I like to stay balanced in life, so I don't have to do some

In the ancient scrolls of wisdom, there is a fundamental truth that resonates through the ages: the path to a good life is found not in extremes, but in balance. Julia Stiles, in her reflection, "I like to stay balanced in life, so I don't have to do some radical diet. I love my job, and I obviously want to feel good when I am working, but I also want to feel energized and agile all the time. As a New Yorker, I live in the land of plenty, and yet every day I see people who could use a good meal," speaks of the timeless struggle between indulgence and restraint. Her words echo the ancient teachings that the key to vitality is found not in denying oneself the pleasures of life, nor in overindulging, but in finding a center where moderation rules.

The Greeks, those ancient philosophers who sought the highest ideals of human existence, spoke often of balance. Aristotle, in his Nicomachean Ethics, taught that the path to virtue is the path of the golden mean—not too much and not too little, but the right amount at the right time. It is the principle that governs all things—courage without recklessness, generosity without waste, pleasure without excess. This ancient concept of balance aligns perfectly with Stiles’ approach to life. In a world filled with endless choices, from diets that promise quick results to indulgences that tempt the soul, the wisdom of balance calls us to navigate between the extremes, finding the sweet spot where we can thrive both in work and in well-being.

To walk the path of balance is not simply about what we eat or how we exercise, but how we integrate those practices into the rhythms of our lives. Stiles’ understanding of the importance of feeling both energized and agile at all times speaks to the holistic nature of well-being. It is not enough to simply focus on one aspect of the self, be it physical appearance or career success. True fulfillment comes when all parts of the self are nourished—body, mind, and spirit. The ancient Stoics, such as Seneca and Epictetus, spoke often of the harmony between these aspects of the self, reminding us that one must not be dominated by the body’s needs or the mind’s desires, but must strike a balance where each serves the other.

In Stiles’ acknowledgment of living in the land of plenty, she touches on a profound truth that was also recognized by the sages of the ancient world. In New York, the modern-day city of excess, she sees how abundance often coexists with deprivation—how some are blessed with everything while others struggle to meet their most basic needs. This duality mirrors the observations of Plato, who, in his work The Republic, wrote about the ideal society and the dangers of excess. He warned that when a society becomes fixated on wealth and material gain, it risks losing sight of the true purpose of life: harmony, justice, and the well-being of all its members. Stiles’ awareness of the world around her—the disparity between abundance and need—echoes this ancient wisdom and serves as a reminder that balance is not just personal, but societal.

The lesson here, then, is that we must strive to live in harmony with both our personal needs and the larger needs of the world. We must not allow the abundance around us to lead us into indulgence, nor must we fall into the trap of deprivation, where we deny ourselves the pleasures that nourish the soul. Instead, we must seek to balance our desires, recognizing that the true strength of the human spirit lies in the ability to maintain equilibrium. Just as a skilled warrior knows when to fight and when to rest, so too must we learn when to indulge and when to exercise restraint.

In practical terms, this balance requires conscious effort. Let us not fall prey to the false promise of radical diets or extreme lifestyle changes that demand everything from us in the name of quick results. Instead, we must cultivate habits that are both sustainable and enjoyable. We must seek nourishment that fuels not just the body, but the soul. A balanced diet is not one of deprivation, but of moderation—where we can enjoy the good things in life while still honoring our health. Just as the ancient healers understood that the body must be treated with respect and care, so too must we nourish ourselves with thought and intention.

Let us, then, take Stiles' wisdom to heart. In a world filled with excess and scarcity, let us walk the path of balance, finding the harmony between what we desire and what we need. Let us nourish ourselves with both the good stuff and the occasional indulgence, knowing that it is the steady rhythm of balance that sustains us through life’s challenges. And as we move forward, let us also recognize that the balance we seek in our own lives extends to the world around us—to those who have enough and those who do not. In this way, we create a more harmonious existence, not just for ourselves, but for all who walk the earth with us.