If you're lucky enough to have cousins, you're lucky enough. Big family or small, close in age or not, cousins are next best to siblings. As cliche as it may be, it's true when they say if you have cousins, you have a built-in best friend. The very obvious reasoning of why being close to your cousins is great is because you don't live with them. When you don't live with them, you're never around them enough to get mad at them (sorry siblings, they beat you here). In simpler words, cousins are like the friends you've gone to school with since elementary except there is this thing called blood that links you closer. Which means that, no matter how different you and your cousin are, you always have something that ties you together. But beyond blood, we grow close to them for many other reasons (all being good of course).
1. Family gatherings are never boring.
As much as you love all the food you're about to consume, telling embarrassing stories, playing competitive trivia or finding out who is your grandparents favorite is just all that much better when they're around. You even have them to observe and laugh with you at your hilarious relatives who never fail to live up to their dysfunctional reputations. When you have someone like this, it doesn't make you look like the only bad guy in the family.
2. Your history with them dates back.
Whatever, whenever an occurrence came about, they lived it too. Losing a relative, getting a new baby cousin, a divorce, weddings, birthdays, the good and the bad, they dealt with it all at the same time you did. They were the ones there celebrating with you at your highs and mourning with you at your lows. From that comes a rare, genuine friendship that isn't made with just anyone.
3. They won't pry with questions.
I'm sure you already know that one relative who just hounds with you questions: What are you doing in the future? How is school? Sure, we all know they mean well but being asked it over and over and over again only to have no idea what the answer is, it's something they understand because they too don't know what is going on with their life. Your cousins know to stay away from topics that make you uncomfortable.
4. Uncomfortable silence?
Doesn't exist. In fact, any silence at all probably doesn't exist because there is always something to be said and you're probably yelling over one another to get your point across.
5. Age couldn't matter less.
The age gap may work in increments like the 20-somethings stick together, the teens stick together, the youngest ones stick together. But, you always probably have that one younger cousin who just naturally fits in with the older group and everyone is okay with it because fact the age difference has no authority over your relationship.
6. You don't have to impress them.
Social pressure is non-existent. You can wear what you wore yesterday, even when you were with them. You can look like a troll, act like an idiot and say some stupid comments but not be afraid they're gonna ditch you. The most they'll do is gang up and make fun of you, but as family, they're just living up to their duty.
7. Built-in drinking buddy.
You won't be the only drunk one at a family party because they're down to take shots as much as you are. Wanna get wasted on a Tuesday after a long day of work and hit up happy hour? You can call them because chances are if they're a good, real cousin, they won't decline a drinking invite.
8. Honesty can be brutal.
Honesty has no limits. It's what you don't want to hear, but need to hear. The same title and authority your siblings have of telling you the truth, they have it too. As cousins, as family they deserve to tell you what your non-related best friend is won't.
9. Traveling is better with them.
It can be hectic, annoying, aggravating but it also can be one crazy, memorable, drunken trip. The best part when traveling with your cousin is if they want to do something you don't want to, you're not obligated to trail along. You can tell them straight up how it's going to go down and you'll both celebrate with a beer.
10. You know the future will be there.
Picture this: you're with your cousins at a family party watching your parents interact and it hits you that that is going to be you and your cousins in 20 years. Yup, may be scary to think future but it's a lot more comforting knowing that they'll be there with you. Your future is intertwined and it's a pretty cool thing to think about.
