The other day I saw yet another list where Minnesota was ranked in the top 10 for another quality of life measure. It seems that ever time I see a “Best State/City for _____ in the country” list, Minnesota is at or near the top.

[Just some of the lists where Minnesota ranks highly: Number 2, Numbers 2&11&12, Numbers 1&3, Numbers 6&8, Top 10, even in 2032 we are projected #2.]

Of course, life is very good in the beautiful upper Midwest. The diversity of outdoor experiences within a day’s drive is impressive. The culture available for a very reasonable price is well known; still to those on the coasts, we are simply “flyover country”.

People who are not from here would have you believe that we achieve our high ranking in so many lists in spite of our long, cold, desolate winters (or so it would seem)…but actually life in Minnesota is great because of the winter.

[insert sounds of tires screeching, glass breaking, babies crying, and muffled judgmental tones.]

How could I possibly say that winter makes Minnesota great? The answer lies within the very reason Minnesota ranks so highly on almost all of these lists, the people.

Statistically Minnesotans are well educated, highly employable, active, and nice (hello “Minnesota nice”?), and all of those fine qualities are forged during the collective sharing of our one universal experience, braving a long, cold winter.

Living in this type of climate for an extended time will help you get some fresh perspective on things, resulting in certain traits and attitudes such as:

• Minnesotans know that you don’t always get what you want.
• Minnesotans understand that life isn’t always sunshine and warmth, yet we manage to get things done.
• Minnesotans get that you can’t let outside influences determine your experience in this world.
• Minnesotans know how to make the best of adversity.
• Minnesotans see that running from your problems don’t make them go away.
• Minnesotans have learned that if you avoid the entirety of something based on only one aspect of it, you will always miss something very spectacular.
• Minnesotans (eventually) realize that complaining about your circumstances will not change them.
• But they also realize that those circumstances don’t define their identity.
• Minnesotans know that the best rewards are savored by those that go through the most difficult challenges.
• and finally, Minnesotans truly appreciate a great winter vacation!

Minnesotans are certainly not perfect: most don’t understand that while driving the left lane is for passing, and bandwagon jumping is the most cardio some of us will get, but if the chips were down, I would chose a Minnesotan for my team any day.

(Still don’t believe me? Just check out the title on this article: Why the South is the worst place to live in the U.S. — in 10 charts.)