‘Everything in moderation’.
It’s an oft-referenced phrase, usually suggesting we approach life with a sense of balance.
As per Oscar Wilde’s pithy quote, however, do we have to do everything in moderation?
‘Moderation’ implies being sensible, exercising self-restraint, avoiding excess or extremes. How boring!
We are so often told to seize life with both hands. We never know when a day might be our last, so carpe diem. Go for it, full throttle.
There are certain things we should never exercise moderation in, but express them with fullness of passion – such as the infinite love and pride we have for our children.
There is no moderation about my love and pride for Hugo.
Other passions, too, we should feel free to indulge in without moderation (provided they don’t hurt others, of course) – our hobbies, our interests. The things that make you uniquely you.
Doing everything without moderation is not without consequences, however.
‘Everything in moderation’ is frequently used in relation to food, and healthy lifestyles.
Regularly pigging out on junk food and overindulging on other things that are bad for us may mean our lives are consequently affected by illness or disease, thus limiting our ability to seize life with both hands.
That’s a bit of a downer, but sadly true.
So, everything in moderation in terms of food and exercise. Chocolate and wine are fine, (I couldn’t be without them) just not too much. Luckily, I enjoy fruit and vegetables too (portion sizes are my downfall).
Enough exercise, but not too much either. That advice is not just for mere mortals – even professional athletes can over-train, get tired and injured meaning their ability to exercise is limited.
So, some things in moderation, others not.
How do you know the difference?
Cheesy, yes, but listen to your intuition about what matters most to you, what you are most passionate about, and where you want your life to go.
Headspace Perspective 
Love this and thought the Greeks invented this saying, according my Dad anyway and I love how he always says, ‘everything in moderation, even moderation itself’. Live by that really! Great post as always lovely! Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts x
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Ah, I didn’t know that! Thanks lovely, glad you liked it! xxx
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I couldn’t agree more. I was brought up very differently in terms of hugs and affection from my parents. The first time my mum told me she loved me was when my eldest was born and I remember feeling so shocked at her words. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe it to be true, its just that she had never said it before. Now not a day goes by without my children being told they are loved and so yes, I agree. Not all thing should be in moderation x x x
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Oh Susanne that’s really sad. Expressing or feeling love for your children should never be in moderation. Thanks so much for commenting xxx
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great post you can have too much of a good thing, life is about finding the right balance and doing what makes you happy!
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So right! Thanks for your comment xxx
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I think a lot of people think acting in moderation means they are somehow being deprived of things. The YOLO mentality seemingly taking over society. I do agree though that love for children should be full throttle and endless and forever and ever!
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Yes, it’s good to have nice things, but there needs to be a balance with material things. May our love for our children know no bounds ever! Thanks for your comment xxx
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We definitely need to listen to ourselves more. And trust that voice. It knows x
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I agree. Thanks for your comment xxx
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You put it very well… we should listen to what’s best for US, for our families and the road we want to take, or the road we don’t yet know we want to take (deep!). Yes, we should do what we want to do, as long as it’s not hurting anyone else…
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Thank you. Yes it’s deep, but I think how you articulate it is true xxx
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You are, of course, absolutely right. We shouldn’t moderate our love for our children, or family and friends. And, we should be passionate about the things that we love to do. I agree with Maddy that moderation should make us pause and reflect on our choices. Great post, thank you so much for linking to #ThePrompt
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Definitely, we should be full throttle about some things, such as love for our children, but consider the effects of most other things. Thanks for commenting xxx
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Unfortunately the biggest problem in today’s society is that not everyone is able to self moderate, which leads to the trouble… I’ve certainly been there in the past and am glad I learnt how to. Love and pride for our children should never be moderated as far as I’m concerned 🙂 Great post hon xxx #ThePrompt
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Absolutely – we’re a bit of an instant-gratification society, and we don’t like to think of the consequence of our actions. Thanks for commenting xxx
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Great, through-provoking post. I agree with you that some things are impossible to be moderate about and as you say I’d have no wish to be moderate in the love of my children! It certainly makes sense to be careful about certain foods (although my poem for the prompt suggests otherwise!) but moderation rather than abstinence seems sensible. I think we need to take the concept of ‘moderation’ as as something to make us pause and consider our actions at times. Then we can follow a combination of our brain and our heart as to how to continue. #theprompt
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I haven’t read your poem yet, but I’ll pop over for a read. I think you’re right, though, moderation should be something that makes us pause and consider – that’s probably a good rule of thumb for life in general. Thanks for reading and commenting xxx
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