It seems as if majority of today’s modern American families have similar lifestyles, beliefs and traditions. Unlike my family the “Cochran’s”, in which are very particular about our cultures religion, has old school tactics and maintains a very modest lifestyle. As far as I know most of my relatives on both my mother and father side of the family are from southern states: Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. So considerably, it’s safe to say my family has a southern mentality on just about everything they do.
My grandparents were born in the 1940-50’s and they’re pronged to doing things as they were in their day and age and with my mom being a product of them, she acts accordingly. So going to church faithfully every Sunday, Saturday, and Wednesday was a redundant yet, pleasurable activity for my family and me. In our culture Christianity is a passionate topic and they strongly believe in honoring a specific lifestyle.
On some of the most exciting holidays like Halloween, Valentine’s Day and even meaningless days that no one really pays attention to like April fool’s day, was not to be celebrated are even acknowledged according to our family’s religion. We had to celebrate those days at church and in high school I was prohibited from wearing make-up, associating with boys, having a cell phone and sometimes even socializing with girlfriend’s over the weekend. So, needless to say my family was pretty cut and dry about their rules and regulations but they had a legitimate reasoning behind it.
According to my grandpa, John that type of religious discipline has been performed in our family’s culture for the past sixty years. Along with the generations of self taught, gifted outdoors man that always appeared to be a necessity to their labor job. Of course that included my papa John who was a carpenter and worked on high risers and roads and my father/ uncle’s worked in steel mills. Nevertheless, Hunting and fish was a natural hobby for most of the men in my family’s culture. Considering how the generation of men taught their sons the importance of labor work and how it can support their families.
It certainly severed its purpose. As a result our family was proudly able to prepare an abundant amount of fish and other wildly caught meals for the traditional Cochran fish fry’s that took place at least 2-3 times every year. Family fish fry’s and other supper events kind of act as family reunions because the main reasoning of the dinner is to create fellowship with one another and to make sure the family reunites as one. Our culture views motivation, empowerment and support as a critical duty among one another.
This traditional gathering has been orchestrated by our great, great ancestors; and the current family still honors the gathering to this very day. I enjoy being a part of my family‘s culture and abiding by our morals and values. Without it I would have not progressed into the humble leader that I have become today. I’m looking forward to more family fish fry’s and strengthening my relationship and bond with relatives. I’ve came to realize that becoming more familiar with my family’s culture has helped me understand a lot about myself, self actions, and most importantly my future.
