As a youngster, I was absolutely convinced that if I discovered something wonderful, the more I had of it the greater my life would be. When I was four or five, I uncovered the deliciousness of fresh-picked cherries. Sitting on my aunt’s cold linoleum floor, I proceeded to eat an entire crate of Bing cherries…all by myself. The next morning, I woke up covered in red hives–as if the cherries were bubbling up underneath my skin. It was a painful tribute to my overindulgence and even now the sight of cherries makes my skin itch.

There is a secret that is revealed when we choose to apply moderation in our lives. Whether we are examining our food intake, how we spend our money, or what we choose to surround ourselves with, the use of moderation can be the key to achieving balance. By valuing what we have and recognizing that "more" doesn’t necessarily mean "better," we can actually sit back and enjoy where we are instead of always scrambling to obtain more.

Throughout this week, we have shown ways to apply the “less is more” principle in key areas of our lives. We explored how to find tremendous value without overindulging and have been given ideas on how to bring balance. Take some time this weekend to look around you. What areas could use some help becoming "less?" Are there spots in your everyday life that could use some restructuring? How are some of the ways that you have discovered the value of moderation?