Sisterhood

Today is my big sister's birthday. She's the only sibling I have, and even though we live in different states and don't talk all that frequently, my sister remains a very important part of my life. I'm always excited to see her when I come home for a visit, and it's really nice to spend time with her and to hear what's going on in her life. We had some rough patches growing up (what siblings don't?), but my relationship with my sister has taught me some very important lessons about life and love. Ours is a unique bond that provides me with some insights and benefits that I might not get from many other people.

• We love each other even though we're different. We have the same gene pool, of course, but my sister and I turned out with pretty different personalities. Our tastes in music, men, and jewelry are pretty far apart. We have different skills, talents, and hobbies. Our dream jobs, homes, or vacations probably wouldn't look at all alike. Still, we get along pretty well. I don't know if I would choose someone like my sister as a friend, and that's precisely why I'm so lucky to have her as my sister. She provides me with a chance to look at the world from a different perspective, to consider life from another angle. When I look at her, I see that we're simultaneously different and the same, and that's a beautiful thing. I can take that lesson and apply it to my relationships with all kinds of people. 
  

• I get to just be myself. I don't need to bother with any pretenses when it comes to my sister. She knows that I'm a smart person who is capable of saying intelligent and helpful things. She also knows that I can really screw up and do stupid things sometimes. She loves me because I'm her sister, not because I'm awesome or brilliant, and that's kind of nice. We're not really trying to impress each other, so we can just relax and be ourselves. I can confide in her when I need to vent my petty thoughts or talk about something embarrassing because I know she won't judge me for it. I can be completely honest with her because she knows me so well that I probably can't hide things from her anyway. No matter what good or bad decisions I make, she's still going to be my sister. Being with her is relaxing in a way that many relationships aren't. I don't have to worry about what she's thinking—I get to just be myself.
  

• She keeps me grounded. My sister isn't going to let me get too big for my britches. Even if by some miracle I go on to be a millionaire best-selling author, I'll still just be her sister. I'm sure she's happy when I succeed, but she still remembers the funny things I used to say and do in my sleep, the times I peed myself because I was laughing so hard, and the time I accidentally called a graham cracker a 'graham crapper.' Even if everyone else is making a big fuss over me, she's going to treat me the same way she always does, and that's awesome. I hate feeling like people only see what I do and not who I am, and I never have to worry about that with my sister. She sees the good and the bad, and she's not going to let me get carried away with what everybody else sees. My sister knows I'm no genius, and I'm glad I have her around to remind me of that if I forget.
  

• We have fun together. My sister and I really know how to have a good time. I try not to be too silly in front of most people, even people I love, because I want them to take me at least somewhat seriously. I don't have to worry about that with my sister, though. When we get together, I've been known to laugh till I cry. We like to play games and watch movies together, and we usually have a good time when we go somewhere together, even if it's nowhere all that exciting. My sister puts up with downright goofiness that my husband can't even take, and what's more, she's usually willing to be goofy right along with me. I might be a college-educated adult, but sometimes I want to just kick back and have a rollicking good time, and that's something my sister understands. 

This list is, of course, incomplete. My sister has a lot of great qualities that I could spend pages trying to describe, and I still wouldn't be able to do them justice. One of her best traits, though, is that she is a very loyal, loving person, and I can't even describe how I've benefited from that. She's put up with a lot of little sister annoyances from me over the years, and she's even endured the slights of the people who paid me too much attention and her too little. Despite our differences, my sister still loves me, and that's an important part of my life's foundation.

So, if you're reading this, Happy Birthday, Sis! I love you.