Pleasure Without Anticipation or Disappointment

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One summer many years ago, when we were both working and living in Keswick, Ontario, we were making plans for a summer  outing on our Sea Ray. It had been a long cold winter and we were so looking forward to getting away from everything on a trip through the Trent-Severn Waterways. Finally, the departure day came and we left the dock at the marina and slowly motored out into the lake. As soon as we were clear of the harbour I was able to push the throttle full forward. I suddenly stood up, threw my arms into the air and let out one great howl! The anticipation was over and we were finally on our way.

Over the years I have wondered about, what I might call, the sequence of pleasure. The dictionary would probably define pleasure as happy satisfaction. But so many times the anticipation is greater than the satisfaction. That is not to say we did not have a wonderful summer vacation that year, but often the suspense that precedes an event is more exciting than the occasion itself. As someone once wrote, 'Why does pleasure lose its pleasure?'

There are those who said we humans are nothing but biological pleasure seeking and pain avoiding animals! Sounds like Freudian psychology to me! I can safely say that for many of us life is much more than that.  Around 300 BC the followers of Epicurus taught that pleasure was the greatest good. It was not hedonism as we might define it today. Epicureans pleasure was more than just physical pleasure.  It was living modestly, limiting desires and gaining knowledge. Sounds like a decent plan.

Obviously, what gives us pleasure varies from person to person. Some feelings bring joy and tranquility and others bring anxiety and pain. In general we achieve pleasure by satisfying our own basic biological needs. For example sex, eating, achievements, knowledge, socializing, music and art to name a few. So pleasurable  experiences cover a very large canvas.

One of the great advantages of getting old is that with far fewer obligations, like work, meetings, traffic, children and a mortgage, there is time  to enjoy life in the present.  The mind is not cluttered with the stress and worries about surviving in this high-tech, high pressure society and what remains is the present moment and obvious pleasure it can afford. Early this morning for example, as I was returning from my walk along the lake front, I noticed the lush greenery along the path, the various colours of the trees, listened to the lapping of the water and the chirping of the birds, and watched the sun gently rise in the East. The only other noise, a bit of distraction I admit, was the tinnitus buzzing in my ears! 

Of course I still anticipate and plan for pleasurable experiences. Often they follow the old pattern of anticipation, fulfillment and satisfaction. But because of age some of the previous pleasures, both body and soul, are no longer possible. But being aware that we are surrounded constantly with unexpected opportunities is perhaps a gift to the old. Having discovered a wonderful new pleasure, living in the here and now and opening my whole being to that moment, is probably one of the joys preserved for octogenarians to enjoy and something for the rest of you to anticipate.

Soren Kierkegaard, who was a Danish Philosopher, theologian and poet and perhaps the first Existentialist once wrote, "Many of us pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that we hurry past it."

Sometimes, as Canadians, we forget how lucky many of us are to have the freedom, time and opportunity to even think about the experiences that give us pleasure. Enjoying that unique freedom is perhaps the greatest pleasure of them all.

And that's Dick's View of the World this Week.

Did you Know?

Harper Lee's new  book, Go Set a Watchman (Parent book to To Kill a Mockingbird 1960) has already become No.1 on the Amazon.com list.