Pleasure pursuits: exploring the joys and journeys of life

The nuances of delight and discomfort

“Pleasure is the only thing to live for. Nothing ages like happiness” — Oscar Wilde.

During my undergraduate years, pleasure was found in the simplicity of joyous moments. Fridays were particularly special; they were times when, after classes, I’d revel in the captivating readings by one of my favourite professors, delivering passages that never failed to shock and delight. In those moments, I was spellbound by the controversial insights of Camille Paglia. Or squeal internally by his readings of Edgar Allan Poe. I love books and anyone reading to me always gave me cozy pleasure.

Afterward, on such days — marking the end of the school week, my friends and I would often retreat to the cozy confines of The Royal Oak, a cramped but beloved brown pub, or gather at one of our apartments. There, surrounded by my closest companions, we’d indulge in tubs of Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream, with popcorn serving as a quirky dessert. These gatherings, filled with laughter and shared stories, defined pleasure for us.

As the night progressed, we’d heighten the atmosphere with movies like The Sixth Sense, scaring ourselves to the point of glee. The evening…