Word of the Week

Consider this...

I love moderation. It’s like, well, my favorite thing. I think moderation is the bees’ knees.

When I say moderation, what I’m often thinking of is the Middle Ground: the path, I believe, that’s best to walk in the case of nearly all things.

For instance, on the political spectrum, I would consider myself moderate. I agree neither with the right nor the left, but think that the right answers to our political questions lie somewhere in between the two extremes, drawing from both sides of the arguments.

When it comes to negotiations, moderation will often win the day. There is rarely a time when a win-lose situation must arise. If we look for a way to have a win-win, recognizing that a Middle Ground approach to each issue will get us where we all should be, even if we think we want otherwise, then I think all parties can be happy.

Some people tell me that my eschewing of the extremes and quest to walk the Middle Path is itself an extreme stance. I’m extreme about moderation, they say.

But no, even moderation must be used in moderation if an extreme stance is better for us. For instance, I don’t think that rather than go on extreme diets we can instead diet moderately. We must avoid diets altogether, for they are all harmful in the same ways. I also don’t think that we can love ourselves moderately or take a Middle Ground approach to accepting our bodies. We have to be extremists in our self-love (but not too extreme in the sense of public displays of personal affection, if you know what I mean, Mr. Herman).

Generally speaking, though, moderation is the way to go. Next time you’re thinking about doing something extreme, or you insist that there’s only “one right way,” I urge you to consider exercising some moderation in your life.

Moderation is also great as it applies to health. Both food and exercise are great for us, and when we listen to our bodies, we will be able to enjoy the right amount of both, neither starving or stuffing ourselves or remaining constantly sedentary or exercising incessantly.

Moderation - try some today!