The Itsy Bitsy Spider has vowed never again to climb the waterspout. "Our culture indoctrinates us to be preternaturally optimistic. It's rife with aphorisms about perseverance--never give up, try-try-try again, hold on to your dreams--it's endless. But perseverance of the wrong pursuit leads only to pain."
I did everything society expected me to. I put in the 'perspiration' and the 'inspiration'. I poured over charts, plans, and calculations for hours. I steeped myself in positive thinking, 'this time,' I'd think before each and every start, 'this is it! This climb I'm shooting straight to the top'!"
"Then, predictably, down would come the rain and wash me out for the countless time."
"And when the sun came out and dried up all the rain I'd interpret it as a sign my luck was returning, rather than realizing it was one part of an endless cycle."
"One day I looked up and saw what other, supposedly less-ambitious, spiders were doing--scaring little girls on tuffets or web design for pigs. I realized my life was on an endless ascent-descent-renascent loop cycle. Climbing the waterspout was an exercise in futility. So I quit."
"I don't know what's next. Maybe I'll take up gardening... but whatever it is, if it doesn't work, I'll know when to give up."