Boy’s discipline to earn black belt inspiring

Thank you, Rich Myhre, for the inspiring Jan. 12 story about Scotty Grossman earning his black belt in taekwondo. That’s not an easy sport — I tried it for a couple nights at the urging of a friend about 25 years ago and then abruptly vanished like Houdini from that studio.

For a boy with Down syndrome, it’s especially inspiring to read that he has persevered for several years to reach his special goal. Master Thad Ekle’s comment that “it had to be two or three times as hard” for Scotty to do the same things as other kids is especially noteworthy.

Sometimes people underestimate how inspirational it can be for other people or participants to see someone giving their all even when they have some obvious limitations. It makes others more thankful for their own abilities, more focused, and it’s very uplifting when the person who struggles more finally succeeds.

Hats off to Lisa Grossman for her patience and belief in her son, and to Scotty: I’ll let your personal self-discipline inspire me as I continue to engage in the pumsaes (patterned series of movements) in my own daily life.

Again, congratulations on your achievement!

Steve Goodman

Mountlake Terrace

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