy, sadness, 
excitement, and every other emotion makes you 
deeply human and connected to the world.

21. The potential for adventure: Life is full 
of opportunities for new experiences, travel, 
and discovering unknowns..Planes,trains & 
autos.

22. Science and innovation: The progress 
humanity has made in medicine, space exploration, 
transportation, and more has vastly 
improved life expectancy and quality of life.

23. Books and knowledge: The ability to 
read, access information, and be inspired by 
writers, thinkers, and philosophers across 
time.

24. Resilience: No matter the challenges, 
you have the capacity to bounce back and 
continue moving forward.

25. Love: Whether romantic, familial, or 
religious love, this emotion and reality is the 
foundation of many meaningful experiences 
in life.

 
HHaappppyy HHoolliiddaayyss!! 
Lizzie’s Trail Inn and 
Richardson Museum 
will be decorated for the season 
and we look forward to your company! 
Please visit us at the museums on 
SSaattuurrddaayy,, DDeecceemmbbeerr 1133,, 
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for a cup of something warm, a bite of 
something sweet or savory, 
and a nice visit on our porches! 
Holiday craft table for the kids! 
Holiday music at 1pm from Remember When 
Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society 
167 East Mira Monte Avenue 
Everyone is welcome! No admission charge! 
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