...Including Moderation

September 17, 2008

So, why Aristotle? Why go back to a 2,000 year old Greek philosopher?

Because of the concept of the Golden Mean, the name given to the concept in Aristotle's philosophy that to live an ethical, good, and presumably happy life, you have to live in a balanced way, avoiding excesses.

This idea did not originate with Aristotle, but goes back even further, to Confucian writings in about the 5th century BCE (or, Before the Common Era).

So, for several thousand years, great thinkers have been espousing the idea of moderation.

Of course, I gave this post the title ...Including Moderation because every now and then, you have to go "off the rails" a little bit ("off the rails" is an expression that I have seen used by the British, and I like it). I originally thought that I made up this addendum to the "Moderation in all things" quote, but when I Googled it I discovered that I am not quite the philosophical genius that I thought.

Oh well.

So, from the lofty heights of philosophical contemplation, I have descended to the world of practical, everyday reality. How can I utilize the concept of moderation in my own life?

Well, for starters, there is chocolate. A substance over which I am powerless.

In the past year or two, in response to some intense personal happenings and (probably) menopause, I have indulged my craving for chocolate in a positively apocalyptic way. As in, "well, if everything is going to hell in a handbasket anyway, I might as well eat some more chocolate." I have been most immoderate in my chocolate consumption.

Basically, if there was chocolate in, on, or around something, I ate it.

Now, I happen to believe that chocolate makes the world go round. That it is one of God's great gifts to us, along with butter cake, "Brideshead Revisited" (the book and the miniseries), Van Morrison, Mozart and margaritas. Also Netflix.

But immoderate consumption of chocolate (especially dark chocolate, late at night) caused me to lose sleep (caffeine), gain weight, and feel guilty. And thus, a good thing became a bad thing, because of excess.

So, I have begun to be more prudent in my chocolate eating. I now allow myself two squares of Ghirardelli 60% Cacao every night. I eat them in small bites, I do not gobble. I let them melt, and savor them. They last longer that way.