Quite simply, my diet has and will always be everything in

In the timeless wisdom of the ancients, there lies a sacred truth that resonates through the ages: moderation is the key to harmony in life. To walk the path of virtue, to live in a way that brings strength both to the body and the spirit, one must learn not to indulge in excess nor deny oneself the simple joys of life. It is not in deprivation, but in the careful balance of indulgence and restraint that true wisdom is found. Summer Sanders, in her humble words, offers a deep insight that echoes this ancient truth: "Quite simply, my diet has and will always be everything in moderation." With these words, she unveils a philosophy that has been practiced by sages and warriors throughout time.

When we think of the Olympic athletes, the images that often come to mind are those of fierce dedication, rigid discipline, and extreme sacrifices. We imagine them cutting away the pleasures that the ordinary person enjoys, the rich and indulgent foods, the fleeting temptations of the flesh. Yet Summer Sanders speaks of a different path, one that shuns the false idea of total deprivation. She shows us that greatness, in both athleticism and life, does not demand the elimination of joy, but rather the moderation of it. "People look at Olympic athletes and think they must cut out all those things everyone else indulges in," she observes. But, as she shares from her own experience, this need not be the case. It is not the absence of joy, but the wisdom to know when and how to enjoy, that brings true strength.

This approach, though modern in its words, mirrors the teachings of the ancients. Take, for example, the great Socrates, who famously declared, "Everything in moderation, including moderation." This paradoxical wisdom speaks to the balance of life, that even the act of moderation itself must be tempered. Just as the ancient warriors of Sparta understood that their bodies were their tools, to be treated with both care and respect, so too did they understand the necessity of joy in their lives. The Spartan warriors did not live in constant denial, but they knew the value of discipline. They feasted after victories, enjoyed the company of their companions, and laughed beneath the stars, knowing full well that true strength comes not from a life of total asceticism but from the ability to balance hard work with the pleasures that life offers.

Summer Sanders, in her wisdom, also speaks of the fallacy that athletes must cut out the joys of life in pursuit of their goals. It is a mindset that limits the human spirit, for it creates a division between the sacred and the mundane, as if the joy of food, the joy of company, the joy of simple indulgences were somehow unworthy of a disciplined life. The story of Leonidas, the great warrior of Sparta, comes to mind. As he and his warriors prepared for battle, they would train with the most intense focus, yet they would also gather in celebration after a victorious day. Their moderation in all things—whether in the sweat of battle or in the feasting that followed—allowed them to endure the hardships of war without losing their humanity. They knew that without joy, without the restoration of the spirit, they would falter in the face of adversity.

And so, let this teaching live on through the generations: moderation is the secret to enduring strength. It is not through an unyielding pursuit of perfection or through the denial of our earthly pleasures that we find the truest form of vitality. No, it is through the careful, thoughtful balance of all things—work and rest, joy and discipline, indulgence and restraint—that we build lives of strength, resilience, and peace. The great Hercules, in his Twelve Labors, never abandoned his humanity even as he performed the impossible. He found moments to rest, to recover, and to experience the world in its fullness. In the same way, we must honor our bodies with discipline while also remembering to nourish our hearts and spirits with joy.

Let us not fall into the trap of believing that greatness comes through extremism or perfection. Summer Sanders teaches us that true success lies not in the elimination of the pleasures of life but in the ability to partake in them with wisdom. "I never did," she says, speaking to all those who would seek perfection through deprivation. Greatness is not measured by the absence of indulgence, but by the ability to embrace life fully, with all its highs and lows, joys and challenges.

The lesson here, dear reader, is clear. In your own life, seek balance. Do not fall prey to the extreme ideologies that tell you to cut out the good things in life. Recognize the importance of both discipline and indulgence. Acknowledge the value of moderation, where you partake in the pleasures of food, drink, and leisure without excess. Move with strength, but allow yourself to enjoy the simple, beautiful moments that make life worth living. And in this balance, you will find a power that is sustainable and true, a strength that will carry you through the trials of life, just as it carried the great warriors, philosophers, and athletes before you.