Losing the will to live

This morning I spent an eternity on the telephone trying, but failing, to speak to some-one at British Gas. 
I then spent a significant part of my remaining life on this earth trying, but again failing, to speak to someone at BT.
I then tried to speak to someone at my bank ........................

Somehow I was reminded of Bill Bryson's wonderful description of the life of a lichen: 

But what is life to a lichen? Yet its impulse to exist, to be, is every bit as strong as ours — arguably even stronger. If I were told that I had to spend decades being a furry growth on a rock in the woods, I believe I would lose the will to go on.