So, yes euphoria. Some dictionaries define it as 'a state of general happiness'. Some go slightly further by saying it is 'a state of extreme happines'. I will go with the latter adding that it is always but a fleeting affair. When you reach the climax of happiness, the sweetness of its rapture can only last so long. I'm just being real. Humans generally are not able to take such intensity for too long. It is bad for health….plus it makes you too cocky.
Take for example, mood enhancing drugs. What it does is increases your serotonin level unnaturally for as long as the chemical's driving through your body leaving you euphoric. Once it is over, your serotonin level plummets and plunges you into depression. The ying yang of the universe, always balances itself out.
The best kind of euphoria, to me, is naturally driven. It could be a loving relationship (I'm sure those characters in my Korean dramas are in constant state of euphoria) or more commonly, through achievement of your goals like passing your driving test or finding out that the bastard you are dating owns an oil rig somewhere...
For example, I first discovered euphoria at the top of a 20m-limestone crag. I was in extreme pain. I was hugging a boulder with my arms drained, jelly legs, toes jammed between two tiny holes. It was extremely quiet up there. All I can hear is the sound of my heart pounding and my desperate measures to keep on breathing. My aim is this hairline crack just above my head. My palms are sweaty but if I let go and have a dip in my chalk bag, I am going to fall. And falling is not an option now, even into my harness. It's too high and I'm too scared. I need to lunge for it. Trust my fingers… trust my legs... trust every being in my aching body and go for it. And I did. It was (fortunately) a clear deep crack and I managed to hold on enough to stretch my legs up the next hole.
I did it!
The next 3 minutes, I was in the state of euphoria. Adrenaline pumped, I felt like there is nothing I can't do at that moment. I probably can do a rendition of any broadway musicals singing and dancing on those rocks. Ahhh, the sweet sweet satisfaction. I stared out from where I stood, everything looks perfect at such great heights. As cheesy as it sounds, I was the Queen of the World that moment. Muahahahahah. All your mere mortals beneath me, Eat. My. Dust!
I'm sure many of you sport enthusiast would understand exactly what I felt. I read somewhere that this is called the 'Zone'. In running, runners who consistently ran for about 30 minutes usually reach this stage. In your Runner's High, you feel kinda like Forest Gump – as if you can go on forever and ever and ever. Nothing aches anymore cos you are one big well-oiled mean running machine.
I was awoken from my bliss by my concerned belayer who was wondering what the heck I was doing up there, grinning like an ape and pounding my chest repeatedly. I wiped the sweat off my forehead and shouted I am ready to come down, grudgingly. As I was lowered down to reality, my euphoria evaporated accordingly. My climbing buddies clapped perfunctorily and a few pats of well done. I shrugged and I looked up where I stood in glory just a minute ago.
From beneath, it really didn't look that tough at all…
"Nah, not doing anything much, darling. Just hanging out"
