Borders

My wife and I moved to Mexico in 2006.  We have been back to the US for Christmas and are now making our way through the ice storms back down South.  As we’ve talked to people over the holidays, I’ve been struck by how different people perceive the US Southern border. To some it is a definite line, something you don’t cross without much fear and trembling. Other people see the border as a soft separation.  It is the crossing point to another culture, but something that you can easily cross and return.

Generally the people who see the border as a barrier are the ones who
don’t really understand much about Mexico and haven’t made many trips
out of the United States.  People with more knowledge and experience in
international travel don’t see the border as a barrier.

As I noticed this great divide in how people perceive national borders, I started thinking about
how I view other barriers. There are borders that in my mind have
become larger barriers than they really are–just because of my lack of
knowledge and experience. If I’m not careful I can let my perception of these borders
keep me from reaching my full potential.

The way we perceive social and business borders can have a strong
influence on the choices we make.  If we operate with a strong fear of
the unknown we will pass up opportunities simply because they would move
us into unfamiliar territory.  Our growth depends on the ability and
courage to cross these borders and expand our playing field into new
areas.