Diversity, Local Cultural Influences

Just like most families, mine has had various traditions that take place throughout the year. These traditions comprise rituals, stories, beliefs, and customs that are passed amongst generations. The most important and those who stick in our memories are the holiday traditions. It is during this time that we were taught and still learn the values of the family. These traditions are critical in building strong relationships for generations (Triandis & Suh, 2002). Furthermore, they have shaped me culturally into who I am today. They have always made me have a sense of belonging in my community.

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Most routines and traditions are part of healthy families. I have felt more secure through the customs and still have a sense of continuity as well as routine for which I depend upon on my daily life. I can recall most of the special experiences of family traditions even more than the toys and gifts I received when I was young. I take some time to talk about the things that my family has done previously and their importance to my life. I talk mostly of how I have been included in planning and carrying out various special activities. Through these, I realize various stories such as how my great great great grandfather Clyde Crumbler worked in the cotton fields as a child and experienced slavery. I always think that this has given me a feeling of pride and belonging in that I can well integrate unto other upcoming traditions. I have also understood better why my family does some things and values some others. Furthermore, I feel that I have a sense of family history, considering the linkage between the local traditions and the religious and cultural heritage of various communities (Barnouw, 1963).

There could be notable changes within our families, which lead to the changing of traditions with me. My presence in the community during the various practices have led me to feel it right to embrace certain changes. For instance, various families get together at certain times when they want to share certain special meals (Jang, McCrae, Angleitner, Riemann & Livesley, 1998). However, our menu tends to change over the years, which is always right for me. The most important thing to me is how we can come together as a family and share our memories while passing the traditions, values, and practices. Therefore, traditions assist in creating strong bonds among family members. Sometimes we have family rituals that establish the main basis for family values, which are still a good linking experience. The various rituals have stirred up my emotions and are more often reminisced and discussed among family members. Some rituals that are more common among our family include Christmas celebrations. Some of the events that surround the holiday include lighting the menorah, finding a Christmas tree, and considering family gatherings.

Various other local traditions that have shaped my culture include prayers, singing times, journals, evening walks, bedtime stories, shopping, a family home evening, and family home services. Our tradition also values birthdays, which are mostly characterized by cake, birthday cards, and dinner. It is during this time that we have cut wishes and responsibility cards that define our family at large. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Eve parties are some other local traditions that have let me embrace the society I have been placed. These are celebrated by My mom, we four siblings, 14 grandchildren, and three great-grandkids. These traditions have been ways through which my family has handed down information, custom, and beliefs amongst generations while providing me with a family identity, predictability, and learning of community and life skills.

Unity, Global Cultural Influences

Various global cultural influences have interacted with parameters of diversity, including education, race, and socioeconomic status to shape our perception of ourselves. There has been an international transmission of ideas, values, and meanings around the world in that they have intensified and extended personal social interactions. The media involved in the transmission of values and beliefs include popular culture media, global travel, and the modern technology of the internet. As a result, there are shared norms and knowledge that bind people and which most of us can place our personal and collective cultural identities. Various rituals, practices, and norms that are common to the world have led to more interconnectedness among different societies and cultures. The global cultural influence has led to cultural globalization where no individual around the globe is excluded. For instance, there are more cuisines such as fast food chains including Starbucks and McDonalds. These companies are distributed internationally and can be used by many people for meetings. From the meetings, cultural diversities can be shared; some can be adopted, whereas various cultures could integrate into a common one that considers all demographic factors of the individuals involved.

Besides, there are religious beliefs and celebrations, which have led to the individual perception of oneself. The norms of a society influence how people interact and how they share their ideas. Understanding the influence of religion on another society is important to let one understand how they can well integrate with them. With enhanced technology such as the internet that can be used to research, cultural practices can be identified for a community before interacting with them to ensure that one is on the right track while exchanging ideas with them. There are lesser failures to respect religious beliefs and cultures of diverse societies; hence, lesser chances for undermining the reputation of any community (Ward & Chang, 1997). For instance, there are various world religious celebrations that comprise gift giving and feasting. The advantage of these festivals is that they let people from diverse communities interact amongst themselves. Even with different religious beliefs, multiple cultures can interact positively with them and embrace them. There is also a global link between religious practices and gender roles that influence a family and more so, the society (Hall, Lindzey & Campbell, 1957). With a more globalized world, any individual can understand the values and practices within the settings for different genders. As a result, there could be more collaboration and togetherness, considering an understanding of the values, beliefs, and practices of the society within that setting.

Broader celebrations such as graduation parties, weddings, and even the world cup celebrations are some customs that create meaning from my culture. These customs have been in line with my influences in that they have shaped the cultural me today. For instance, I have well understood what the broader community wants, how they do their tasks, and what they embrace more. In that connection, I can well integrate with them at any event. However, these have not led me to diversify from my culture. I have only made it stronger. For instance, I have learned how the English language is used during these celebrations, and that has led me to strengthen my culture even more. The global historical geographical and family factors have, therefore influenced the interconnected that exists between me and my culture. I have improved on racial and ethnic self-identification, cultural bias, acculturation, social and time orientation, spiritual beliefs, and even my health beliefs in terms of healing practices.

References

Barnouw, V., (1963). Culture and personality (p. 1973). Homewood, Illinois: Dorsey Press.

Hall, C. S., Lindzey, G., & Campbell, J. B. (1957). Theories of personality (No. 04; BF698, H3.). New York: Wiley.

Jang, K. L., McCrae, R. R., Angleitner, A., Riemann, R., & Livesley, W. J. (1998). Heritability of facet-level traits in a cross-cultural twin sample: support for a hierarchical model of personality. Journal of personality and social psychology, 74(6), 1556.

Triandis, H. C., & Suh, E. M. (2002). Cultural influences on personality. Annual review of psychology, 53(1), 133-160.

Ward, C., & Chang, W. C., (1997). "Cultural fit": A new perspective on personality and sojourner adjustment. International journal of intercultural relations, 21(4), 525-533.