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Gemsbok Wisdom: The Courage to Persevere

Gemsboks are known for their capability to last a long time without water and they can withstand temperatures ranging up to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). In the rainy season the gemsbok can run for days and weeks through the desert to reach the water pans of the Kalahari. The gemsbok is a great example of perseverance and how to make a success of life.

To achieve our life dreams and goals, we also must be able to persevere. Perseverance and failure cannot coexist. Youcan’t go through life quitting everything. Failure happens when you quit. Perseverance entails commitment, patience,endurance and trying again and again. You can fall seven times, but you need to stand up eight times. Perseverance is the ultimate success insurance, and nothing can take its place. The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places. When you are persevering through your difficulties, you are demonstrating the true essence of success.

Perseverance has four golden rules:

  • Get out of the blocks!
  • Begin with the end in mind, focus on the finishing line.
  • Stay on your track.
  • No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, show up and never give up!

In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins

–  not through strength but through perseverance.

From African Wisdom by Dr. Lanette Hattingh

Dear Net Buddies,

Did you think of the gemsbok as a powerful animal before you read this article?

What about afterward – has your opinion of the gemsbok changed?

Does perseverance seem like a form of power to you?

How might perseverance be useful in your life right now?

Let us know what you think about gemsboks and their particular special power – perseverance. Don’t worry, we’ll wait for your thoughtful 3-4 sentence response.

 

Read more about Dr. Lanette Hattingh

Purchase African Wisdom here

4 Comments on “Gemsbok Wisdom: The Courage to Persevere

Ronald Busani
September 21, 2020 at 9:51 am

I didn’t know that gemsbok can survive that long without water, but what I know about them is that their enndurance and speed.
No, I didn’t because gemsbok they have been here for long time so am not surprise with it’s perseverance as an animal.
Yes, it is because it’s form of positive thinking that in life regardless of how much burden you have keep on pushing for better days eventually something will pop out.
It can me to see the world in a different eye sight and it can also give me stamina to actually keep going and do the right thing.

Reply
Timothy O'Mara
October 16, 2020 at 12:07 pm

Hey, Ronald. Nice replies to the article. It’s clear that you understood the article’s message and were able to apply its lessons to your own life. Below are your responses. Below each of yours is my rewriting into a more standard form of written English or a bit more development. (Also check for spelling and punctuation differences.)

(Ronald) I didn’t know that gemsbok can survive that long without water, but what I know about them is that their enndurance and speed.
(Tim) I didn’t know that gemsboks can survive that long without water. What I did know about them is they have a lot of endurance and are very fast.

(Ronald) No, I didn’t because gemsbok they have been here for long time so am not surprise with it’s perseverance as an animal.
(Tim) My opinion of the gemsbok did not change after reading this article because I know they have been here for so long that they must have a lot of perserverance.

(Ronald) Yes, it is because it’s form of positive thinking that in life regardless of how much burden you have keep on pushing for better days eventually something will pop out.
(Tim) Perserverance is a form of positive thinking in my life regardless of how many burdens I have. If I keep on pushing for better days, eventually something will pop out.

(Ronald) It can me to see the world in a different eye sight and it can also give me stamina to actually keep going and do the right thing.
(Tim) Perserverance can be useful in my life right now because it can give me the stamina to keep going and do the right thing.

One thing I’d like you to focus on, Ronald, is to work the question into your answer. You can see how I did that; it’s not hard. Instead of using the word “it,” I used the word “perserverance” instead to make sure the reader knew what I was talking about. (Perserverance is a tough word to spell, isn’t it?) I also changed “you” to “me” or “I” to make your answers more personal.

Again, great work. Keep reading and writing. I look forward to your next pieces of work.

Tim

Rofhiwa Molaudzi
September 21, 2020 at 9:40 am

Gemsboks motivates me more to never give up in life.
Perseverance can be useful to me now, because I really dream big and I want to be a better person now and focus on my dreams
Yes, perseverance seems like form of power to me, because sometimes it’s better not to rush into things just to take one thing at the time and be patient about what you want in your life.

Reply
Timothy O'Mara
October 16, 2020 at 12:17 pm

Hello, Rofhiwa. I enjoyed your responses to the article about gemsboks. I can see you understood the lesson the author was writing about. Below are your answers and below them are my gentle edits. I made some changes regarding sentence structure and developed some of your answers a little more fully.

(Rofhiwa) Gemsboks motivates me more to never give up in life.
(Tim) Gemsboks motivate me by reminding me to never give up in life no matter how tough I think I have it.

(Rofhiwa) Perseverance can be useful to me now, because I really dream big and I want to be a better person now and focus on my dreams
(Tim) Perserverance can be useful to me now because I really dream big. I want to be a better person now and focus on my dreams.

(Rofhiwa) Yes, perseverance seems like form of power to me, because sometimes it’s better not to rush into things just to take one thing at the time and be patient about what you want in your life.
(Tim) Perserverance does seem like a form of power to me because it’s better not to rush into things. It’s better just to take one thing at a time and be patient about what I want in my life.

You’ll notice I made some slight changes in the sentences, but the words are still yours. Next time, work the question into your answer so the reader doesn’t have to read the question, just your response.

Again, good work and I look forward to reading more of your stuff.

Tim

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