I was born and raised in the south, and it has been an honor to learn and adapt to the Southern traditions and living. Southerners are stereotyped for our way of living and our choice of words, but I honestly think those are small elements that make us uniquely different from the rest of the world. Being raised in the south has taught me incredible life lessons and how to appreciate the simple things in life. There is nothing quite like the south, from the rich coasts to the mountainous hills. Southerners are more than the stereotype we have been placed under and have been raised to a higher standard of belief. Here are a few things southerners can relate to and are not shamed of it -- it makes us who we are.

1. Southern Hospitality

Southerners are known for showing kindness and respect in all circumstances. It is almost as if we will go the extra mile for someone, just because we can. It is common for us to open our homes to others while offering a glass of sweet tea. We are nice and friendly beings that enjoy friendships, no matter where we are -- on the side of the road, in the Walmart check out line, or even in the bathroom stall. Don't be afraid of our over friendly personalities -- it's just that we love people.

2. Manners are necessary.

I don't know about you, but at a very young age, I found manners were drilled in my head. In the south, this is something that is expected but also in return, which in some cases isn't always the outcome. It is a form of respect towards others -- to be courteous, to behave, put others before yourself, and the men are taught to open the doors for ladies, give up their seat, and take their hat off during prayer.

These are often used:

"Yes Ma'am" and "No Sir"

"Please" and "Thank You"

"Excuse Me" or "Pardon Me"

3. Y'all is a word.

This is our word for you-all, and it is used in our everyday conversations and it is how we address more than one person. When we even try to say "you guys," it just simply feels out of place. You either adapt and eventually add it into your lingo or always stare blankly at us as we try to communicate with you.

4. Sweet tea is our signature drink.

A tall glass of this sweet blend will knock you off all the stress your day has carried. You'll rarely ever walk into someone's house that doesn't have a pitcher of this glorious mixture sent from the heavens. It is a simple recipe to follow but be sure to not add too much sugar to prevent diabetes to arise. Just a fair warning, we all know one glass will not suffice. Oh, and add a lemon -- it makes a difference.

5. Our love for ACC/SEC football and tailgating.

You've probably heard the saying, "Football in the south is a religion." Well, that is accurate.

Game Day is an event that you ask off of work for, plan months in advance, and the anticipation of the game is nearly unbearable throughout the week of. You think I'm kidding, don't you? The two divisions are competitive and the fans are just as dedicated and committed -- but act as if they were or are playing in the actual game themselves with all of smack talk. Past and future games are always discussed or argued over, but you have to get use to it whether you like it or not.

Tailgating is a social event during football season that you never want to be absent from. Both men and women dress to impress and are decked out from head-to-toe in their teams colors. Typically fans park their vehicles near or in the parking lot of the football stadium and mingle with one another to celebrate the love of the game. Food is essential at these gatherings: barbecue, hamburgers, hot wings, shrimp jumbo, hoagies, chips and dip, and followed by ice cold beer. Eating, playing games, and drinking together in an energetic environment fuels your excitement for the game.

6. NASCAR

Southerners have a need for speed and NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) provides all of those desires. NASCAR is deeply associated with the south and fans from all over attend the sporting events worldwide, which sometimes entails a week-long celebration. Devoted fans purchase products to wear to support their favorite racers and many gamble on their favorite car and driver. This adds excitement to the sport and whomever wins the race for the week, wins all of the money contributed in the bet.

Fans thrive on the NASCAR environment that permanently leaves a memorable experience. Enthusiastic fans screaming at the top of their lungs that wave flags and beers in their hands, the rumbling of the engines, the smell of rubber and dust, and the thrilling adrenaline rush that fills you up as the cars zoom past the gates that seem too close for comfort.

7. " God is good, God is great, let us thank Him for our food, by His hands we will be fed, give us Lord our daily bread... Amen."

We appreciate good food, point blank. There is nothing quite like southern comfort food. It is either fried, made from scratch, or all of the above. Let's be honest here, you have to be careful to not eat too much at Sunday supper or else you may be adding a whopping ten pounds onto your weight without even recognizing it. We are known for the basics: fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, cornbread, grits, and the list goes on. Don't think about clogged arteries, just know that our soulful dishes are undeniably delicious and crafted with love.

Growing up in grandma's kitchen has taught you a thing or two about a southerners way of "eating good." It is almost a requisite that you must have bags of flour and sugar stocked in the pantry in case of low quantity. Some families grow and pick vegetables and seasonal fruit from their gardens. It is also perfectly normal for boiled peanuts to be sold on the side of the road in plastic zip-lock bags and to have biscuits served with warm brown sugar piled in the middle. Southern food -- nothing quite like it.

8. Dirt roads are stress-relievers.

Ah... there is nothing like getting lost on an unpaved empty dirt road that provides supplies alluring scenery of open countrysides, sunflower and cotton fields, and hidden plantations surrounded by willow trees. Many southerners enjoy riding dirt roads because it is roads away from all hectic ongoing traffic, yet still directs your path towards your final destination. Dirt roads allow you to drive, think, notice your surroundings, and eventually leave all of your worries on the isolated backroads.

9. Country music soothes the soul.

Not all southerners enjoy country music, but a majority can admit that it is their absolute favorite genre. You may have not grown up listening to George Jones or Dolly Parton, but your parents have probably admit it more times that you can count about how they adored these sensational idols in their younger days.

It is a genre that is respectively deep and approaches harmonic melodies with subtle messages about life, love and loss. It often times gets a bad reputation of exaggerating a farmers life or a the loss of a relationship, but it is disclosing someones personal story that hasn't been heard. Southerners can sometimes relate to the simplicity in the south, which is what draws us to country music to some degree.

10. We are always blessing someone.

We like to bless people. If it isn't because you just sneezed three times in a row, it is because we you just said something out of the ordinary, because we feel your pain, or that we are thanking you for a kind act. "Bless your heart" is a term that can be misunderstood and seen as sarcastic, which is not our original intention. We use this so often that it doesn't even cross our minds that you think we are insulting you.

11. We have our own lingo.

We know, you think our accent is cute but our sentence structure just made your eyes pop out of your head. We have our own vocabulary that we use on a regular basis; certain words and sentences just make sense to us. Often times a word that ends with the letter 'G' doesn't exist in our mind. It is what we have grown up around, so it has stuck with us.

"I'm fixin' to get ready!"

"Quit your lollygaggin'..."

"Go check over yonder."

"I reckon I can do that."

"Go get the buggy for me."

"I'm gonna go buy a soda from the store real quick."

"Gimme some sugar!"

12. Snow days = no school and no work

Snow days consist of purchasing two jugs of milk and two or three loafs of bread when the weatherman tells us that a heavy snowfall will soon approach us. As we wake up for the next day, an inch of snow has fallen from the heavens and as we turn on the news, we anticipate that work and schools in the area are closed.

And they are. Roads are icy and school is cancelled for the next two days. Excitement fills our minds as we think about the fun-filled day ahead with lots of sledding down the hills and snowball fights. Except for the fact that the sun starts to peak through the clouds two hours in, melting and creating a mushy disaster. Most southerners get excited about snow days because it is such a foreign weather pattern for us -- we never want to take the chance in wrecking in that one inch of snow, and you know, black ice is definitely a thing.

13. Porch swings

Who would have thought that a wooden bench-like seat that swings by hedges would be such a past-time for the south. It is where many of our thoughts are processed and some of our biggest decisions are made. Good, heartfelt conversations are held that have been sworn to stay. There is nothing like sitting out on the front porch feeling the breeze hit your face on a beautiful day or even a chilly storm night as the bolts of lightening fill the sky. It is said, too, that some of the best dates are ended by sitting on the front porch swing.

14. The Sunday Routine

God and prayer is a number one priority that you think about every single day. You know where you need to be on a Sunday morning without your Mama having to tell you to do so. Going to church is a priority, not because Mama told you to but because it is what the Lord would want. After a church service, a good home-cooked meal is next on the agenda. Sunday lunch is also your Sunday dinner because of how much you have ate so, a nap is much needed afterwards to re-energizer for the week to come. In the south, this is the normal Sunday ritual that is always met.

15. Outdoor activities

Outdoor activities is a southerners playground. Not only is exhilarating but it is also very inspirational that we should be good at it, so it can become competitive. Duck, dove and deer hunting are very popular and if you don't hunt, then what are you doing in your spare time? Frog gigging, searching tires and craw fishing are activities mostly done in the summer but never phases to not be a top priority. Riding four-wheelers after a heavy rainfall can be pretty intense and getting muddy is considered fun.

Bonfires on a cool night in a field or a deserted pasture is something southerners like to do to hang out with friends or to do doughnuts in your friends pick-up truck as fast as you can. Gazing at the stars in the night sky that have been strategically placed is some of the most priceless memories. The beauty of a star-lit sky memorizes and brings out the simplicity of living in the south and how precious life really is. Bright blue skies on an a warm spring afternoon can bring this emotion out of you, too.

16. Two Seasons: Hot and Cold

Although we technically have four seasons, it is almost as if we just have two. It is either hot outside to the point where you are sweating bullets or you are needing to run back inside to grab another jacket to add to your four layers of an outfit. The south is only use to either of the two so when it changes -- we are in shock and dressing like we've never experienced either one before.

17. Fourth of July

This is a holiday in which every person here celebrates and does it according to where there friends will be that day. Many spend their Fourth of July on a pontoon on the lake while soaking in the sun rays, waving a large American flag high in the air, while being overly dressed in your red, white, and blue gear. Your theme song for the day is "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue" by Toby Keith and creates an excitement within you about your freedom -- so it is celebrated with a firework show, good music, BBQ, and cold beer.

18. Strangers are our friends.

This is just it -- we really are nice and friendly who love people. We have been raised with manners and when someone passes you, you instantly grin at them. At times, it can almost feel offensive if the person doesn't smile back at you. Many people also wave at others in the road while passing, sometimes even if we don't know them personally. We're just friendly and ready for conversation and kindness to be presented in some form.

19. Southern restaurant chains you know and love.

Southerners love food, what can I say? We have some of the best places to get our grub on and wish we could share our hidden gems to others around the world so they could experience it as well. Here's a few we adore:

Waffle House is open 24/7, cheap, and has the most friendliest staff you could possibly imagine. Walking in at 3 a.a. is not out of norm and no one will dare judge you as you stuff your face with a chocolate chip waffle and a side of smothered hash browns for $4.

Chick-fil-A is now branching out to more locations other than its home-based region. You guessed it, chicken is the staple of the menu for this fast-food business although it is not deep-fried but pressure cooked and put on a buttery bun and served with waffle fries -- best dipped in Polynesian Sauce. You never leave unhappy or unsatisfied.

CookOut gives the aspect of "cooked outdoor styled" to a whole new level. You can drive thru or dine in but the dining experience leaves you wanting more. This is the place to come and satisfy your tastebuds even into the late night. The menu is a broad range from fresh hamburgers to corndogs and you can't forget the 40+ milkshake option.

20. Scenery in the south is beyond priceless.

The south most definitely has some of the most breath-taking scenery in the world. From the snow capped mountain tops, clean beaches, and beautiful country sides... not much compares. Taking long drives to the coast with moss and willow trees above you as you pass by, you also see the beautiful quaint two-story homes that were uniquely designed.

The south has many amazing attributes as well as the people. We may be stereotyped and judged for the way that we talk or the way sweeten our tea, but these are my roots. Our simpleness speaks for itself, outlining our core values and strengths for the greater good. We may be different from one another by our choice of words or activities we participate in, but in the end we are all people from some place in the world. I just want to remind whoever is reading this to get to know the person for who they are -- and embrace their authenticity rather than making accusations about their upbringing and culture.