I've always been told "The north is just a direction, but the South is a lifestyle," and I think that's probably the truest thing I've ever heard. Southern folk have a totally different outlook on life and say/do things that northerners think are weird. They're friendly to everyone they encounter, are always looking for a reason to have a get together, and eat things that are foreign to their northern counterparts. Being from the South isn't a bad thing. It just means that you're one of a kind.

You know you're from the South when...

Driving back roads is a perfectly acceptable way to pass the time.

You might be wasting a lot of gas, but that's just a small price to pay for the memories that come from driving through the country with your friends, singing out the window at the top of your lungs.

You can tell your friends apart by the sound of their mufflers.

You know who's pulling up the driveway before you ever look out the window, because you've been hearing their truck since the day they started driving it. And if, for some reason, you can't tell by the sound it makes, a quick glance will let you know who it is. Everyone has something on their truck to make it identifiable, whether that's a light bar on the front or a bunch of decals on the back, and every other truck you see has a lift kit. You know what they say, "The higher the truck, the closer to God."

The Ford vs. Chevy debate is a real issue that's brought up constantly.

The type of truck you drive is a source of pride for most people. And everyone knows that a Ford can go anywhere that it wants to go... Whenever it's being pulled by a Chevy.

Bonfires aren't for convenience. They're for fun.

When you live in the north, bonfires are used so you can feel your fingers and toes when you hang out outside in the chilly weather. However, when you're a teenager in the South, bonfires give you a chance to socialize. There are plenty of fires hosted back in the woods, where you can have a good time with your friends and the only worry you have is whether or not the cops are going to come and break up the party.

"Y'all" is part of your every day vocabulary.

There's just something about this word that makes speaking so much easier. It can be singular or it can be plural, and it can basically be used in any sentence. For example: "Did y'all hear what happened the other night?", "Hey y'all, quit that!", or even "When y'all are ready to leave, just holler at me."

You don't bat an eyelash when you ask someone for directions and they tell you it's "over yonder."

With a wave of their arm, they'll point you in the direction they're talking about, and that's probably all you need to know.

Religion was a big part of your childhood.

Growing up in the Bible Belt meant that you went to church every Sunday and on every holiday, whether you wanted to or not. Your mama made sure you prayed before every meal and every night before you went to sleep, and if you ever ran into someone who didn't go to your church, you always asked them to join you on the next Sunday. Even though the South is filled with many different denominations, everyone is considered family and can bond over their faith in the Lord.

You know that "Gimme some sugar" has nothing to do with that white stuff you're putting in your sweet tea.

Instead, it's something you dread hearing from older relatives, who are more than likely going to pinch your cheeks as they kiss all over you.

Snow days bring everything to a halt.

If you live in the north, a few inches of snow on the ground means that you'll have to drive a little slower, schools might be delayed an hour, and you might spend an hour or two shoveling the sidewalk or driveway. In the South, it's a totally different story. At the first sign of snow, southerners run to the grocery store to stock up on milk and bread. As soon as it starts to flurry, school is called off, most people call in to work, and reality comes to a temporary halt as everyone enjoys the magic of the winter wonderland.

You've been mudding at least once.

Whether that means you've taken a truck through a bunch of mud puddles or went all out and took a RZR up on the mountain, muddin' is one of the South's favorite past times.

Your playlist is full of country music.

This is because most of country music's greatest legends were born in the south, so we pay tribute by filling our music playlists with their greatest hits. George Straight, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson are just a few examples. And of course, there's also today's country music, because who doesn't love a little Jason Aldean or Luke Bryan? There's nothing better to have on the radio when you're sitting at a bonfire or driving down the road.

You have a "southern twang."

You don't even notice it when you're at home, but every time you travel and start talking to someone, they're automatically amazed at the twang in your voice. They usually make you repeat simple words like "light" and "drivin" because they're amazed that you don't stress your syllables and always drop the g at the end of the word. Then they tell you how cute it is and say, "You're from down South, aren't you?"

You've been hunting at least once.

Hunting is the number one past time for folk in the South, and there is a season to hunt pretty much any animal that you want to eat. From deer to rabbit, there is always something around for you to shoot, which might sound pretty morbid, but you'll probably change your mind when you get a taste of it at the dinner table.

You're more comfortable in boots than anything else.

Unlike tennis shoes or flip flops, boots can be worn in almost any weather or any situation. They're pretty easy to keep clean and look good with almost everything in your closet. You can wear them to school or you can wear them out in the woods, and nobody is going to think twice about it.

You'd rather eat at home than at a restaurant.

Because mama's home-cooked meals are a whole lot better than anything you can buy at Taco Bell or Wendy's. Almost everything can be fried, and if it can't, you can probably throw it on the grill. Cooking is an art that passes down from generation to generation, and there's always plenty of casserole, green beans, fried taters, and cornbread to go around.

Your closet is full of either camo or monograms.

Everything in the South can be bought in camo if you want it to be; boots, hats, dresses, shirts, etc. And if you choose a normal color like pink or blue, you can always throw a monogram on it to spice things up and let everyone know who it belongs to.

You know everybody and everybody knows you.

This is more true when you live in a small southern town, because word travels fast and people sure do love to gossip. But even if you live somewhere with a higher population, nobody is a stranger in the South.

You're always polite because that's how you were raised.

You wave at everyone you see on the street, hold doors open for the people walking in behind you, and say "bless you" whenever someone sneezes. You address people as "sir" or "ma'am," offer a hand when someone needs help, and will go out of your way to be polite. Not because you have to, but because it comes naturally.

They might talk a little slower than everyone else, but it's a fact: The best people live in the South.