I have recently thought a lot about my past and where I grew up. It was a lot like it is here, in Big Sandy. I love small towns, but I know not everyone does. Seeing how many people live in small towns made me curious. Some of this research comes from the internet, so take it for what it’s worth, like that old commercial used to say, “If it’s on the internet, it must be true, right?!” Well, we all know that’s not necessarily true.

Did you know that according to the internet, Big Sandy is not a “small town”? Because of its population, it is classified as a “tiny town” or “tiny village,” depending on your location. Small towns are classified as 2,500-5,000, Villages are 1,000-2,499, and tiny villages are under 1,000. In all actuality, there are more small towns out there than you realize, and a huge population is from a “small town.” The one thing that really stands out to me, whether you live in a tiny village, tiny town, or small town, is that you get that small-town connection.

I have a friend who recently moved to a bigger city, and he was telling me how his kids were talking to their friends about the small town they lived in. And their friends could not believe that all the same kids were in the same classes all together for their days in school. They couldn’t fathom that. These kids are used to 500 kids in one grade level. They thought it was a joke and couldn’t believe that towns like that existed. Which also brings me back to that small-town connection feeling.

Small towns have the best vibe. They radiate togetherness. They are all about community and supporting one another. They are about loving everyone’s kids as if they were their own and loving pets like the town dog. They look out for one another and always come through for one another. Small communities are also full of hard workers—people who know the value of hard work and teach their kids about hard work. If you want something in life, you must work to get it. Small towns know hardships. They’ve either gone through one themselves, or someone in the community has, and because the community all knows everyone and loves them, they support them and go through those hardships with them. They put on fundraisers, pray for them at church, and help out any way they can, even if it’s making a meal or babysitting a kid.

Some may think that there are more cons than pros when it comes to living in a smaller town, but I disagree! When we feel the gossip, frustrations, or judgment creeping in on our lives, I think we just need to change our perspective and relish that we have a community that would do anything for anyone, and that is the most important thing.