The Pain of Pleasure – Is It Worth It?

Okay…I realize I have spent a considerable amount of time ‘whining’ about the cold. It is hard not to, considering the persistent frigid temperatures we have  been experiencing for the last few weeks here in Western Colorado! But, it’s caused me to turn toward warmer thoughts, and thinking how wonderful it would be to be sitting on the back porch, basking in a hot tub, and being totally unaffected by the biting cold winter air-something I was able to do Christmas night while visiting family on the front range for the holidays.

Now, some people might be  reluctant to undertake such an experience because of the bitter cold that awaits them when stepping OUT of the hot tub to dry off. The anticipation of that dreadful moment of stepping from the warmth and comfort of the water into the bone-chilling air is enough to make them sacrifice all of the pleasure the hot tub affords.

And so the question comes to mind ‘Is the 30 minutes of pleasure of soaking in the hot tub worth the one minute of pain of getting out?’ For me, the answer is undeniably ‘yes’.

Come to think of it, there are many times in life that pleasure and pain go hand in hand. For example, sitting down to a delectable meal of chili pie…..a mountain of Fritos, cheese, and lettuce, covered in piping hot chili. Oh how wonderful it is to indulge – until the fateful moment you realize you have eaten far too much. What was so pleasurable just moments ago is now agony as you sit, stuffed beyond measure, and asking yourself the question, “why?”  It happens every time.

How many of us have had family pets that brought us so much joy, but we  were brought to tears when these beloved animals came to the end of their life. Is the pain and the grief you feel at that moment worth all of those wonderful, happy moments the two of you shared on countless occasions?

Most parents can identify with the thrill of childbirth – only to experience the agony of adolescence.
How about the thrill of buying a brand new car, only to suffer the financial pinch when it comes time to pay tax and license.

The list goes on and on.

The fact is, pleasure is often times accompanied by pain. It is inescapable. Each of us is left to decide for ourselves, “is it worth it?” Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn’t. And while the current inversion that hovers over the valley has brought much unpleasantness to it’s inhabitants, I can tell you that the beautiful spring, summer, and fall that awaits us here in Western Colorado is definitely worth the pain of a few sub-zero nights.