He's annoying. He's immature. He gets picks on you. He calls you fat. He calls you ugly. He always beats you up because he knows your weaker. You never can win.
Yes he is a pain in the butt. He is all those things. It will drive you nuts when you're younger. As I get older though I'm thankful for all the teasing and jokes. He helped me become who I am.
The teasing and picking on me caused me to grow thick skin. He taught me to not let others opinions determine my own. He taught me that the only approval I need in life is that of myself. He taught me not to let the little things bother me. Being a woman, this is extremely important in the real world. What with the cat calls and random guys hitting on you in bars. He taught me how to shrug it off and not make a scene. He taught me how to politely say "go away."
I'm glad he wouldn't let me win because I am weaker. It taught me that when I can't accomplish things that I just need to try harder to be the best at what I love. He taught me that I have to work super hard in order to overcome my obstacles. He taught me that if I really wanted it, nothing would get in my way to achieve it. This also taught me that it's okay to ask for help sometimes. Sometimes I need that extra help to overcome an obstacle because let's face it, you can't get through life alone.
As we got older he taught me other things. Whatever sport he was into, I learned. So I followed my brother into soccer. I learned so much from him. We trained together and again he pushed me to be the best. This is a love I developed for a sport that I will never let go of. He also got me into football and wrestling. I followed him into sports because it was just one more subject I could argue with him over.
When we were in our teenage years, he taught me what I should look for in a guy. He taught me how looks don't matter because if he doesn't treat you right you'll never be happy. He knew the bad guys before I even knew. I mean after all, he is the one who gets to know your boyfriend the best. Then when I decided to ignore all of his warnings, I dated the bad guy. Once the bad guy broke my heart, my brother was still there to pick up the pieces with a few "I told you so"s along the way.
My brother also taught me how to be myself. He taught me that any guy that is worth my time is going to love me for who I am. Having an older brother prepared me for the world of men. I know soccer, and football, and how to tie a tie, and cooking, and whiskey, and beer, and so much more because I had my brother. He taught so much I couldn't thank him for.
I knew having a brother was necessary when I was little. He was my protector from Dad when he was angry. He was my instigator and my leader. He took care of me in more ways than I could ask for. He is the one who taught me how someone should love and care for me. Without my brother I don't know where or who I would be. He means the world to me and I couldn't thank him enough for just being himself.
