Are you already in the land of opportunity? How truly inclusive are you?

One of my favorite tales is the Peacock in the Land of Penguins which describes the following...
"The land of opportunity is more than a place.
It is a state of mind.
It is where we live and work.
When we choose to see with new eyes,
Live from our hearts,
Allow ourselves and others,
To be who we truly are...
OURSELVES!"

Watch the video of the story as written by BJ Gallagher and Warren H. Schmidt at:
http://www.perrythepeacock.com/

Then, ask yourself, how inclusive do you think you are at work? in your community? in your family? with your kids' friends? Do you see yourself consistently as a penguin or as a peacock?

There is another video that is a 'classic'. It is 'A Class Divided'. It's a classic documentary about a school teacher who in 1968 taught her students a powerful lesson about discrimination by setting the environment where they treated each other differently based on the color of their eyes. The first time she did it was the day after Martin Luther King was killed. The story makes a nice connection to the Pygmalion Effect - we hold different expectations for people depending on all kinds of differences
The first 20 minutes compiles the actual experience. What comes later is a conversation with the kids once they were grown ups.
http://www.videosift.com/video/The-Power-of-Prejudice-A-Class-Divided

Next time you wake up with your 'penguin suit' remember what it is like the times you have decided to wear the peacock one and ultimately, dare to be yourself! Dare to do your best and try the thing that you enjoy and want to do in your career and ultimately in life!
Have a blast today and every day!