142 - Do you hold on to limiting beliefs?

Yesterday, I read an interesting article about an all-black orchestra.

It reminded me of the time, not that long ago when I was asked to join an all-female orchestra.

The symphony orchestra was still primarily a white-male-only entity, it always had been.

But I refused to be part of the all-female group because I had worked so hard just to get into a good orchestra.

I wanted to help stop the division.

I applaud the change; I applaud inclusion.

It was once assumed that women couldn't play the trombone, tuba, or the contrabass.

Women proved that theory wrong.

When you look at symphony orchestras now, they are much more diverse.

However, there are not many blacks in orchestras and it's time we recognize their talent and ability.

There was a time when Asians were not considered able to express European music.

How ignorant we were!

Just listen to Yo-Yo Ma, Lang Lang, Midori, or Mitsuko Ushida, who is renowned for her interpretations of Mozart.

It doesn't matter where you came from or what color your skin happens to be

I dream of the day when not just orchestras, but all other businesses, organizations, and neighborhoods everywhere are more diverse, where we don't consider the color of a person's skin, not to mention their religious background.

People all over this planet can do anything they put their minds to.

Now I'm reminded, on a different note, of the Jamaican Olympic bobsled team that emerged in 1988.

A bobsled team from a tropical country? (Another dividing factor)

They didn't win that year, but they persisted and won the Gold in 2000.

It's not about color, no matter what the job is.

We can all work together.

Do you hold limiting beliefs about other people?