"You have to be from either one of two places, Tennessee or Texas," the older woman said to us as we moved off the bench to allow her and her spouse a place to sit at a Florida zoo while waiting for a train tour. She got that right; we are from Texas and proud of it! To me, being a Texan means kindness and hospitality, doing the right thing even when it's hard, and always putting forth your best effort. Perhaps it's because Texas is a southern state found within what is commonly called the "Bible belt" that Texans like me often hold themselves to a higher moral standard than some folks. Being a Texan means welcoming strangers and newcomers alike by being friendly, giving travel directions, and recommending places to stay, places to visit, and places to eat. Texans will boldly stand for what is right even when others oppose them. Two clear examples of this are Texas' gun rights and abortion laws. Law-abiding Texans carry guns to protect innocent people from dangerous people who have guns. Texans value the lives of all people, even those in the womb. Finally, having grown up and spent my entire life as a Texan, I believe that Texans strive to do their best in anything they do. Texans are a proud group of people, with numerous cultural backgrounds that all share the same passion to ensure that our state and the people who live here are made of the very best.