With Hurricane Ida fresh on our shorelines, there is a mixture of emotion, isn’t there? Relief that our beloved coast wasn’t leveled because we all know it could have been much worse. At the same time, we feel great sorrow for our neighbors in Louisiana, knowing all too well the devastation that’s taken place and the rebuilding that will need to happen.
Following severe weather, it’s common for people to ask, “Why on earth do people live in Mississippi?” I know this because if I had a dollar for every time someone asked me this, I could probably own some waterfront property in Ocean Springs.
So, why do we stay in Mississippi?
Maybe it’s the beautiful beaches, the bayou, and the cotton fields?
Maybe it’s the delicious seafood and southern-style comfort food?
Maybe it’s a lower cost of living with a higher quality of life?
Maybe it’s less traffic?
Maybe it’s the patriotism?
Maybe it’s the classic architecture?
Maybe it’s the rich history of literature that’s sure to make any book lover swoon?
Maybe it’s the music?
Maybe it’s the storied streets that remind us of just how far we’ve come?
Maybe it’s the hospitality?
Maybe because it’s home.
If home is where the heart is, then it’s no wonder that Mississippians stay in a place that is so full of heart and soul. The spirit of Mississippi has a way of sneaking into your heart and settling in your bones.
As the great William Faulkner once said, “To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi.”
So, why do we stay in Mississippi?
Mississippi is a powerful place full of culture and even fuller of genuine people who choose to live here. We are all Mississippians, by choice.
