Euphoria...
eu·pho·ri·a
noun
1.
a state of intense happiness and self-confidence: She was flooded with euphoria as she went to the podium to receive her Student Research Award.
2.
Psychology . a feeling of happiness, confidence, or well-being sometimes exaggerated in pathological states as mania.
Paintball
For those "in the know" yours truly is a paintball enthusiast. Paintball is my third expensive hobby(chronologically, not price-wise). The first two being fishing, and [occasionally] chasing pretty girls. Now that I think about it, all three have their own niche and serve their own unique purpose.
Fishing is intensely personal...
It is about the individual. Even when fishing with a friend, or group of friends, everyone has their own favorite lure, their own approach, they may tie different knots, favor different methods, the list goes on and on. It can be enjoyed by two or more people, but only requires one. Given an area as confined as a boat, once a fisherman(or woman) is really locked in to the rhythm, the "vibe" if you will, of the day, the water, and the fish, the bow and stern may as well be a mile apart. The experience isn't necessarily cold, or detached, but it is very much internal. Success in bringing fish to hand is its own reward, but not the only one. Singularity of purpose, and clarity of thought, solitude from the constant din of the outside world all contribute to the overall success or failure of a trip.
Dating is intimate...
The interplay between a man a woman(to keep it simple). The goal is actually quite similar to what one might experience fishing, a singular moment, insulated from the hustle and bustle of everything outside. Only this time it's a table for two inside the bubble. You [obviously] have yourself, and then there is your partner, both (hopefully) striving to let each other in and have a series of mutually beneficial experiences, together. You, and that one person, going in the same direction, even if only for a little while. Success could lead to the bedroom, a walk in the park holding hands, even a marriage and a family. A moment, or moments, in time spent pursuing something deeper than oneself, whether that be emotionally, physically, or both. Shared with an individual. Given the right individual, and the proper time, the result is predictably sublime.
Paintball is...
...the odd activity out. It is not quiet, clean, or proper. It is dirty, loud, raucous, occasionally ugly, usually impolite, and always unapologetic about itself. Everything about it is raw. What makes it interesting, and puts it in consort with the other activities listed is that there is a group involved, and every individual is having roughly the same experience. Fishing is a one man thing. Even with several people. Intimacy in a relationship is a two person thing, sharing something extremely significant with one person. Paintball is the pack of wolves, or the pride of lions. In doing so it serves (in one way or another) all three goals though.
There is an intensely person aspect, one man, focused on one singular job, weighing out methodology and ideology, waiting for that singular moment to strike. Athletes refer to it as being "in the zone" even in a team environment they are experiencing everything differently than everybody else, nothing can go wrong. They are moving in slow motion, one step ahead of their opponent. This is the singular aspect of paintball. Using all of your faculties physically, mentally, and emotionally to be one step ahead of the other guy. Success is, (in a rather hyperbolic sense) survival. Anything else is failure. It is, necessarily, the first step we take on our journey.
However, it lends itself to intimacy as well. You must share a certain amount of like mindedness with your fellow players. The individual can win a gun fight, and sometimes a game, but he becomes even more dangerous given a partner. Two players who know and understand each other's tendencies, abilities, and short-comings are infinitely more dangerous than one man alone hoping for his compatriots to hold up their end of the game. There is an uncommon level of trust that must be put in to one's partner. Given time, the two are sharing the same sort of singular moments that one might associate with a relationship. Success is measured in shared moments, where both participants combine to achieve more than either could individually.
On the highest level though, paintball becomes a group activity. A well put together team. Like minded, singular in purpose, well acquainted, well drilled, well equipped. Dangerous. Five people on that field experiencing the same thing. The high of victory, the low of defeat. The drive, and will to succeed and win that keeps them coming back no matter the cost, no matter how devastating the loss or how thrilling the victory. They all want more. For themselves, for the people they are closest to, for the entire entity.
Yesterday...
The culmination of the above rambling. Yesterday, I spent some time playing paintball with the tournament team I am a member of. Practice is not always pleasant. In fact, paintball is not always pleasant. To be entirely truthful, I was not looking forward to yesterday's practice. Not even a little. Something about it though, was sublime. Every man a tiger. Every play just right. From the first time I turned my gun and touched the trigger, it was euphoria. The feeling was indescribable, and without against resorting to hyperbole, touched me on all three of the levels discussed above. The result was absolutely electric. The embodiment of the reason I play the game at all. The feeling started on the personal level, and grew from there. I felt perfect, even just stretching, and getting ready. We began with one on one's. I couldn't lose. Everything about the field clicked, the day was just right, the amount of light, the alignment of the bunkers. To me, the energy was almost palpable. By the time we got to group drills I was overflowing with energy, brimming with confidence, playing with reckless abandon, regardless of the outcome. The feeling was incredible, and it seemed to catch on with others as well, passing from person to person. As a group, we had never seemed better to me. Every person striving to reach a new level, riding the wave to new heights. All of us understanding, feeling and reacting in ways that we hadn't before. Far from perfection, the environment was progression. Individuals stepping forward from where they had been before, moving into new roles, new realms of consciousness about what they were doing. All striving for personal singularity of purpose, all sharing in a common goal.
All driven to succeed. Atlanta Drive.
