This week marks both Canada and the United States celebrating their birthdays.  Each country found it's origins from similar beginnings yet they both had unique paths to reach where they are today.  Canada and the United States share so many similarities that the differences are inconsequential.  What both cultures offer is an individual's freedom to re-invent themselves without the restrictions of race, gender or even caste.

People who have not traveled far from home often fail to appreciate the special circumstance this offers citizens of these two nations.
There are really three kinds of people in the world, those who see the glass half full, those who see it half empty and those who are certain some one keeps stealing their glass.  The final two groups of people can go through life living in either land of opportunity and all they will ever see is the obstacles to their own individual greatness.

The truth is these obstacles are only great because we make them great.  So how can we keep life's obstacles in the proper perspective?

1.  Perspective through focus.  Obstacles get way too much air time in your mind.  You need to begin the healthy habit of setting positive intentions that plan on you finding the solution to every challenge with ease.

2.  Perspective through borrowed faith.  Keeping your mind filled with other people who have faced obstacles but have overcome and over achieved is essential. Books, magazines, CD's, videos and movies that proclaim the possibility of all things lend us the necessary faith we need during our dark days of discouragement.

3.  Perspective through enlightened action.  Not all action brings a return on investment.  You may require some professional coaching to ensure that your action is accurate and also to ensure that your commitment to action remains consistent.  Never diminish the power of a powerful coach.  The Lakers are enjoying their second straight championship due to great coaching from the most successful coach in professional sports history, Phil Jackson.

So join me in celebrating our nations' birthdays and proving our gratitude by making the most of where we are so blessed to be living.