Lifting is fantastic and definitely gives me that “runners high” effect. Particularly kettlebells, there’s just something very cool about doing all these athletic movements with 62 lbs of iron wrapped around your forearm. The sort of “move your arm around the bell rather than the bell around your arm” thing of stuff like cleans and snatches just feels cool once you master it.
Circus lifts are fun too. I really enjoy figure eight based movements, slinging the bell between your legs from one hand to another and then back again in front of you is great fun. Flip swings are great too, but I need to do those over grass, still not good enough to not drop regularly.
But I will say there’s something very cool about powerlifting too. Loading down my shoulders with like 400+ lbs and squatting feels raw and primal. Also like instant ego death, you don’t think about anything but moving the weight.
Also, there’s a fitness com that’s not used often. You should definitely post more stories there.