Now that my brother and I are in our 20s, I think it is time to thank him. Little does he know, that subconsciously, he has made me into the person I am today. I know that I was the little sister that annoyed the crap out of him, but it was just because I wanted to be just like him. We laughed together, cried together and have grown together. He taught me things that only older brothers can teach the baby of the family. Now that he has, what he calls a "grown-a** man" job, and I am about to graduate college, I have began to reflect on the years we spent together growing up.
Through the good times and the bad times, I will always have a best friend watching my back.
Siblings are always there for you no matter what, especially an older brother. They will always be there to scare off the boys, but when one slips through the cracks, an older brother will be the one to take you for ice cream after the rough heartbreak. No matter if were fighting, I know that if I ever have a problem, that silly fight will be thrown to the side, and he will always be there to turn to.
Without fights, how would I have ever grown tough skin.
Part of having a sibling is always having someone to start fights with. He would push my last button (and I know I pushed his), and there there were times I considered shipping him to China, but I never actually followed through because, let's be honest, I liked fighting. Without him, I wouldn't have grown the tough skin that gets me through the real world today. He taught me to fend for myself.
It is OK to laugh at myself.
What are brothers for if they don't make fun of you? It is really only acceptable for your siblings to laugh at you, and the only way to get them to stop is if you laugh with them. I learned that if I laughed at myself, then I could never really be made fun of.
Being competitive will make me more successful.
How do you succeed without really fighting for it. With an older brother, every sport was competitive, but this only prepared me for the real world. Being competitive built not only my self-esteem, but also my leadership skills.
Patience is key.
Growing up with an older brother taught me that if I keep my emotions in check and stay patient through the annoying times, I will come out ahead. Always.
My brother and I have shared some unspoken moments together that nobody can relate to. He knows me better than anybody else, and I believe that is why I was able to learn so much from him.
As we go on our separate ways and become adults, I just wanted to thank you for being the greatest role model a little sister could ask for. You always make me proud.
