“And he bowed his head to Jesus and he stood for Uncle Sam and he only loved one woman, He was always proud of what he had. He said his greatest contribution Is the ones you leave behind raised on the ways and gentle kindness of a small town Southern man.” - Alan Jackson

Growing up in a small southern town, you quickly realize it's the little things. I always heard older people saying how they wanted to get out of our town as fast as they could and never look back. I was never one of those people. I love small towns, the stories they hold within them, and even the people that are just passing through. If my town was a possession, it'd be my most prized one.

There is just something special about small towns that brings tears to my eyes and not in the same way as Nicholas Sparks movies, bonfires, funerals, and sunsets (however, I always seem to enjoy these things more at home). It is things that go unspoken, but somehow everyone who is from there has a true understanding of what this life is all about. Here's 100 Reasons to be thankful for small towns.

1. Before you're old enough to walk and even talk for that matter you're already being put into all kinds of things from youth choirs, youth groups, *town name* children's theater, recreational sports, lessons of some sort, girls/boy scouts, *town name* after school programs…. you get the point.

2. The local newspaper or television station welcomes you into this world and says its saddest goodbyes on the way out.

3. You are taught to respect everyone no matter their age, family, size, shape, background, etc. Because of that, you understand the importance of prayer from a young age.

4. There is just as much love for Jesus, Friday Night Football, Saturdays spent cheering on your favorite SEC (or ACC) team, Steeplechases, Church on Sunday mornings and Wednesday afternoons, HonkyTonks, and NASCAR races as there is for pageants, dirt roads, parades, festivals, brim busters, Sportsmen Clubs, Rodeos, and ice cold beer.

5. Chances are you can buy live bait inside the cooler outside someone's house and even at the gas station at the 4-way stop.

6. You know that blinds aren't just something hanging on the windows and all kinds of animals are hanging on your walls.

7. You go to the beach or the lake for holidays and avoid big cities at all costs.

8. You know exactly what Craig Morgan was talking about in Red Neck Yacht Club.

9. You know what a party is and can tell just how good it is going to be depending on the locations, whether it’s a parking lot, house, barn, yard, field, bonfire, backwoods, WTB, lake, river, etc.

10. You know that girls swoon over straight pipes and Nitto tires.

11. You love a good mud rally and you’d be lying if you said you did not live for nights at the speedway.

12. You know that around these parts, the only traffic you'll ever see is when a road is being paved or there is a funeral.

13. If there is a Road Block or a High Speed chase, chances are you’ve heard about it on Facebook or seen it on Facebook Live.

15. There is an endless amount of country songs that describe your life to the T.

16. You always bring a sirsee to any kind of graduation, wedding, bachelorette party, etc. Just because.

17. The pool and the hair salon are the two places where you go to hear (and/or tell) all of the latest news.

18. No matter what direction something is in your daddy probably says, “over there yonder,” and expects you to know exactly what he was talking about.

19. You know that where you live might be in the middle of nowhere, but that it is truly a place where you can relax and be still on any given day.

20. You love the sunsets, especially over a freshly planted field.

21. Not only do you always wave on the lake, but you wave at cars going by and if people don’t wave to you, you think to yourself, “They must not be from around here.”

22. You know that this is a place that dares you to reach for higher heights and will love you even through your toughest times.

23.You really know what commUNITY is.

24. When something happens, it spreads like a wildfire. Everybody and his brother knows within 24 hours because there's no such thing as "secrets in the South.”

25. You always, always say "ma'am/sir" to anyone you meet even when they might be younger than you.

26. There's a tailgate for everything from sporting events to Halloween, you name it - chances are there's a tailgate.

27. WD-40 is your go-to fixer upper.

28. 4-H Club, FFA, or farm camp introduced you to some of your life-long best friends.

29. You do not think it is weird that people sit outside either in their front porch swings or on their lawn chairs just watching the cars go by.

30. You honk when you pass your friends house even if they're not home.

31. People love haunted houses, mazes, & trails and they will drive for hours to go to them. You love them just as much but they are practically in your backyard.

32. Agriculture is second to Jesus for all the right reasons.

33. You know that support can be found everywhere in all times of need.

34. Some pretty famous war heroes were from or lived in your town at some point so just about everything is named after them.

35. There is always some kid who got famous for something in your town.

36. Patriotism is everywhere.

37. You know that "fixins" are sometimes the sides for your meal and other times it's something you are "fixin" to do.

38. You shake hands with and hug people you don't really know that well.

39. You call people your aunts, uncles, and cousins even when there really is no blood between y’all.

40. Almost everything you do is because it is a family tradition.

41. You know everyone and everyone knows you, or you at least know of them.

42. Chances are your family planted its roots here a long, long time ago and now no one wants to leave.

43. You love Harvest time.

44. You eat lunch or supper at the Diner at least twice a week, but you always try out the new restaurants as well.

45. Most of the people you know go to school with you and have known you your whole life. A handful of you even end up at the same college.

46. Your church family will always be there for you. You'll probably call your Pastor “Papa.”

47. You will grow to fall in love with buildings and nature from a young age.

48. Everyone knows how to shag even if it is just a little bit.

49. You know there is nothing like your Grandmother's biscuits.

50. You use plastic plates at a lot of things, but for some odd reasons there is almost always cloth napkins.

51. Someone in your household-- if not everyone-- subscribes to Southern Living magazine.

52. You never say pants, you always say "britches.”

53. You know with all of your heart that biscuits aren't nearly the same without jelly or gravy.

54. The first friend to be able to drive will be like a taxi for everyone until everyone else can drive.

55. If your friend had a pool then all your friends would go hangout there in middle school.

56. The song "Water Tower" by Jason Aldean will bring tears to your eyes every single time.

57. Most people do not know where the town you live in is. You always end up saying "it's in *town name* county” or “it’s between *big city* and *some beach.*”

58. You know that good hospitality is a must.

59. You know that pickup trucks can look just a good as people and deserve to be photographed too.

60. Hunting season is your favorite season.

61. You would go out of your way to help anyone.

62. Your Sunday lunches are so big sometimes that they look like family reunions.

63. You have shot a gun before either at the shooting range, at sporting clays, or at big game.

64. “Sumter County Friday Night” by Lee Brice describes your town perfectly.

65. You care about sports way more than you should.

66. Chances are you can list less than 15 celebrities and what exactly they are famous for.

67. People always come over even when you are not expecting them to.

68. You are always down to go to a good BBQ!

69. Your dad thinks Crocs never went out of style.

70. You shop local. However, you get what you need when you are out in town because you do not live really close to anything.

71. People wear camouflage to anything.

72. Chances are you have probably owned at least one animal people go to the petting zoo to see.

73. There are more fishing rods in your house than hairbrushes and maybe even pairs of shoes.

74. You go to the county fair and the state fair every year.

75. If you hit the wrong number by accident when calling someone's house phone they probably know you and the person you were trying to call.

76. You don't agree with adding more stuff to the town because you like it just the way it is.

77. "Bless you heart" is said in at least one daily conversation.

78. Your family owns a John Boat or two or seven, who's really keeping count?

79. Newspapers and magazine clippings of pictures of you and your your friends are common in your house.

80. You are more than likely on a first name basis with a local politician but you still address them the proper way.

81. Driving around is not a waste of time, in fact it is probably the reason for many of your greatest memories.

82. Someone you know went to jail for something even if just for the night.

83. There is always pollen on your car.

84. For holidays people go all out decorating.

85. You love to sit outside and get a little closer to Jesus.

86. You know your neighbors are cooking Chitlinz just by the way the yard smells.

87. You know that you don't have to spend money to have a successful date.

88. There is some big event that brings tourists to your town once a year.

89. You are just a short drive away from the lake, beach, and the mountains.

90. You take for granted getting to see the stars at night.

91. You are friends with people named Bubba, Bo, Beau, Billy, Clementine, Earl, Annamae, Sue Hellen, Renegade, and Rufus.

92. Your go-to weekend playlist consists of Hank Williams, Jawga Boyz, Merle Haggard, Colt Ford, Lenny Cooper, Alabama, Waylon Jennings and David Allan Coe. It is all about the OUTLAWS!

93. However, during the week you listen to FGL, Jimmy Buffett, Sam Hunt, Tim McGraw, Kane Brown, Alan Jackson, Luke Combs, Lee Brice, Sugarland, Patrick Britt, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Kane Brown and Eric Church. Really just anything country from old to new.

94. Either you personally were a Debutante or one of your closest friends was.

95. You know what a black skillet is.

96. You sign up to volunteer for everything: the church bake-sale, the trunk-or-treat, Christmas angels, you've done it all.

97. You do not eat at restaurants that do not sell Sweet Tea.

98. You own belt buckles bigger than your fist.

99. You are just downright nosy.

100. Almost everything they say on those "things southerners say" videos is 100% you, but you refuse to admit that.