Then and Now

There is this about the human condition
not much changes. At one time he would be 
called a jovial man but the description brings
forward the vision of a colossal painting by
Jacob Jordaens of a Renaissance-period
wine-swilling obese paterfamilias, so in this 
era he would be labelled an extrovert and 
in point of fact no one could mistake his 
trim athletic form and smiling face for anything 
but the visage of a perfectly nice man with a 
well balanced attitude of moderation in all things.
The Golden Rule handed down through the ages
and heeded by few. To Jordaens' man the 
passage of time conveyed the adage of eat
drink and be merry for none know what the 
morrow brings, viewing his ample flesh with 
satisfaction as a proud symbol of prosperity. 
Our friend is circumspect, enjoying life and 
planning to do so while his longevity permits 
taking pleasure in leisure pursuits, restraining 
appetite for all excesses from food and drink 
to risky behaviour, taking pride in managing 
his severe and chronic health conditions.