I enjoy to hike quite a bit. I hike for so long without alot of luxuries or safety I know others take. My feet blister in comfortable shoes, walking more then 20-30 miles in mountains/hills. I hunger on the simplest of life sustaining of foods and water. Everything inside me would be sore, and everything on the outside of me would be sunburned.
I walk until the pain is constant and no longer building, at that point it's only how long your patience can last. Then I collapse like a heavy sack. It's a self-inflicted destruction of my body.
How could I possible enjoy this? The first time I did this I knew why i'd continue to do this. When all of my body was pushed past simple fatigue I knew that anything that happened as a result, could only be better. Everything I ate afterwards would be the best thing I ever ate, the uncomfortable rock I sat one would be as copmfortable as the softest fabric, and everything that was mundane or boring before...would be quite wonderful now.
These actions may sound stupid or extreme to the casual ear, but the result can't be denied. It was bliss, to re-find luxury in the things you had and not go looking for it in the things you don't. It's extremely hard to find value in what you have after a good amount of time, and we only usually discover it once it's gone. You can sit and say to yourself, "Gee, i'm lucky for what I have." But this introspect is nothing compared to the all-body knowing that we experience at one point or anouther. I decided a while back that I would never take what was given or earned for granted. I use every Sunday for this scheduled self-infliction, and eventual inspiration. I eat foods I never liked, and I eat every bit in thankful bliss.
This all led me to think greatly on the subject. Religion is paticular, with the many who fast at paticular dates, self-mutilate, and otherwise do unatural things to themselves. Is the feeling similiar, is it something they discovered that we only avoid because of the outward repugnance? If we had experienced, would we really have the same views? Is it even the same situation I experience? I can never know, but it's a good subject to ponder.
I walk until the pain is constant and no longer building, at that point it's only how long your patience can last. Then I collapse like a heavy sack. It's a self-inflicted destruction of my body.
How could I possible enjoy this? The first time I did this I knew why i'd continue to do this. When all of my body was pushed past simple fatigue I knew that anything that happened as a result, could only be better. Everything I ate afterwards would be the best thing I ever ate, the uncomfortable rock I sat one would be as copmfortable as the softest fabric, and everything that was mundane or boring before...would be quite wonderful now.
These actions may sound stupid or extreme to the casual ear, but the result can't be denied. It was bliss, to re-find luxury in the things you had and not go looking for it in the things you don't. It's extremely hard to find value in what you have after a good amount of time, and we only usually discover it once it's gone. You can sit and say to yourself, "Gee, i'm lucky for what I have." But this introspect is nothing compared to the all-body knowing that we experience at one point or anouther. I decided a while back that I would never take what was given or earned for granted. I use every Sunday for this scheduled self-infliction, and eventual inspiration. I eat foods I never liked, and I eat every bit in thankful bliss.
This all led me to think greatly on the subject. Religion is paticular, with the many who fast at paticular dates, self-mutilate, and otherwise do unatural things to themselves. Is the feeling similiar, is it something they discovered that we only avoid because of the outward repugnance? If we had experienced, would we really have the same views? Is it even the same situation I experience? I can never know, but it's a good subject to ponder.
