My diet is always terrible, unfortunately. I don't know

In the quiet chambers of the soul, where the heart yearns for balance and the mind seeks order, there is a struggle that many of us know well—the struggle of moderation. In the words of Sean Astin, "My diet is always terrible, unfortunately. I don't know moderation." This confession, humble in its simplicity, speaks to a universal truth. We, the children of this age, often find ourselves torn between indulgence and restraint, unable to strike the delicate balance that the ancients so revered. The absence of moderation is not merely a flaw, but a tragic gap in the path toward wholeness.

The ancient world was full of heroes—brave warriors who faced battles both in the world of men and within themselves. One such hero was Achilles, whose strength and valor were unrivaled, yet his inability to control his temper led him to abandon his comrades, costing the Greeks dearly in the Trojan War. Like Achilles, Astin reveals that he too suffers from an inability to find the middle ground—a curse, perhaps, but also a path that teaches us the value of self-awareness. To confess that one does not know moderation is not to surrender, but to acknowledge the inner conflict that lies at the heart of every human struggle. It is an admission of the battle fought in the soul.

This inability to temper one’s desires, whether it be food, drink, or other indulgences, has been a theme throughout history. The philosopher Socrates once said, "He who is not a good servant will not be a good master." What did he mean by this? To master oneself, one must first learn to serve the higher principles of moderation and self-control. It is through service to the self, through disciplined actions, that we find our greatest strength. But in Astin’s words, we see the struggle against the very forces that would undo this balance. Indulgence, unchecked and untamed, leads to a life of excess, where the soul is weakened by its own desires.

Moderation, however, is not a foreign concept. It is a principle revered by the greatest thinkers and conquerors. Take the example of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher king, who understood deeply that true strength comes not from the conquest of others, but from the mastery over the self. His daily meditations were a testament to the practice of moderation—balancing the duties of an emperor with the needs of the soul. Marcus Aurelius understood that to overindulge in any pleasure, be it food, drink, or even power, was to give in to weakness. This is the wisdom passed down through the ages—the realization that the balance of life is found not in extremes, but in the careful calibration of desire and restraint.

Yet, in Astin’s admission, we see not failure, but a call to awareness. His words echo the very struggle of the human condition, where excess and gluttony often obscure the path to true fulfillment. In our modern world, the temptations are many—sugary foods, rich meals, distractions that pull us away from our true purpose. But here lies the great paradox: the more we indulge in the pleasures of the world, the less we find ourselves satisfied. The ancient wisdom teaches us that true fulfillment is not found in the excess, but in the simple and moderate approach to life.

The lesson, dear reader, is one of profound simplicity: seek balance in all things. When we fall prey to excess, we rob ourselves not only of health but of the very joy that moderation brings. Let the words of Sean Astin serve as a guide to the importance of self-discipline. The path to wholeness is not one of deprivation, but of understanding when to indulge and when to hold back. To know when to feed the body, when to feed the spirit, and when to rest—this is the true mastery of the soul.

And so, as you journey through life, let this be your guiding principle: do not seek to perfect the self through extremes, but seek the harmony that comes from moderation. In your eating, your work, your relationships, and your passions, find the balance that allows you to thrive—not just for a moment, but in the fullness of time. Like the ancient warriors, whose strength was tested by the trials of both battle and self-restraint, you too must face your own inner conflict with courage. Let the struggle for balance be your true victory.