Middle of the Road

Right now, I'm working on temperance. It's been said that "everything in moderation" is the key to success. I'm not sure that's entirely true, for sometimes it takes a lot of work to succeed, and there are times when "overdoing it" is what's required. Anyhow, for my purposes at this time, I'm trying to limit some of my daily pleasures to see if this works. In some areas, yes, in others no. What do I mean by that?? Well, I think that some of the best times I've ever had in my life have occurred while "overdoing it!" I find a certain dullness in temperance, rather than the suggested state of peace. I agree with the idea of balance, but what if, to me balance means totally overdoing it for a night or two, and then resting for a bit? I'm balancing one with the other, right? For instance, when I read a book, I read the whole thing at once, voraciously, not wanting to put it down until I've finished. Then, perhaps, I won't read another for several months. Is that bad? Should I just read a little bit every day, always, without taking a hiatus? Okay-bad example. What if I'm overly health conscious regarding what I eat, and then one day each week, I eat 20 hot wings with 3 or 4 bloody marys. Or should I have one hot wing each day? I'm trying to find the value in temperance, and I'm just not getting it??! It feels more like deprivation to me than doing things my way.