Personality-wise, my younger brother and I are practically polar opposites.

When we took the Meyers-Briggs test, we found that I am an INFJ and he is an ESTP. I love all kinds of tea; he thinks it's all disgusting. I'd be content to sit with a good book for an entire day if I could; he's a reader too, but can't sit still for very long, ready to move on to the next adventure. I love musicals; he'd be thrilled if I promised him that I was never going to go around singing Hamilton or Les Mis ever again (sorry, bro, no promises). I'm not a sports fan by any means; he and my dad bond over sports, especially basketball. I hesitate in front of crazy-looking rollercoasters; he charges forward fearlessly, ready for adventures. My favorite heroes are the ones with noble hearts; his are the ones who have high or superhuman levels of physical skills (such as super-speed). My creativity lies in writing and sketching; his is in creating stop-motion films. I don't like heights; he once did a front-flip off of the roof of a boat into a lake. My dream is to be a counselor and an author; his (currently) is to be a filmmaker, but he'd also make a fantastic cop or attorney.

And yet, different though we may be, we've always had a good relationship. It's not perfect by any means-- we're both stubborn in our own ways, and our different personalities plus our character flaws have led to many a fight-- but it's been good. I know that my younger brother cares deeply about me and would gladly fight someone for me if it came to it, and I think he knows that I would do the same thing in a heartbeat. Despite our many differences, we actually have a lot in common, and these things (along with Jesus and our wonderful parents) have helped keep our relationship strong.

That being said, my going to college has shifted our relationship somewhat. Granted, it's not a huge or terrible shift, but it's there regardless. I can't help but wonder if it's majorly because of how my brother and I operate, or if this change happens to all siblings who are no longer living under the same roof all the time, but either way, I'd like to share some of the changes I've noticed with you:

1.) We no longer know what's going on in the day-to-day of each others' lives.

I don't know what he's got going on in school this week, or who he's hanging out with, or how his stop-motions are going, or what hilarious stories he's got to tell. Anything he knows about my Liberty life, he's probably heard from mom or dad, whom I talk to every day. It's so strange, transitioning from seeing each other every day to, sometimes, going two months without even being in the same state. When I was home for break, it was so nice to be able to catch up on life and get to be a part of the family's routine again. As much as I love being here, there are times when I do wish that I could still be as involved in my brother's life as I was at home.

2.) We went from talking whenever we wanted to exchanging a handful of texts and the occasional Skype/phone call.

I don't know if this is a guy thing or what, but my brother is notorious for not sharing things over text. Our conversations go something like this: "How are you?" "Good." "Great! What're you up to?" "Nuthin much." "Oh, that's nice." ...And you get the idea. Much of the time, either he's busy with school or I'm busy with school, so we don't text much at all. Our Skype calls are fun, and I love it when I get a phone call from him out of the blue, but again, with our different schedules it can be hard to accomplish more than once in awhile. He and I are much better at communicating face-to-face-- which makes visits that much more anticipated on both ends.

3.) We can't hang out whenever we want anymore.

We can't spontaneously challenge each other to a MarioKart race or a game of foosball. I can't take him on brother-sister days (which usually involve Chickfila, Target, and Barnes & Noble) except for the rare occasions I'm actually home. We can't watch our favorite movies together, or even just hang out in the same room while doing our own things (which is what usually happens). I can't go across the hall to his room if I have a question about Star Wars or a funny Internet thing to share. He and I can't have random adventures whenever we want. It makes me sad-- but then, that means that we're so much closer on breaks (especially at the beginning and end of them), and I'm thankful for that.

4.) When we do talk, it's mostly about whenever I'm coming home or whenever the family is coming up here.

Seeing the family is so much more of a big deal when you live states apart. Therefore, many plans are made, and much excitement is shared via text. He and I don't text much, but when we do, it's filled with all-caps and dancing GIFs because we're both looking forward to seeing each other again.

5.) Whenever we do reunite, it's with much excitement, chatter, and hugs.

And this is what makes it all worth it. My brother isn't much of a hugger except when I really need one, so it speaks volumes when he voluntarily hugs me-- both in greetings and goodbyes. My favorite thing is hurrying outside of Commons to get in the car and being greeted by my entire family, with my brother and I trying to catch up on life in a matter of one excited conversation, and immediately feeling like I'm home. I love that my brother and I can be so thrilled to see each other, yet fit right back into our usual stories and laughter as if I'd never left.

~

Although it can be sad sometimes, change isn't always a bad thing. In the case of my brother and I, it's been good; we appreciate the time we have with each other so much more now, I think. And at the end of the day, he is still my little brother and I am still his big sister, and we'll always be there for each other no matter how how far apart we are.