I woke up today thinking about culture (funny that I would think about culture as Anthropology is my major ;) ). The interesting thing about culture is how much it deeply impacts us as human beings. Culture shapes our identities. It determines how we live and breathe. We sleep when we do because our culture says so. We eat when and how we do because our culture says so. The way we talk, laugh, believe, interact, and express ourselves is all impacted by our culture. Now this is not to say we don't have agency, because we surely do. We have the beautiful gift of choice. But we make those choices based off the culture that surrounds us.
Culture tells us what is normal and not; what we as people determine is acceptable. For example, it is not generally acceptable in our country to talk very close to someone's face (a.k.a. the "close talker"). You would probably be thought of as strange and awkward. However, in other countries this would be not only perfectly acceptable, but expected.
This is the main reason that I love Maryland so much. I love the culture. The cool thing about Maryland is that there are so many various cultures here. People come here from all around the world because it is next to Washington D.C. I heard so many different languages at the store yesterday, and I loved it. The absolutely beautiful thing about all these different cultures being together is that differences are more acceptable. Here there is more freedom to act however you want because people are less likely to think you are odd. Who's to say your culture doesn't allow you to do that thing that seems totally bizarre to me? When you are around people who practice various customs all the time, differences become the norm. I adore this freedom. I love that I can act how I please and most people really won't care. Now don't get me wrong. There is still a culture in Maryland. Definitely. It is just that there are more varieties of cultures in Maryland than any other place I have lived.
It is amazing to me how Heavenly Father guides us to what will bring us the most joy, even when it may not seem like it at the time. Maryland has been such a good place for me at this time in my life. Leaving Utah in a way represented me as a little bird leaving my nest. It happened during a time when I was still young and my little family was just forming. Coming to Maryland occured while I was still shaping myself. How grateful I am to have been allowed that freedom of acceptance of various lifestyles as I am discovering who I am.
This is not to say that everyone who is at a point of self discovery needs to move to Maryland. It has just been the best way for me. I am very much impacted by what people think of me. I needed to be somewhere where people won't perceive me as odd or bad while I have been at the beginnings of self discovery, so I could allow myself to act and believe as I see fit for myself and my family. I feel stronger now. I feel like I could stand more solidly in myself as I am no matter where I go now.
I don't know how long we will live in Maryland. I have never really felt like it is my permanent home here. Oddly that hasn't bothered me. I've just enjoyed my time here. But whether we stay longer or leave sooner, I am grateful that the Spirit guided us to this place at this time in my life as I have been shaping my identity.
