There are some things in life you just can’t get enough of. Positive attitudes. Good friends who give more than they take. Low humidity and moderate temperatures. The cooing sounds and soft skin of a newborn baby. A mother’s love.
Thankfully, life in Tennessee provides us with many opportunities to enjoy these intangible experiences and so much more. The growing population in the Nashville suburbs, Chattanooga and countless other towns and rural communities are a testament to the “good vibes” that are present across the Volunteer State. Our fellow Americans are voting with their feet and making their homes here instead of California, Florida, Illinois or New York.
And while each new resident has their own story, I can’t help but believe that the warm, accommodating nature of the people here has much to do with establishing this trend. I have the pleasure of calling some of these new Tennesseans my friends, and they all say there is just something about this place that makes it special. They just can’t get enough of it. Whatever “it” actually is.
Some might call it Southern hospitality or classic Southern charm. But our state seems to have the market cornered on kindness. And a recent study agrees. Again.
Tennessee was ranked the second friendliest state in America by an independent study that factored a “politeness index” as a key component of the ranking system. The same organization came up with the same result back in 2019.
But I don’t need a scientific study to tell me this is true. As I travel the country, I have experienced a great deal of kindness from strangers and positive interactions with my fellow Americans. There are great people everywhere. But there’s no place like home.
The least friendly state? New York. No surprise there, I suppose. The friendliest was deemed to be Minnesota, and how can you argue with “Minnesota nice?” It’s a real thing.
As our home continues to grow and change, I hope we don’t lose it. Whatever “it” is. Because I can’t get enough of Tennessee’s wonderful people and beautiful places. And I want our coming generations to read these words one day and agree that their home is just as special as I describe.
The very day I wrote these words, I had the opportunity appreciate two of those intangible experiences I mentioned earlier. Welcome to the world, Kieran Foster Foy. You have a lot to look forward to and a lot of people who love you.
So my suggestion for you is take a slow, deep breath of the morning air, say a prayer of thanks and seize your opportunity to get some more of whatever it is you can’t get enough of.
