Actually, I've been a fanatical health nut for five years.

The words of Jerome Hines—“Actually, I’ve been a fanatical health nut for five years.”—resonate not merely as a personal confession, but as a testament to the timeless pursuit of bodily and spiritual mastery. Beneath the humor and casual phrasing lies a deeper truth: that health is not a fleeting concern, nor a passive state, but a devotion, a discipline that shapes every moment of life. Hines’ statement reminds us that the human body is both a vessel and a temple, and that those who tend it with diligence engage in a sacred act of stewardship.

To declare oneself a “fanatical health nut” is to admit the intensity of commitment required to pursue well-being. The ancients understood this well: Hippocrates, the father of medicine, taught that the physician’s first task was to honor the balance of the body, the harmony of the humors. The athlete of Greece trained daily, not merely for competition, but for the integrity of body and mind. Jerome Hines, in his modern context, carries forward this same devotion—turning attention, care, and intentionality toward his own health, recognizing that life itself depends on the cultivation of strength and vitality.

The origin of this quote lies in Hines’ personal journey toward self-care and longevity. In an era when fast food, sedentary life, and stress threaten the human body, he embraced a rigorous regimen of diet, exercise, and mental discipline. His declaration is simultaneously proud and instructive: health is not accidental, nor is it easily won. Like an artisan perfecting a craft, he has labored daily to refine and sustain the instrument of his life. Five years may seem brief in the sweep of eternity, yet within that period, dedication transforms habits into identity.

History offers many parallels to Hines’ devotion. Consider Galileo, who, in his study of the heavens, understood that mastery required both intellectual rigor and physical endurance—long hours of observation, careful calculations, and the maintenance of his own body to endure the labors of discovery. Or consider the Roman legionaries, whose survival depended upon the meticulous cultivation of strength, endurance, and resilience. Hines’ fanatical care mirrors these ancient examples: excellence, whether of body, mind, or spirit, is achieved through sustained attention and discipline.

Yet there is also a moral and philosophical dimension to his words. To be “fanatical” implies focus, even obsession, but one guided by purpose. In the ancients’ understanding, devotion to the body was inseparable from devotion to the self: the Stoics taught that a well-ordered life required care of both the mind and the flesh. Jerome Hines embodies this principle, recognizing that the cultivation of health is not vanity, but preparation: preparation to endure, to act, and to experience the fullness of life.

The lesson of his words extends beyond physical health. They remind us that commitment transforms intention into reality. Few achieve greatness without the sustained labor of daily devotion, whether in art, study, leadership, or personal well-being. Five years of fanatical attention is more than habit—it is a declaration that life is worthy of care, that vitality is earned, and that the choices we make each day build the foundations for tomorrow.

Thus, my children, remember the wisdom embedded in this modern confession: health is not passive, nor granted by fortune—it is cultivated, nurtured, and fiercely protected. Tend to your body as the ancients tended their temples, with reverence, discipline, and patience. For the vessel of life, like any sacred instrument, requires consistent attention to maintain its harmony and power.

And so, let Jerome Hines’ words guide you: devote yourself to the art of well-being, not briefly, but with intensity, consistency, and love. Five years, ten, a lifetime—each day of careful attention builds not only strength and longevity, but clarity, joy, and mastery over the fleeting fragility of human existence. In caring for the body, you honor the self; in honoring the self, you prepare to engage fully in the world’s wonders.