[This was a great picture of Kate and the dog. Me, not so much. Please ignore my goober face.]

There were a total of two years in my life where I was an only child - most people would make the joke that “those were the best years of my life” but the truth is that my life got exponentially better once my little sister was a part of my life. She’s one of my best friends and she’s one of the people in this world that I truly trust whole-heartedly. So, in honor of the coolest Hobson child, here’s why having a younger sister is the best thing in the world.

1. I can trust her completely. We’re thick as thieves, and we know that when we talk to each other that it’ll be kept between the two of us. And most of the time it’s so nice to be able to just talk to someone and not have to worry about judgement or loose-lips. And it works both ways! We know that we have each other’s backs no matter what.

2. She gives great advice. If I ever have a problem or need to talk through an issue, she’s there with the best advice. Do I need a second opinion on my outfit? She’s there. Do I need a fresh perspective on my photography? She’s got it. Do I need a good place to hide a dead body? She knows a guy. Do I need to vent about some awful homework assignment? She understands. No matter how big or small the issue is, she’s always there to listen and help.

3. She keeps me grounded. And she isn’t afraid to call me out when I get too over-the-top. I love that I can count on her to tell me the truth even when I don’t want to hear it. Sometimes, actually, she gives me the truth even when I don’t ask for it. And even though I might be annoyed at first, usually it doesn’t take me too long to calm down and realize that, yeah, she was 100% right. (But, like, I’m never gonna actually tell her I was wrong and she was right because then she’ll never let me live it down.)

4. The late-night chats. I love that we’re close enough that we can sit down at midnight and just talk. Sometimes it’s about what’s stressing us out, or trivial things that we just want to talk about. But we also have conversations about theology and personal beliefs and politics and existence. She always amazes me with just how thoughtful and inquisitive she is, and many of her questions and observations leave me with a lot to think about.

5. We always have fun together. I think this may be my favorite part of having a younger sister, because it’s just so genuinely fun to be around her! I love going on car rides and singing along to our favorite music, and adventuring around for new places to take pictures, and having our own spa nights at home, and going to see movies, or even just to grab coffee together. Every moment I spend with her is filled with laughter and love.

6. She inspires me. Every single day. I’m not afraid to get a little sappy here, because I genuinely believe that I wouldn’t be the man I am today without my sister at my side. She is so smart and driven, and the way that she approaches and meets her goals and standards is remarkable. I still can’t understand how a person can be so beautiful and yet so humble and modest; I always say that my sister is one of the most photogenic people I know, and I think I have a lot to learn about humility from her. And she’s so creative - I’m always super amazed by the way she sees the world and how she expresses that through art.

My sister means the world to me. I consider myself so incredibly lucky that I’m so close with her and that she’s a part of my life. Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without her.