We are never short of messaging that tells us to keep going. It surrounds us, from the classic cat poster telling us to ‘Hang in there’ to wartime slogans extolling us to ‘Keep calm and carry on’, right through to our favourite movies (‘Goonies never say die!’). It’s a thread running through so many of the stories we were brought up on. Time and again, they depict a hero’s journey centred around a pivotal moment when, against the odds, our seemingly defeated protagonist perseveres and triumphs, like Rocky, who bloodied and battered, gets back up. These characters stoically persevere in the face of defeat, exhaustion, and being outnumbered. So what excuse do we have to throw in the towel?
It’s a message I’ve swallowed
