"Never Give Up!"

"Never Give Up!" - is drilled into us in Western culture right and left.

I get it - sometimes, when it feel you haven't made the progress you wanted to, it is all too easy to throw in the towel.

I've seen the analogy - of pumping water from an old time well. You pump....and pump...and pump....no water. You don't want to stop because the NEXT pump may be the one that starts the water free flowing.

Closer to home - think of your lawnmower. You pull....you pull....you pull......and it finally starts.

But, you know - sometimes you can pull and pull....but that lawnmower is never going to start because the plugs are fouled or there is an issue with the lawnmower. You can keep pulling....but all you will do is throw out your arm.

So.....there really are two schools of thought - both are valid. One says, "never give up." The other says, "cut your losses before you hurt yourself. Don't throw good money after bad."

In the end - the key skill.......is to "know when to hold em....know when to fold em." Despite the Western wisdom, sometimes throwing in the cards IS the wisest move that one can make.