I, as every Texan you'll meet, have a lot of pride for my state. While I was technically not "born and raised" in Texas, I still proudly wear the lone star flag on my sleeve. As a result, my unwavering loyalty has led to the following question on several occasions: "Why do Texans love Texas so much?" Well, I'll tell you.
Southern Hospitality
I cannot begin to express the extent of my appreciation for good ole' southern hospitality. Say what you want about Texas, but if you have actually been, you know that the people there were probably some of the sweetest souls you've ever met. No one knows how to treat a guest better than a Texan does. Don't get me wrong. I love New York's cynical, fast-paced nature. But when I fly home, I leave behind my cold, uncaring demeanor and happily exchange it for a smile and warm "Hi there, how are you doing today?"
I come from a state where people have doormats that say "C'mon in!" and name their pets Sugar, Daisy, and Champ. You walk into the home of a true Texan, and you can expect to be greeted with a hug, the smell of snickerdoodles or hot biscuits native to southern homes, and probably an ice-cold beverage. There's truly nothing quite like it.
The Food
Photo by Natasha Bhogal on Unsplash
It's true what they say: everything is bigger in Texas, including the portion sizes. If you love to eat, you will not be disappointed. Tex Mex, barbecue and southern comfort food are our specialities, but whatever you're craving, you'll find it. Bigger and better.
If you follow a Texan millennial on social media, you probably have seen them post something along the lines of "It's so good to be home" with a picture of a perfectly assembled soft-taco from Velvet Taco, a honey butter chicken biscuit from Whataburger, the infamous ooey-gooey queso chip pull at Torchy's, or if it's State Fair season, something fried. And yes, they all taste just as good as they look. I may have to work a lot harder to stay fit whenever I go back home, but oh is it worth it.
It's Huge
The benefit of living in the second largest state in the U.S is that there is so much to do. You can drive for hours and still be in Texas. My hometown is nicknamed "The Big D," and our airport alone is said to be bigger than the entire island of Manhattan. Just saying.
There is so much to see, all in the comfort of our own state: Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Galveston. The list goes on. And yes, each city is very different. Don't make the mistake of getting them confused. With the number of sights to see, weekend road trips are a definite go-to. Even after living in Texas all these years, I've yet to see half the cities. So when you've got a state as big as ours, the size of your love for it has to match up. It's only right. Go big or go home.
A Perfect Blend
Photo by George Alexandru Novac
When I say I'm from Texas, people who've never been down south assume that I live on a ranch in the middle of nowhere and then proceed to ask "Why don't you have an accent?" But don't worry. I always reassure them with a grin that I did, however, ride a horse to school. Yeehaw.
If you look up Dallas on Google, you will be surprised by how metropolitan it is. Yes, we do have rodeos, ranches, and plenty of livestock, but we also have skyscrapers, Michelin Star restaurants, and a notable financial district. Texans know how to get down and dirty, but come Monday morning, we are saddled up, polished, and ready to take on the world.
Lone Star Pride
WWII Memorial in D.C, 2014
Photo provided by Heidi Kim
This sounds roundabout, but yes, I love Texas because of how much everyone else there loves it. I'd easily argue that there isn't a state that has more pride than ours, and it's hard to not join in on the celebrating when there's so much to love on. There are so many of us who call it home, and yet when you meet another Texan, you instinctively act as if it's a rare encounter and feel connected. Now that's what I call state spirit.
I may consider NYC my new home now, but I can't imagine a better place to have grown up. And if you want to argue otherwise, I'll just say this: Don't mess with Texas.
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