This past weekend I was in Winnipeg, Canada.  It is one of the colder places I've been lately - temp was a balmy zero.  However, the people were some of the warmest I've ever met.  From the minute I got off the plane, as the light snow was landing on my head, I could feel my thin California blood starting to struggle to keep my body warm--although I was informed that unless I see icicles forming off the end of my nose it really isn't cold yet--and, of course, my lack of winter clothing accessories probably didn't help.   Yet, I was consumed by the warmth of the people I met...even at Customs...

"What are you doing here?" the Customs officer asked. 
"I'm here teaching at a conference."
"Where is your conference," they asked? 
"I don't know," I responded. 
"You don't know?" they replied.  "That's interesting.  Are you meeting someone here?"
"Yes, I am." I said.
"Who are you meeting here?"
"I don't know," I said realizing this isn't going so well. 
"You don't know.  Alright.  Well, what are you talking about?" The lady asked a bit aggravated by now. 
"Being a leader," I said with a smile knowing by this point I didn't appear to know much about the subject.

After a lengthy dialog including sharing with her part of my talk, taking her online to my web site, etcetera, I eventually made it through.  As for Custom officers, I must admit she was warmer than most.  I think I would have sent me home--"Figure out who you are and what you are doing and come on back!" is something I may have suggested had I been her.  Yes, it may be cold in Canada but the people are certainly warm. 

How do you see people?  It really is a good question because it tells a lot about the filter you see the world through.  People are people…good, bad, struggling, and excelling.  Of course evil people truly do exist; read any newspaper or watch the news to confirm that.  However, how do you generally see people?  Your answer will not so much tell the truth about others but it will tell a lot about you.  Our world is exactly as we perceive it to be.  Our perceptions make our reality.

There is a story of a couple who just moved into town.  The man asked his new neighbor, “How are the people here?”  The neighbor responded by asking, “How were the people where you came from?”  “Oh they were awful.  They were rude, self-focused and shallow.”  “Well, unfortunately, you will find the people here are exactly the same,” the neighbor shared.  Shortly afterward, the man’s wife visited the same neighbor and asked the same question as her husband, “How are the people here?”  Again the neighbor responded by asking, “How were the people where you came from?”  “Oh they were wonderful she said.  Everyone was so warm and generous.  I am going to miss them so much.”  “Well, fortunately, you will find the people here are exactly the same,” the neighbor again shared. 

Truly our reality is our perception.  We will create it.  So many people believe their perception is reality--that the way they see the world is the way it is.  If you want to change the people around you, change the way YOU see them.  What's best,...is that is something you actually have control over!    Make it a great year!