Embracing Your Culture

The plight of the millennial is often confused with a sense of dependence on surface attributes and false profiles. Yet, the true stigma of the millennial is his or her apprehension to the preservation of culture. In a society that is growing more homogenous as years pass, it is all the more important for the millennial to indulge in his or her heritage – a tribute to the differences that keep the world interesting.

Step 1: Listening

A first step in the pursuit of the preservation of culture is listening. So often we are distracted by the sounds coming from our cell phones or the noises elsewhere. We seldom take the time to listen to what is important – to take apart what we have been hearing over and over but actually find the significance for the first time. The first rule to listening is to close out opinions. Finding the strength to be open minded is what makes humans unique – an essential quality that allows us as millennials to understand people in their entirety, no matter what their culture is.

Step 2: Sharing

The second step to preservation is to share. Share everything. Share what you eat for breakfast, share that beautiful sunset you see on the way home from work, share your culture, and share YOU. As humans, we tend to see the best versions of ourselves when in a social group. Social media helps us to do so by giving us the tools we need to put our “best foot forward” – that is, the persona that makes us seem most appealing for acquaintances, friends, family members, and other key relationships. Sharing day-to-day activities not only keeps us in touch with our cultures, but it allows others to do the same.

Step 3: Letting Go

The third and most vital step is to let go of fear. Millennials need to understand that fear, in its simplest form, is a trick of the mind. It is nothing more than a neurological firing of chemicals in the brain that, in the scheme of things, mean little. Abdicating fear is inviting understanding. We, as a generation, must not fear change and must embrace other’s cultures. Being fearful of being unique is detrimental to the improvement and the sustainment of our heritages. Embrace your culture, and you embrace yourself. Abolish fear of being different, and you welcome acceptance and interest.

I invite you to learn one new thing about a different culture each day. Find the time to learn how to make a dish from another country. Dance a traditional dance. Find that unique quality that keeps you connected to the global, international society – and then, you will truly embrace your culture.

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