In Greek mythology, as a punishment for some crime  'Sisyphus was made to roll a huge boulder up a steep hill. Before he could reach the top, however, the massive stone would always roll back down, forcing him to begin again.' wiki

 I recall the frustration of Sisyphus when considering my own, but I've come to realize that after the boulder rolled down the hill, there he was, for a moment or two, standing on top of a hill.