“I get knocked down, but I get up again. You are never gonna keep me down.”

Chumbawamba’s punk anthem “Tubthumping” channels the spirit of perseverance, weaving themes of class struggles into its classic drinking song.

This sentiment of tenacity, stamina and determination is the idea behind National Get Up Day, celebrated Feb. 1. This year marks the eighth annual recognition of the day, inspired and started by U.S. Figure Skating.

“Get Up Day celebrates the first lesson taught in skating: how to fall down and, more importantly, how to get back up,” U.S. Figure Skating’s website said. “This mindset is at the core of U.S. Figure Skating’s We Get Up campaign.”

While the original purpose was geared toward skaters, the organization understands this lesson is invaluable to everyone. It is a lesson we all learn at a young age from our parents. When we take our first tumble, we’re encouraged to get back up and keep going instead of just sitting there crying about it.

Words like spunk, moxie, grit and pluck are often used to describe a strong and admirable figure. All of these words are synonyms of perseverance.

Embodying this spirit is 10-year-old figure skater Hannah Bisharah, of Texas. According to a Jan. 5 article from U.S. Figure Skating, Hannah was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2020. She underwent countless treatments and procedures, such as spinal taps, transfusions and weekly chemotherapy.

Not only did Hannah get back out on the ice for lessons as soon as possible, she was competing and winning competitions by 2022. She continues to set ambitious goals for herself and works to be the best she can be.

Hannah is in remission and has set her sights on becoming a pediatric hematology oncology nurse when she is older.

Not all of us have a story quite as inspiring as Hannah’s, but we can all celebrate a time in our lives when we refused to quit - and we got back up. No matter how big or small, it is still an accomplishment.

I train and perform in aerial dance. This often involves risky maneuvers from heights. In June of 2022, I was rehearsing a piece on the stationary trapeze bar when my grip gave out. I was approximately 12 feet in the air and upside down when my tired hands just let go of the ropes.

Luckily for me, my training is rooted in building strength and being conscious of where your body is in space. This equipped me with the ability to catch myself in the ropes before slamming into the ground. I escaped that terrifying experience with only some intense rope burns and a racing heartbeat.

Much to my instructor’s chagrin, I wanted to get back up immediately. I wanted to climb back up and attempt the trick again. Since she is wise and encouraging, I was permitted to work through the skill’s mechanics at floor level.

This fall forced me to slow down and listen more closely to my body when it tells me to slow down, but it has not stopped me from training, performing and playing around up in the sky.

“Get Up is about being fearless in the face of falling,” according to U.S. Figure Skating.

I’ve already fallen out of the sky, so what is there to be afraid of? Time to play some Chumbawamba this Feb. 1 and get back up whether you have fallen out of a hobby, failed on your New Year’s resolutions, are recovering from illness or injury or are just feeling down.

You got this. Get back up.

Samantha Anderson

editorial assistant

Whitehall-Coplay Press

Northampton Press

Catasauqua Press