The Corner Flag: Setbacks are catalysts for growth

In his meditations, philosopher Marcus Aurelius writes that an impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.

Nothing demonstrated this more than Northerns youngster Bontle Makgalemele’s actions during the first Central Gauteng Athletics sub-youth track and field league meeting at the Germiston Stadium on September 21.

Bontle lined up in the U7 girls’ 60m sprint on a wet track and icy cold day. She slipped and fell after the gun went off and bruised her knees, but still got up to finish the race.

Against the odds, she recovered and finished second last. Where she finished isn’t important, but she used that minor setback as an opportunity to show us we can all overcome our challenges.

Unlike former American middle-distance runner Mary Decker blaming Zola Budd when they collided in their 3 000m duel in the 1984 Olympics, Bontle blamed no one.

She picked herself up and used the setback to fuel herself for the 80m sprint, where she finished second despite her bruised knee.

Similar to Gauteng North’s Emil Els at the recent cross-country nationals, when he cramped metres from the finish but still carried himself across the line to finish third, Bontle taught me that we can all turn tragedies into remarkable comebacks.

Also Read: The Corner Flag: Of walkie-talkies and bending the rules

Talking about lessons, when Aurelius coined his phrase, it wasn’t about overcoming challenges but dealing with people. In the previous edition of this column, I raised concerns about Daveyton’s Sinaba Stadium’s state.

The facility is an eyesore because of municipal neglect. But in the main, it’s the Daveyton residents’ doing that the stadium is in such a sorry state. The illegal dumping, equipment theft and damage to the tennis, baseball and netball courts are their doing.

Blame the municipality all you want, but how often have you had your grievances about waste collection, leaking pipes or overflowing sewers ignored by the CoE?

We deal with people, and they are complicated. We might think the city’s officials are causing us problems by their inaction. In actual fact, they are presenting us with an opportunity to claim our power back as citizens.

What’s stopping you from organising yourselves to clean the Sinaba Stadium? Look at what Clean Projects, Homestead Helpers and Etwatwa Greening Team do weekly in their communities. They chose to act rather than complain and wait forever for the CoE to deliver on its mandate.

You can also do the same. Roll up your sleeves and give the Sinaba Stadium its face back.

Take this impediment by the CoE and turn it into something that will benefit your children and future generations.

Also Read: The Corner Flag: Daveyton residents responsible for destruction of Sinaba Stadium