When is too much, too much? Can too much of a "good thing" be bad? I remember an early childhood memory, when I was very, very young, I loved chocolate covered cherries. They were my favorite. These chocolate delicacies were not readily available to this young person. These sweet treasures were found usually on special occasions, such as Christmas or some other special holiday. But one day my Grandfather gave me a whole box of these succulent candies. I was, to say the very least, quite pleased and happy to have all of these delicious treats for myself. It was as if I had found the hidden treasures of the tomb of Tutankhamen or a treasure trove of some lost Incan gold. I was entering the gateway to a chocolate Shangri La. I had in my possession the very ticket to a savory delectable vacation from the ordinary candies that I was familiar with. Now with these mouth-watering confections in my hands I was ready to go and eat to my heart's content all of these chocolate treats. I secretly removed myself, along with my booty, from my "adult probation officers", who called themselves my parents, and proceeded to the secluded lair of my bedroom. Here, in this private confidential room, I could proceed unhindered to consume all of the wonderful candied gems that I had been given possession of by my generous Grandfather. I ate them all immediately, one by luscious one, till I had filled my tiny little stomach to the point of bursting at the seams. Which, unfortunately, I must report happened convulsively and instantaneously. Such was my glutinous fate. I was learning my lesson the "hard way", as my Mother would say. Now, many years have passed since that fateful instructive day. I have witnessed many an "allergic" reaction when I wrongfully assumed that what I have isn't enough. The pursuit of the superfluous, no matter what it is, leads me down the path where the outrageous stings of possessiveness dwell. The obsessive "buzzing" noise of the appeal to acquire more and more can deafen the true voice of my "better" angels and weaken my resolve to live within my means. The swelling of my misdirected wants will only lead me to another convulsive and instantaneous eruption of what my Mother once called "learning the hard way". Now, I still enjoy eating chocolate covered cherries. That fact remains the same. The difference now is that I don't need to eat them all at once. I save some for another day. I have learned that life is not a sprint race but rather a marathon. I found it extremely valuable and necessary to learn the value of pacing oneself in this competition called Life. It is true that "Less is More". visionary imagist "Joey"