Defining Culture at Home and Beyond

Defining Culture at Home and Beyond

Today my reflection is centered on culture.

For our family, especially as we raise Bella, culture is not something accidental. It is something we choose. Culture is built on purpose, mission, and direction. And the direction we move and the time we have here on earth are shaped by the core values we choose to live by.

Those values guide us everywhere. In our home. On the bowling lanes. In conversations. In decisions. In how we handle success, disappointment, growth, and change. Core values define culture, and culture intentionally shapes the direction of our lives.

We all have a purpose. We are all here on a mission. And as the Castillo family, we see ourselves as a team. We work together to build each other up. When we share the same core values, we create a culture within our own home that brings unity, clarity, and direction.

My intention as a father is to help Bella grow up within a healthy culture so that when she leaves our home, she steps into the world with confidence, direction, and a deeply rooted sense of who she is. A culture grounded in values. A culture that guides her even when we are not physically present.

Years ago, we began defining our family culture through our last name, CASTILLO. Each letter represents a core value we strive to live out together.

C stands for Christlike.

A stands for Accountable.

S stands for Servant.

T stands for Trusting in the Lord.

L stands for Love.

The second L stands for Laughter.

O stands for Obedience.

Each of these values carries depth and meaning, but together they create alignment. They allow us to honor one another with humility. They unite us. They remind us that we talk to one another, not about one another. We lift each other up rather than pull each other down.

Unity does not mean uniformity. We do not all have to think the same, act the same, or fit into a cookie cutter version of what a family should look like. It means we respect differences. We are willing to disagree. And when decisions are made, we commit together, whether that decision is something small like where to eat or something deeper like how we spend intentional time as a family.

Over time, I have learned that seeking to understand is far more powerful than trying to prove I am right. Control creates distance. Understanding creates connection. When we listen humbly and embrace feedback, growth becomes possible.

As Bella has grown and changed, Barbi and I have had to grow and adapt as well. We have learned to try new things. New foods. New activities. New perspectives. That willingness to learn together has strengthened our bond and deepened our culture.

We are committed to learning, not just going through life on autopilot. We believe growth is a daily choice. And we are mindful that time is limited. That awareness creates a healthy sense of urgency. An urgency to refuse settling. An urgency to bring our best each day.

One message I continually share with Bella is simple. Bring your best today. Not perfection. Just your best. Then tomorrow, we try to make tomorrow better than today.

We refuse mediocrity. We embrace failure instead of fearing it. We tinker. We adjust. We learn. Whether it is bowling, school, relationships, or life itself, growth comes from responsibility and reflection.

Bella has been given gifts by God. She has been entrusted with talents, time, and opportunities. And with those gifts comes stewardship. Stewardship of her abilities. Stewardship of her resources. Stewardship of her time. All of it is meant to be managed in a way that honors God and gives Him the credit.

Gratitude is essential. None of this is owed to us. Gratitude keeps the heart aligned and grounded. A grateful heart understands that what we have is a gift, not an entitlement.

Bowling has given Bella so much. And so many people along the way have been generous with their time, knowledge, and encouragement. Because of that, we believe generosity must flow outward as well. Open hands. Open heart. Willingness to give back to the game and to the people coming behind her.

From the time she was little, Bella has known there are two mindsets. A champion mindset rooted in abundance and growth. And a scarcity mindset rooted in fear and limitation. We choose abundance. We choose growth.

Life is more than just work. Yes, we work hard. But we also play hard. We rest. We laugh. We enjoy time together. We support one another inside and outside the family. Inside and outside of bowling. Life is meant to be lived fully.

Rest and discipline both matter. Growth and joy are not opposites. When we live intentionally, we become better versions of ourselves not just for our own sake, but so we can serve, inspire, and bless others.

At the center of all of this is light. The light we have been given through Christ. Our goal as a family is simple. To walk in that light. To reflect that love. And to allow the culture we build at home to be something that carries forward into the world.

This is the culture we are building. One day at a time. Together.