The whole idea started as I was occupying a booth in our city's local IHOP on a Friday night. Yes, I spent my Friday evening at the International House of Pancakes. As I was situated in the booth that I had been seated in, enjoying my greasy smothered chicken quesadilla and chugging down every ounce of Diet Pepsi I possibly could, I couldn't help but overhear the comment my waiter made to a family leaving the restaurant. "Y'all have a good night. God bless you guys," he exclaimed in an enthusiastic way as the family set foot outside the restaurant doors. Not too much longer after that, I couldn't help but notice he went right back to his apathetic self as he continued to wait tables, including mine. Was this guy being intentional? Did he really mean what he was saying or was he just trying to appeal to the "church" population that consumes Cleveland, Tennessee.
A few disclaimers: This could be a situation where my skeptical self has taken over, and this gentleman actually really meant what he was saying. Two, this is coming from the point of view of somebody who has been raised on Southern sweet tea and grits, good Southern things. I've been exposed to this kind of lifestyle (if you want to call it that) practically all my life. Also, anything critical that has been said and is to be said in the remainder of this work I am totally guilty of as well and thus need improvement on.
Getting back to the event that happened on Friday evening, though. Obviously, I was bothered by it, still am bothered by it, and will probably have it on mind for a while to come. After I heard what I had heard, I couldn't help but think that what was said was a typical Southern hospitality move. I'm sure you the reader have been guilty of it as well. You tell people, "God bless," like this waiter did or just in general turn on your "sweet charm" to come across as nice and sweet to whoever you're talking to. There are even those times where you "put on that smile" just like the guy above is pictured doing.
I don't think it stops with how we act with random strangers either. We're guilty with how we act around some of our closest friends too. We can't even be intentional with the conversations we have with the people that are dear to us. Or my favorite -- we say we want to make plans or, "Let's hang out," but time comes to do so and both parties find themselves "too busy" or at times don't even think about it ever again.
My friends, we've seen an epidemic breakout from our "Southern hospitality."
Where's the genuineness anymore? Where's the intentionality to have a memorable conversation with somebody and actually become friends with people, not know them as "the guy from that one event"? Where's the true southern hospitality?
What's the solution to all this, you ask? I'm not quite sure. I'm still puzzled on that subject. However, readers who are reading this from your Southern location -- all readers -- I encourage you, implore you. I think it's time that we start being more intentional with our words, our actions, and our interactions. We need to start placing effort in when we meet up with people and converse with them. If we are going to say something, we need to begin to be more intentional with it instead of shooting it off as some script that we've memorized. Maybe that's a good start.
I do know that if we don't being to seek a change though, somebody else might catch the "Southern hospitality" bug.
