I am blessed to have come from an extremely large family. Ever since the day I was born, I can recall constantly being surrounded by my cousins, which never failed to keep things entertaining. Almost every single one of my favorite memories from my childhood includes vacations and family gatherings with them. I am closer to some more than others, but yet one thing remains for certain: I could never imagine my life without them. Through blood, I know we will all share a special and unique bond throughout our whole lives.
Your cousins are special because they are the very first friends you ever really make. Before making friends in school, playing with my cousins at a young age taught me how to socialize with others. Because of my experience with them, I learned the necessary protocol even as early as a preschooler to make new friends: smile, share and simply be nice. As I got older, I began to truly value the relationships I had with my cousins because even though friends may come and go, I realized that my cousins would always be in my life no matter what.
One of the best things about being with your cousins is always feeling like you can be yourself. You never have to hold back around them because they know you for who you really are. Trust comes very easily with each other because you have seen them at their best and also their worst. Furthermore, you never have to explain to them why your family can be so dysfunctional because they already know! Whenever you have to vent about your family’s problems, they truly are the only people in the world that will actually understand.
The bond cousins have with one another is truly indescribable because they have been by your side through all the ups and downs in your life. They have been there for everything from weddings to divorce and new births to loss. Whatever pain or joy you may be experiencing, you can count on the fact that they will be feeling it too. With this being said, it has always been comforting for me to know that I will never have to go through something alone because they will always be right by my side no matter what. We have gone through some of the same life-changing moments that have contributed to shaping our lives into what they are now.
No matter how much time has passed, it will always feel as if nothing has changed since the last time you last saw each other. Hanging out with your cousins is truly the best because you can do anything – even nothing – and you will never feel the need to have to entertain them. Family gatherings are always the best because when things get awkward or boring with older family members, you can hide out with each other and laugh about it. Vacations are even better because not only are they never boring, but you make memories you can all look back on forever.
My cousins are truly my very best friends. We will be here for each other on our wedding days, when we raise our children, and when we grow old together. Through thick and thin, they will remain by my side always. The time I have spent growing up with them is time that I would never trade for anything in the world. So, to each and every one of you guys, thank you for all the times we have laughed until our stomachs hurt, for all the tears we shed together, for being right by my side to cause trouble and mayhem and most of all, for loving me unconditionally no matter what. Our bond is something I will never take for granted.
