Dear Older Brother,
The moment that you climbed into the plastic toy house with me and played house was the moment I knew that having an older brother was the best thing that ever happened to me. Growing up, you taught me so much about equality. How girls can play house, but also throw the baseball, how we can play with Barbie dolls, but also go into the woods behind our house and explore, how anything is possible as long as I want it to be possible.
You taught me that a Bionicle could marry one of my dolls and nobody would care, that sometimes, boys also like to pretend they have to take care of fake baby and that no one can hold me back from anything but myself.
You always encouraged me to try out for different sports teams and was even okay with the fact that I was on your soccer team for three seasons. Who wants their little sister following them around and copying them? Apparently you do, but that's fine with me, because without you leading me through it all, I would have been lost.
You taught me how to shoot my first layup, how to skateboard and how to laugh at the small things. Throughout my life you have taught me so much- how to find a good book, how to stop reading a series when it simply goes on forever and how to work hard in order to achieve what I want.
Everything I did growing up, I did it because of you. You did well in school, so I did well in school. You joined a sport, so I joined a sport. All I wanted was to be like you- smart, happy and my best friend.
When I was in high school, I used to wish I had an older sister. Someone to teach me how to put on makeup, how to dress to impress a crush or how to just be someone, but, boy, am I glad you are not a girl.
Yes, I did make some questionable fashion choices. Yes, I did wear eyeliner on my waterline for the greater part of my freshman year, but I would have rather become the crazy fashion lady than trade you.
You may not have taught me how to put on makeup, but you taught me to always hold my head high. When times got rough, there's always something to hold onto. To never let the words of someone else effect you, to never take anything or anyone you have for granted and to keep moving forward.
I can't imagine learning so many life lessons without you. You've helped me learn that it's okay to be sad, it's okay to be driven, it's okay to be happy. Anything is possible and that I'm capable of anything. And if anything doesn't work out, then I always have a couch to crash on.
What I'm saying is: I love you and thank you for being the best older brother a girl could ask for.
Love,
Your Little Sister Who Sometimes Doesn't Appreciate You
