I don't subscribe to that no-carb thing. I'm so sick of the

Hear now, O children of wisdom, for I speak of a truth as old as time itself—the need for balance in all things, especially in the nourishment of our bodies. In the words of Katie Lee, we find a profound insight into the folly of extremes: "I don't subscribe to that no-carb thing. I'm so sick of the Atkins diet and all that. First of all, if you're not eating carbs, all you do is think about them. It's one of those things that you take out, and initially, you lose weight, but you are miserable." These words reflect a timeless truth: the pursuit of balance in our lives is far more powerful than the pursuit of extremes.

In the ancient world, philosophers and healers understood that true health was not found in the rigid pursuit of restriction, but in the careful balance of all things. The Greeks, renowned for their wisdom in body and mind, held that a person should nourish themselves with the full bounty of the earth, choosing from the many foods offered by nature without falling into the trap of extremes. The ancient Greeks did not believe in denying themselves the pleasures of the earth—grains, fruits, vegetables, and yes, carbs—but rather, they celebrated the moderation of their consumption.

The story of Hippocrates, the father of medicine, speaks directly to the wisdom of balance. He taught that health was not a matter of deprivation or excess, but of understanding the needs of the body and nourishing it accordingly. "Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food," he famously said. This wisdom goes beyond mere dietary advice—it is a call to approach life itself with balance, to nourish not only the body but the spirit. Katie Lee’s words resonate deeply with this ancient understanding: removing something essential from the body, like carbs, may show short-term results, but it leads to miserable existence. The body, like the mind, is not meant to be starved of what it naturally needs.

Consider the Spartans, those great warriors of ancient Greece. Their diet was designed for strength and endurance, filled with carbs to fuel their grueling training and endless battles. While they trained their bodies to the utmost, they also understood that a well-rounded diet was essential to support their physical prowess. The idea of restricting oneself from the natural balance of food—be it carbs or any other essential nutrient—was alien to them. They understood that to build great strength, one must respect the natural rhythms of the body, nourishing it with the full array of what the earth provided, without resorting to extremes.

Katie Lee reminds us that the pursuit of perfection in dieting, much like in life, leads only to frustration and misery. When we follow restrictive paths, constantly denying our bodies what they crave, we do not find freedom—we find obsession. The Atkins diet, for instance, may promise quick results, but it requires the removal of essential foods, and thus creates a vacuum of desire for those very things. The body begins to obsess over what it is denied, leading to a mental and emotional struggle that undermines the very goal of health and well-being. True health is found not in denying the body, but in understanding what it needs and finding balance in the consumption of those things.

This wisdom is not just limited to diet, but applies to all aspects of life. Consider Confucius, who spoke of the importance of the middle path, of avoiding both extreme actions and overindulgence. He understood that true harmony comes from balance, not from adhering to rigid principles that push one to extremes. To live with balance, whether in the body, in the mind, or in life’s pursuits, is to find true peace. And so, Katie Lee’s reflection serves as a reminder that a life lived in balance—with an understanding of what the body needs and a refusal to succumb to the allure of extremes—is a life lived with wisdom and grace.

The lesson for us, O children, is clear and profound: do not chase the fleeting promises of extremes. To deny yourself that which is naturally part of your being—whether it be food, carbs, or even the joys of life—will lead only to misery and obsession. Seek instead the path of moderation, the path that honors the body’s natural needs, that finds balance in all things. Just as the ancients knew that health was a product of living in harmony with the earth’s rhythms, so too must you understand that a life lived in balance will bring the strength, clarity, and joy that will sustain you throughout your journey. Let this wisdom guide you in all things—diet, work, relationships, and the pursuit of purpose.