A Different Path

Tang Soo Do people are different. Some would take a statement like that as an insult. I take it as a badge of honor. We are different. People in today’s society seem more and more focused on what others can do for them and less on what they can do for themselves. Simply stated as a society we are getting soft.

While you are in class learning, practicing, sweating where are your friends, co-workers and neighbors? How many of them are involved in an activity that truly develops their mind, body & spirit? While others are sitting on the sideline watching, we are getting stronger. Tang Soo Do teaches that only hard work on the part of the student will result in excellence. A teacher can only bring about greatness in their students if the student puts forth the effort necessary to achieve the greatness they desire. Greatness lies not in the desire for greatness, but in the desire to work to achieve greatness.

Every person has the ability to excel; few have the internal fortitude necessary to push themselves to excellence. Look at your daily activities, how much time do you spend on personal development? Most people spend more time watching television (hours per day) then they spend on making themselves stronger. I encourage you to turn off the TV and spend the that time working to improve your life. Read a book, spend time with your family, start a garden, work on your home, practice your Tang Soo Do. You will find that self-development is contagious. Starting is the hardest part. Newton’s Laws are at work (an object at rest wants to stay at rest, an object in motion wants to stay in motion).

Once you start it becomes easier. After you start on the path of self-development, others will start to say that you are “different”. Share your secret and invite them to join you on a “different” path.

Originally published at  www.rvtsda.com February 2003

Tang Soo!

Master Scott C. Homschek