We Are All Masochists (or Are We All Masochists?)

in life pain is inevitable.
physical, emotional, spiritual.

where do you fall on the spectrum
of human masochism?

most of us, sometime
during our life,

willingly enter
the pain cave.

athletes pushing
despite discomfort and injury,

students studying
to the point of exhaustion,

climbers enduring
frigid temperatures and lack of oxygen,

long distance hikers
enduring blisters and losing toenails.

extreme sensation-seekers
using their bodies to test limits.

surrendering;
stepping into the fire

to feel something wild,
to push themselves.

people

eating ghost peppers,
walking on coals,

wearing ballet shoes, stiletto heels,
paintball bruises

persisting
in rocky relationships,

fasting, cutting,
binges and purges

boxing, karate,
hot yoga.

hurting on purpose to feel better
is no rare thing.

flagellation
for jesus or sex

running marathons
for self-esteem or penance

eating spicy foods
for taste or the burn.

enduring, surviving
coming out the other side awash

in a shower
of endorphins and dopamine

on fire and incapacitated
by joy!

pain is always subjective
crafted by the mind itself.

subject to all kinds of outside influences
anxiety, threat level, emotional state,

previous memories, degree of anticipation
sexual arousal,

potential radiating outward at frequencies
heard only by ears tuned to its call.

inner life and surroundings, not only affect
the experience of pain,

they inform it.
critical to creation of the sensation.

heavy metal symphony of pain
shaped by context:

emotional state, level of surprise
previous history,

happening on a sliding scale
of masochistic engagement.

pain does different things
to different people.

most of us sometime
during our life

willingly enter
the pain cave.

on the spectrum of human masochism
where do you fall?

© 2023 Raibeart Bruis