Beech Tree News Network

My mom shared an article with me by Tim Thornberry, editor of the Kentucky Farm Bureau News. It was entitled “Down the Backroads: Kindness Really Is a Way of Life in Kentucky” (August 2021). Thornberry identified the friendly wave of the hand as a way of showing kindness. Showing kindness or courtesy to others is still fairly common in Kentucky.

Thinking about kind gestures, I asked friends and family: “Tim Thornberry, editor of the Kentucky Farm Bureau News, said that a wave of the hand when passing someone on a rural road is a gesture of kindness. Can you think of other ways people in the South typically show kindness?” Their responses are listed below.

-Saying thank you and you’re welcome, helping with school fundraising, and opening doors for people.

-When you meet someone walking, a nodding of the head and a smile.

-Always a smile! Rural roads are narrow, so slowing down or even stopping if needed to let a larger vehicle by. A gentleman tipping or giving a wave of his cap to say hello.

-Taking food to a grieving family and offering food or drink to people when they drop in to visit.

-Holding the door open for others.

-Stopping one’s vehicle for funeral processions. Following a horse and buggy until a straight stretch. Both are becoming less common, but show kindness and respect.

-Calling each other “hon,” “honey,” or “sugar.” It just warms me up.

-Pulling over for funeral processions.

-Nodding of the head as a wave, taking food to people during times of sickness or grief, and church love offerings for individuals or families.

-Saying yes, ma’am/sir and holding or opening doors for others.

-Opening the door for people, taking a pie/goodies to welcome a new neighbor, offering tea/lemonade to someone who has contracted to do work for you, pulling over for funeral processions, and taking food to families because of sickness or death.

-Fixing a dish to take to someone sick or who needs comfort is a big southern thing. Pulling over for a funeral procession is also unique to the south.

-Opening your home to friends and family.

-Giving rides to church and grocery shopping for the sick or elderly.

-A man tipping his hat or cap as a greeting.

-Yes, Dad would wave at everyone and say, “Hi, George.” My Yankee sister-in-law asked who George was. Also, pulling over for funeral processions, delivering food to families because of sickness or death, getting in a neighbor’s crops, and showing up at the hospital for major surgeries. We Southerners just go on and on – we probably drink more, making us more kind.

Joseph Joubert said that kindness is loving people more than they deserve. A friendly wave of the hand shows kindness, recognizing another’s presence. Kind gestures are common in Kentucky and in the South. I’m thankful our culture still exhibits such consideration