Top Ten Crossing-Cultures New Year’s Resolutions
The most important cultural resolutions we need to keep in 2024.
Here, almost without preamble, are ten resolutions you should make — promises to yourself — if you are working with or planning to travel anywhere in the world in 2024 and encountering cultures different from your own — which really means, everywhere. No doubt, you’ve already considered putting those old classics of “lose weight,” “stop smoking” and “exercise more” back on your list this year. But let’s add what’s really important for 2024, and actually achievable, in order for us to live more effectively, happily and mindfully, in a global world to your resolutions list. So here goes (I like to think that going from #10 to #1 is kind of like a countdown from the most important, but feel free to resolve in any order you like):
#10: Be Humble. No one culture has an absolute lock on right or wrong, your culture or “theirs”. Resist judging what you see, hear, taste or experience until you have all the facts about why things are the way they are in “their” culture. Yes, the world is complicated, simultaneously horrific and magnificent, and understanding it starts by admitting your way is merely one of many. Now, go renew that passport!