LET’S HAVE a little break from the misery of more Brexit chaos, party political conferences, David Cameron (why is he still talking?) and incoming stormy weather and celebrate the power of perseverance.

Perseverance. Persisting, despite difficulty or delay, and achieving goals. Getting The Job Done.

As Westminster politicians continue to dither and flounder, thank goodness for the indefatigables, the completer-finishers, the ones who see things through to the bitter end.

The last seven days have been full of them and it’s been a joy to read about them amid a sea of incompetents.

Take Sarah Thomas, for example, who became the first person to swim the English Channel four times non-stop, after recovering from breast cancer.

The American’s feat of endurance was even more impressive when you consider erratic currents meant she had to swim 50 miles further than planned.

Sarah took up swimming as a means of coping with her treatment, setting herself a challenge and dedicating her mammoth achievement – 130 miles, 54 hours – to “all the survivors”. She’s a superhuman.

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And then there’s Greta Thunberg. Last August, she was a lonely figure, photographed sitting outside the Swedish Parliament, striking in protest over the lack of action on climate change. On Friday, led by Greta and fellow schoolchildren around the globe, millions took part in the biggest ever climate change strike.

Lucy Lintott, crowned Scotswoman of the Year by The Herald’s sister title The Evening Times last year, announced on Friday she is pregnant.

Lucy was just 19 when she was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, an incurable condition which gradually makes walking, talking and swallowing extremely difficult and eventually impossible.

She has defied her initial prognosis, raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to help in the fight for a cure, inspired people all over the world with her blog (lucysfight.com) and TV documentary, and has refused to live anything other than a ‘normal’ life.

Lucy’s doctors believe she is the first person to become pregnant post-diagnosis, a fact she is, typically, taking in her stride. “I should have a normal pregnancy and a natural birth,” she said. “Of course there could be complications – just like anyone else – and if there are, we will deal with them - just like anyone else.”

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We can’t all swim the Channel or save the planet, of course, but if some of this kind of resilience rubs off on the rest of us, the world will be a better place.