I was born here in Atlanta, and lived most of my life in the backwoods of North Georgia, among the rednecks and deer hunters, the likes of which you might find on “Here comes Honey Boo Boo”.
I rejected the hillbilly culture I was raised in because I hated the machismo and stupidity of my peers, I rejected my parent’s culture because they were such devout christians that I didn’t get to play games or watch modern cartoons (that’s how satan gets you), the generalized American culture disgusts me, and I rejected the culture of Atlanta when I moved here because I felt like a man with my priviledge didn’t belong to a place where murals of civil rights leaders are plastered like monuments to heroes, or to a city called “hotlanta” for its parties when I don’t want to participate in them.
My personal culture is something new, and perhaps unique. I don’t have any traditions (I truly dislike holidays, family gatherings, and religious events), I don’t go out except to buy food or supplies, and occasionally to do something like a date. I don’t have a religion, and I’m not in any minority groups. I don’t play video games or watch television, and I don’t care about anything except that I have rent paid and food to eat. I just go to work and school, and hang out with my roommates while pretending to understand the memes, politics, sports, and tv shows they incessantly talk about.
What I can say about this personal culture is that it is carefree. I happily accept any situation, no matter how strange or hard it might make my life. I care not for materialism, nor asceticism. Above all, I seek knowledge and understanding, and apply what I learn to my personal culture whenever I see something that I believe will make me a better person.
Thanks for reading,
Caleb Lloyd