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The Double-Edged Sword of Values and Judgment
And why you can’t have one without the other
Think of something you value. Not in the materialistic sense; not a physical object, but something in the moral sphere. Anything at all. And then think about what it actually means to hold that value dear to your heart.
Personally, amongst numerous other things, I happen to value staying in shape through physical fitness. I think maintaining health and fitness is a virtue and a benefit and should be actively cultivated and celebrated as such (along the lines of the ancient Greeks). Frankly, as someone who’s been blessed with a remarkably active metabolism and has consequently always been nearly devoid of body fat, I tend to look for the same in romantic partners. I find that I’m only physically attracted to those who are likewise slim and trim.
Even among my own gender, I admire those who are athletic and active, those who care about their appearance — especially as they roll up on middle age. I have a hearty respect for those who don’t view a beer gut as inevitable, those who refuse to embrace the “dad bod” or to “let themselves go.” And for this, despite being fully aware that it’s unlikely to win me many friends, I’m not the least bit apologetic. Far from it.
