The Sturm und Drang of Difficult Pleasures: Wagner’s Ring Cycle and Type 2 Fun

What are ‘Difficult Pleasures’? How do they enrich our lives and differ from standard-issue, low-friction “fun”? Why do we do them, and how do they help us live our values and find our sense of purpose?

From ultramarathons to writing books, fasting to meditation — the intentional curation and engagement with Type 2 Fun brings depth and richness to our lives.

From the premise that “Hard Things Are Hard,” Leah (Prime) leads a salon on Difficult Pleasures: using examples like Wagner’s 18-hour opera saga, The Ring, to frame a broader exploration of what motivates us to undertake experiences that challenge us in profound ways.

We’ll take an honest appraisal of the sturm und drang involved, too: the emotional tumult and intensity that undergirds these practices, and how those intensities lead to better self-understanding and integration.

In this salon, we’ll listen to and learn from other attendees on how they navigate the meta-process of Doing Hard Things. 

Among others topics, we’ll explore:

• What constitutes a ‘difficult pleasure’? Why do we do them?
• How do these experiences lead us to a more integrated sense of self?
• The purpose of intentional challenges
• Navigating the emotional and mental challenges associated with difficult pleasures

Recommended resources:

• Eudaimonia (Aristotle)
• What is Type 2 Fun and why do some people want to have it? (E. Strout, Washington Post)

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