12 Reasons Why People From Arizona Are Unbelievably Tough

One of the things I absolutely love about Arizona is that our residents are not only incredibly diverse, but there’s a lot we share in common. One of those traits I like to point out is that we have the tenacity and patience to live in a place that can otherwise seem inhospitable. Even some of our towns are “too tough to die.” Check out some of the reasons Arizonans can be considered a tough bunch:

1. We can handle environmental extremes, like crazy hot heat…

5. Most Arizonans can handle transitioning between city life...

7. Mountain lions, javelinas, and bears, oh my! Abundant wildlife in rural and wilderness areas in the state means we (hopefully) know what to do when encountering a potentially dangerous animal.

8. All that time outdoors means we can handle extremely bright, harsh sunlight without wilting...

9. ...and we have the endurance and strength to do all those outdoor activities.

10. Arizona's Indigenous peoples have a history of dry farming, meaning they can farm with little rain and without constant irrigation.

11. Our politics means we know how to handle crazy no matter which side of the political spectrum you sit on.

12. Those politics also means we don't back down from arguments.

What are some other reasons you think Arizonans are tough? Be sure to share your thoughts with us on our Facebook fan page!

Monica Spencer

Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.