Before anything else, let me assure you that this is not about BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism, masochism). Like many of my posts, this is an observation about life. More specifically, the duality of pain and pleasure that exists within it.

Let's consider the analogy of light and dark: A room seems bright because the darkness subdued. Yet without the presence of darkness, how do we perceive the brightness of the light?

Similarly, we cannot savour the sweetness of pleasure without the contrasting bitterness of pain.

The bad days make the good ones feel even more shiok (Image: Denny Müller, Unsplash)

Ouch... ouch... ooh... ooh

This duality manifests in various aspects of our lives. Many of us love spicy food because of the flavour and various nuances that spices add to a dish. But spiciness is actually pain caused by capsaicin, the ingredient in chili peppers that fools our brains into thinking that our mouth is on fire.

It's medieval torture to those who cannot tolerate spice. But for many of us, the sweating and the release of endorphins (to reduce the pain sensation) is downright addictive. Why else are malatang shops sprouting like mushrooms?

The pursuit of pleasure often involves a willingness to endure pain, whether it's the runner's high that follows the burning exertion of exercise, the stress of work that makes a vacation all the more rewarding, or the agony of childbirth that precedes the profound joy of parenthood.

After all the hard work, the champagne tastes even better as you toast to your sweet success (Image: Alexander Naglestad, Unsplash)

After a gruelling bike ride that leaves your heart racing, lungs burning, and thighs on fire, the feeling of cooling down and showering is nothing short of blissful.

Just as happiness and sadness, fun and boredom, beauty and ugliness coexist in our world, pleasure and pain are inextricably linked.

When we lament the challenges and misfortunes that befall us, we must remember that these moments of pain serve to heighten our appreciation for the good times.

If nothing bad ever happened, would we still recognise and cherish the blessings that come our way? Without the occasional bump in the road, would we still appreciate the smooth stretches?

Indeed, in life, there is no pleasure without pain.

(Main image: Johannes Plenio, Unsplash)

– Jeremy