When facing a steep hill, just think of the view
It’s easy to wonder whether we are ever going to achieve what we’re trying to when the summit feels so far away.
Many years ago my sister and I went on holiday to Kefalonia. Our room had the most amazing view over the bay but was at the top of a very, very steep hill which led down to the beach.
Coming down was fine – walking back up at the end of the day, when it was still really hot, was incredibly hard work and quite dispiriting.
To keep ourselves going as we were trudging wearily up the hill (carrying the gin, tonic and cheesy snacks we’d bought to enjoy on the balcony) we would keep repeating to each other: “Think of the view, think of the view, think of the view!”
We were reminding ourselves that the view was worth the hike.
It’s still our mantra to each other now when we’re facing challenges and obstacles to getting things done.
As it was for many of my peers in the sector, 2024 was a brutal year for us at DSC.
We faced some horrendous challenges and are aware that there are more to come. But what kept us going was thinking about the endgame – what is possible if we navigate what we face with determination and good cheer.
For most of us in the sector our work simply isn’t short term. It’s a long hike. And it’s easy to get tired and dispirited and wonder if it’s all worth it or if we are ever going to achieve what we’re trying to when the top of the hill feels so far away and the conditions are tough.
I feel the same when I look at what this current administration is doing. The cry from the media and some sections of the public is for short-term action – quick fixes, raiding the cash larder, dumping the drinks and snacks in order to get to the top quicker.
But that short-term-fix approach doesn’t solve fundamental problems in our society.
And our sector knows better than most that deep, lasting change takes time and is not easy to achieve.
That we will make mistakes along the way, that getting the comms wrong can scupper our progress (something I really hope this government is learning fast!), that it’s important to bring folk along with you and that nothing comes without a real or perceived cost somewhere to someone.
As I’m re-reading this, I’m aware that it might come across as if I’m saying just accept things as they are.
I’m not. Quite the opposite.
This year will be a year of the same challenges – and new ones that we hadn’t seen coming.
It is more important now than ever to not give up.
To keep campaigning, keep raising the issues, keep positing solutions (usually more effective than just complaining about what doesn’t work) and keep believing that change will come – because history shows us that even if it’s hot and steep, we get there in the end, with the added bonus of a G&T and cheesy snacks.
Think of the view, think of the view, think of the view!
