Chapter:1 JOY AND PLEASURE
JOY AND
PLEASURE
21.10.24,
Monday, first hour: it was Professor Samuel Rufus Sir’s class. I was late. I
knew Sir would not be happy if I was late. I was confused about whether to stay
out, join the next class, and miss the inspiration, or to get scolded by him
and attend the class to receive the valuable motivation and inspiration that no
other staff gives.
I was aware
that if I attended his class, I would get something better personally, so I
chose to endure the scolding and seize the treasure of inspiration. As I
guessed, he was unhappy with my late entry, but he was kind enough to let me
sit inside the class.
He was
teaching the poem "The World" by Henry Vaughan, and the class was
really interesting. During this class, he talked about the difference between
"JOY" and "PLEASURE," which opened my mind’s eye.
He explained
that "PLEASURE" is temporary, while "JOY" is permanent.
This difference made me reflect and compare my past and present life.
When I was
in school, those days were the best, without mobile phones. I spent my time
writing diaries, and I preferred playing on the ground over playing on digital
devices. That built me into a sportive throwball player and taekwondo fighter.
I achieved success up to the state level. Those small metal medals, and the
moments of victory with my team, which I recorded in my diary years ago, still
give me heartfelt happiness to this day. Even when my parents said that I was
dumb and fit for nothing, I felt like those small medals were speaking to me.
They seemed to say, "Do you know how valuable I am? How can a dumb person
own me by defeating all her opponents? Don’t think like a fool by listening to
those senseless words." The praise I earned in dance, the gold medals I
won in sports, and the many diaries carrying my adventures and sweet memories
give me true joy to this day. I realize now that those were the times I pursued
true joy.
When I was
first introduced to smartphones, I was very curious to play games, chat on
WhatsApp, and use social media like other kids. When I think about the time I
invested in smartphone games, I see that it didn’t provide anything meaningful
or useful to me—it only gave me temporary pleasure. I realize that I started
losing the physical fitness I had built through hard work over many years. I
became lazy once I started seeking pleasure through mobile phones. I now
understand that when we invest time in pleasure, it can shatter in seconds what
we built over years.
Looking back
on my life, I realize something else: when one becomes obsessed with pleasure,
it can lead to addiction and then depression. In my second year of UG, I was
affected by typhoid, so I came home from the hostel. I couldn’t do any physical
work and was confined to bed. I was so weak that I started watching television
and scrolling through Instagram reels. With nothing else to do, I eventually
became bored and stressed. I literally went mad. I uninstalled all the social
media apps from my phone. The very things that gave me pleasure also depressed
me equally.
Later, I
dusted off all my old diaries and started reading them. They took me to a
nostalgic, sublime place. I read them multiple times and still didn’t get
bored. Visualizing what I had written in my diary gave me more joy than
watching a classic movie. Through them, I understood my personal growth over
the years.
As I
mentioned before, Professor Rufus Sir’s class inspired and motivated me to
write my first blog. His scoldings were worth enduring to attend his class.
Now, I am very joyful to publish my first blog. What I want to convey is that
every joy begins with small hardships, but the impact of that joy is eternal,
while pleasure begins with bliss, but that bliss is temporary.
I believe
larger sufferings bring larger joy later.
