It is possible to pull yourself up by your bootstraps

In an era where most of our young people find themselves cast aside from the economic mainstream of life because of various unfortunate circumstances, it is amazing how, as a society, we often come across stories that light up our lives and change our negative outlook on life and those around us.

October 28, 2019

Zaid Khumalo 3 minutes read

This amazing and motivational story I am relating below is directed at all the many unemployed young people of Kathorus who, for a variety of reasons, have lost hope of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Joblessness, hunger and lack of adequate education, dysfunctional families, crime, drugs, and gang violence loom large over them. However, I have no doubt in the ability of the youth to rescue themselves from their dilemma and emerge victoriously. Patience and hard work in anything they embark on to survive are the only two known guarantees of success.

ALSO READ:

World Food Day is dedicated to eradicating global hunger

I must admit, I found the story of 30-year-old Mlungisi Mathebula a shining example of how we are endowed with the gift to extricate ourselves from the most adverse conditions and change our life for the better.

Young Mathebula grew up in a broken home. By the time he had grown into a fine young man, his alcoholic father, who was living with another woman in another part of the township, suddenly died and young Mathebula’s life came crashing down.

Down and out and almost on his knees, Mathebula says it was 10 years ago when he started as a car guard and a malala-pipe in the streets of Jozi with no future to look forward to. But he was determined to succeed.

Through his positive mindset, Mathebula was able to make an impression on someone who later introduced him to a white friend who owned a restaurant. The eatery was situated in a wealthy part of northern Johannesburg and was a popular spot with high society. Within weeks, Mathebula had adapted with ease to the restaurant’s high-class culture.

Today, Mathebula is the manager of two flourishing restaurants in Jozi’s northern suburbs. His boss has given him full permission to run the restaurants and supervise them as he knows best. Last September, when his boss visited his family in Milano, Italy, he invited Mathebula along and paid for his travel costs.

Now with his feet firmly on South African soil, Mathebula says he is planning on opening his own top-class restaurant in Kathorus. So overwhelmed is Mathebula with his newfound joy and freedom that he believes most young people who find themselves caught up in a life of substance abuse, alcohol and homelessness should try to embrace a more positive attitude towards life.

Mathebula attributed the changes in his life to his focus on finding meaning in his life.

He accused his peers among the youth of lacking hope and faith in themselves: “Many of them tend to give up before they even try because they don’t believe in themselves.” He cited young people in other countries who have come up with highly stimulating innovations despite those countries lagging behind South Africa in technology.

“It is not always what you don’t have, but what you make with what you have that can make a difference in your life,” explains Mathebula. “God can’t give you your daily bread and then add peanut butter, jam, and butter, plus tea, milk, and sugar on top,” he said.

“It was tough, but all the grind at the beginning was worth the while I spent fumbling in the dark and searching for the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel,” said Mathebula.

Asked what advice he would impart to his peers, he said: “Start right now to think about where you want to be in the next five years from now. Then take your very first step towards making that journey, not just your dream, but a possibility you can cherish and visualise daily as your legacy tomorrow.”

Of course, not all of us can duplicate Mathebula’s success, but for heaven’s sake, let us all start somewhere, by doing something that is guaranteed to yield results, no matter how insignificant these results are at first.

Mathebula stressed the importance of young people beginning to improve their image and personality and building strong characters that are untainted by drugs.

“I implore you to begin something to improve your lot, even if it means just kicking off all your negative habits and taking a gradual different direction. Remember, your patience and commitment to your hopes and dreams will manifest in your desires,” Mathebula said.