Anton Chekhov once wrote: “In order to feel comfortable among educated people, to be at home and happy with them, one must be cultured to a certain extent.” But, what does it mean to be cultured? Is it innate? Not at all. Here are a few ways you can start this journey.
Visit Museums and Art Galleries
Go to all of your city’s major museums and art galleries. If possible, stretch that to your country’s popular museums. Of course, visiting the world’s top museums, such as El Prado, the Louvre, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art would be wonderful.
Dive into Books by Authors From Different Countries
The problem with Western literature is that it excludes brilliant works from the majority of the world’s countries. You can close this gap by including books from at least 25 different nations on your reading list.
Listen Far and Wide!
If you want to expand your mind and knowledge, listening to music from different cultures is just as important as reading books from different countries. Because of YouTube’s huge selection, finding music from other countries is a breeze.
Learn Religion
Understanding the world around us is catalyzed by a familiarity with the world’s major religions, key doctrines, symbols, practices, founders, institutions, and ideals. The world’s most widespread faiths are widely acknowledged to include Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. But there are plenty more and ones that are very interesting too!
Try Food From Different Countries
A well-traveled person has tried cuisine from many different countries. Although traveling to different places to sample their food would be nice, depending on where you live, it is not a must and you can find restaurants in your city that specialize in unique food.
Watch Foreign Films
Foreign films give you a look into life in areas you may never visit. It gives you a different perspective on foreign traditions and ideas unlike anything else. Although this might take some getting used to, it is a brilliant way to foray into other cultures.
Learn Manners and Etiquette
Cultured people are always nice, kind, and courteous. Learning correct manners and etiquette is one approach to ensure you treat others with respect. After all, good manners make life easier and more enjoyable for everyone. Also, the most elegant person in the room is not the one who is best dressed, but the one who has the finest manners.
Travel More
Being cultural entails becoming familiar with many parts of the world, and the best way to do so is to travel. Learn to appreciate the finer things in life, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a smart, successful individual. Being a cultured person is often an acquired persona and it’s an enjoyable journey of exposure and learning. With the availability of information and media today, it is not as tough as it used to be.
