Living in the South has always had its perks in my book. I love our southern hospitality, our loyalties, our weather, our history and most of all our mountains. If you visit us you will hear Ya’ll, Heavens to Betsy and Over Yonder probably more than you can count in a days time. I am proud of who we are and where we live. I want to take a few minutes to reflect on some of our southern sayings and what is really meant by them when they are being said. It may sound sweet but are we really meaning it to be that way. It sounds nice but is it really? Let’s dive in to some of those words that hold a special place in this girls heart.
So let’s find out those meanings!
I’m going to add some of my favorites and what we really mean when we say them. After all, these are perks of the south!
- Bless Her Heart- This can be said sincerely and sometimes it is. However, most of the time this term has an edginess to it. It can be used to show empathy but it can also be said to replace how we really feel about the topic that is being discussed. I feel like sometimes in the south we say this without even realizing we did. This is usually said with a small shake of the head and maybe an exaggerated look. No worries I think we have all said this from time to time. Now if it’s context was empathy or with an edge that’s for you to know. This one is kind of special.
- Worn Slap Out- I say this frequently and for the most part I literally am “Worn Slap Out.” It’s that weary an hour past “I’m dog tired.” It’s in those months when temps rise and activities are at peak that we find ourselves in this state. I honestly think its both mental and physical and yes it is totally a real thing!
- Fixin To- This term to us means it will happen or it will get done, but we may take our sweet time doing it or getting it done. Fixin to implies a “hold your horses” kind of reply. We always get things done but sometimes we enjoy the doing nothing in between. This could be one of our finest and we all use it.
- Over Yonder- Now this can be in any direction and distant or close. We can even intensify this with ‘Way over Yonder.” Your guess is as good as mine as to what we are referring to when we use this term. To me it’s a “I forgot” kind of moment. “You know, over yonder.” Truth be told nobody knows where it is but we all use it. It’s a million different places and its just over yonder past the barn or over yonder past the cornfield. Who knows? Where is over yonder or is it just everywhere in the south that we want it to be?
- Till the Cows Come Home- Well let’s look at this one practically. Cows are not fast, they are not know for speed and therefore whatever we are implying by this is probably going to take use all day and we are possibly going to be wandering around everywhere as cows do in the field. So if we say this please just sit tight and know that whatever it is we are doing, it is going to take us all day.
Shall I continue with the next five?
- Hill of Beans- Hopefully this isn’t the term you hear while having a conversation you feel is important because chances are it isn’t if you hear this phrase. Literally your words mean nothing or as we like to be nice and say “a hill of beans.” This measuring stick is each persons very own kind of accurate and it really doesn’t matter to us what you are saying.
- Too Big for your Britches- This is how we like to say “You think too highly of yourself.” If you have this said to you please just pause and reflect for a moment because if we mean it we usually say it. We just simply tell it like it is. So don’t be “Getting too big for your britches.”
- Quit Being Ugly- No this doesn’t mean go fix your hair and get your makeup on it means stop acting inappropriately and do what your supposed to be doing. This is mostly from a momma’s mouth and when used its used regularly. We mean it too! So get your act together and quit being ugly!
- Ya’ll- Contractions at it’s finest! If it is more than one person I guarantee its “Ya’ll’ This term is amazingly probably one of the most common. We can say “Ya’ll” and boom just like that we have shortened our sentence and made whatever we are trying to say much faster and with better flow. You have to love this one!
- Can’t Never Could- We mean if you don’t try you aren’t going to succeed. But if you set your mind to it and think you can, you will be able to do it! So if someone says this then consider it a pure and simple kind of southern encouragement and southern hospitality.
southern Hospitality
I am proud of this in our area. We are a very warm, welcoming and kind part of the South. I believe we love to welcome visitors in our area and we are very proud to welcome them here or to our homes. I think that to live in the South this is almost a requirement. Now if you “go a gettin too big for yer britches” well maybe the South isn’t for you.
Some of our most common qualities that I believe are meant when this term “Southern Hospitality” is used include kind, warm, compassionate, helpful and polite. We are raised to be all of these things in the South and in being so I believe it has become a rich part of our heritage. It is one to be proud of.
rich in love- Mountains and sunshine
Some may be rich, some may be poor and some may be middle class but in this area we all help each other out and take care of our neighbor. Family is for life and dirt isn’t that easy to give up. We make memories where we live, we grow up on solid foundations and we hold tight to values. Investments are what we make them. Invest wisely in your family, your homes and your jobs. Always be happy with what you have and remember to be rich with love in your family not what you can buy.
Neighbors really are family and ball games aren’t just for practice. It’s a family event where not only our kids have fun but so do the adults. Friday Night Lights really mean something and Opening Day is important. To live in this area and call it homes makes me rich in love. If you ever want to find out, well just visit our area. It won’t take long for you to find out why I love our “Southern Hospitality.” You may even decide to join us!
Please see link below for your own road atlas of Wise County and the City of Norton: This is your sign to come visit!
Ending thoughts
My son is four and in those short years my son has more love and kindness in his heart than many people will have in their entire lifetime. I hope I am raising a son who will always be compassionate and loving and be forgiving in every circumstance he is given. I love knowing that I am raising him in this little slice of heaven we call home here in the South.
If you have enjoyed this short blog please check out my checklist for traveling with toddlers and top 5 places to visit with your pets! Links listed below!
