Cultural capital ... defined as what we have learned from our families and then bring to our friendships, the workplace, and our marriages. It is also what we bring from the workplace into friendships, marriages ... okay, you're getting the drift. During last week's all-staff day, one of the speakers addressed what first-generation students bring to the table ... their cultural capital, if you will. The words intrigued me and made me wonder ...
What is your cultural capital? Is it a strong work ethic? A love of reading? An ability to enjoy life? And did you know that whatever your cultural capital, you need a plan to capitalize on them and achieve success? But beware ... it's not my definition of success but yours that counts. Success, like beauty, is indeed in the eye of the beholder.
Take my mom, for example: she is one of the most successful people that I know. And no, she doesn't head up a Fortune 500 company ... but she did lead Brownie/Girl Scout troop after Brownie/Girl Scout troop when no one else would. And she held down a not-so-glamorous full-time job, in the days when most moms were stay-at-home, and also found time to serve as the room mother. Even now, at nearly 88 ... she is teaching Vacation Bible School. So from my mom I learned that I need to give back ... no matter how few or how many my resources ... according to my time, talent, and treasure.
Mom didn't have any outside help when we were all growing up. And despite being weary after raising 5 children and working that full-time job, she managed to instill in us that cleanliness is next to godliness. In turn, I grew to be someone who takes pride in a sparkling house. Nowadays, I'm spoiled and "Connie Clean" helps me wrangle my first floor's wood floors. But the outcome sought has been consistent ... a clean and cozy spot that beckons us home at night. A place to let the worries of the day slip away ... for a while at least.
Did my houses look that way when the children were small. Absolutely not. But our tiny little living room on Orchard managed to be a respite in the chaos of raising children, in part because we had a basement, aka the toy room. My daughter was recalling the toy room as wall-to-wall toys ... some of which never were picked up. Hey, if there is a door to close ... why not! :) (And before you judge ... who among you doesn't have one "junk drawer?") I also learned the art of expediency from my mom!
But ... back to my cultural capital ... you've already heard that I learned punctuality from my father. I also learned the value of loving one's family from both my parents. My mom had two sisters and a younger brother who was more like my brother. Except ... he was always my mom's little brother (even when he soared over her) and, when he was dying, she managed to make him laugh and accept that they would meet again ... on Jordan's shore.
My dad had two brothers and four sisters ... and he adored each and every one of them. He was the second from the youngest and he likely got away with a little bit more than others in his family. Interestingly, his sister Mamie, who was very close to him in age, told me once that their mother, my grandmother Lucy Cairns (not to be confused with my niece Lucy Cairns), practiced unconditional love long before the child psychologists had put a name to it. My dad learned from his mom ... and then treated his children with the same unconditional love and respect. What a gift for us! I was never as good at it as he was ... but I hope to find redemption in the eyes of my grandchildren.
So I ask again ... what is your cultural capital?
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