An umbrella for those who know that expecting the worst need not be cause for despair. The umbrella has a rainfall print on the inside, along with Seneca's pessimistic aphorism: 'What need is there to weep over parts of life? The whole of it calls for tears.' Pessimism is not about despair; it's a wise attitude that knows that expecting the worst is the best way to stave off surprise and bitterness. This umbrella sagely invites us to step out into the world certain of the inevitability of suffering, loss, anxiety and - eventually - catastrophe. A student of The School of Life understands that learning doesn't end with graduation. We spend a great deal of our time restlessly searching for ideas that can console, enlighten and enrich our lives. We understand that navigating relationships and careers is a skill, not an intuition - and are committed to educating ourselves in the art of living. Our range of clothing and accessories is designed to celebrate this way of looking at the world; a commitment to wisdom, a wry pessimism, a consoling melancholy. The School of Life is an organisation devoted to teaching us how to grow into happier, calmer, more successful people. Our retail offering is made up of a range of emotional wellbeing tools that can help us to better understand ourselves and the world. These items are elegant, surprising, often witty and, above all, useful. These are tools to help us make relationships work, build fulfilling careers, understand ourselves, nurture friendships, get the most out of culture and find calm.