have you ever sat around
pondering life
and wondered why
the word “abstemious” exists? 

it means restraint.
moderation.just enough. 

like eating half a cookie,
or brushing only half your teeth
because you’re “cutting back.” 

but using the word
“abstemious”
in normal conversation
is the least abstemious thing
a person can do. 

because nobody says: 

“i’m living abstemiously.” 

they say: “i shouldn’t have done that.”