When I taught Classical Greek at Biola, one of the first Greek maxims my students learned was this one:
I might translate it as "Nothing in excess." Although it was used to curb physical appetites, its more common usage was as a reminder to avoid excessive emotion, especially grief. It's a call to avoid extremes and practice balance in all things.
Like many of you, I've always been a pretty ambitious goal-setter. I thrive on accomplishing difficult tasks. But the ideal is moderation in all things. "Northing in excess" means adhering to a workout and exercise program that's the best possible one for you. And the appropriate regimen is something only you can figure out for yourself. As with Aesop's famous story about the tortoise and the hare, it's all about being "slow and steady." We ask ourselves, "Have I fallen prey to the overuse syndrome? Are there any structural weaknesses in my body that I've overlooked? How frequently should I exercise?"
Exercise can guarantee fitness but it can't guarantee good health. We can stay healthy only if we take care of our body as we would the cars we drive.
Through the years I've discovered that I'm a risk taker, perhaps too much so. Yes, I need to be challenged, as you do. But I need to find out how much effort I can put out, what I can endure, and if I measure up.
It's easier to grow older if we are neither bored nor boring. Exercise is vital to our mental, physical, and (I would argue) even our spiritual health. Life is, or should be, a struggle against complacency and apathy. Neither, however, should it be imbalanced.
I hope to become better at this as the years go by.