While some people see their siblings as just another family member, I see my sibling as a best friend. My younger brother is the only person who understands my life like no one else. He’s been through all the same schools as me, understands our wacky family, and gets all of the inside jokes or movie references we laugh about from our childhood. My brother is my oldest and greatest friend and although some people may find it strange for a sister and a brother to be so close, he has taught me many lessons over the course of both of our lives. Here are just a few of the lessons he has taught me while being my best friend.
1. It’s okay to be different
My brother and I could not be more opposite. I am artsy and girly, and was involved in dance and musical theatre. He has a knack for athletics and played hockey and baseball growing up.
Our differences have made me realize that you don’t have to be similar to get along with someone and our variances help to balance each other out.
Our parents always had to divide their time between the theater and the rink, but it allowed us both to be exposed to different things and appreciate our differences. Even when it comes to personality, his quiet and easy-going nature somehow meshes with my crazy dramatic ways.
2. How to be patient
Growing up with a younger brother is not always a walk in the park. Of course, there have been arguments and fights (usually with a lot of hitting and yelling) but they usually don’t last long. Over the years I have learned patience and how to pick my battles when we start to squabble.
3. Girls are allowed to like boyish things
One thing I’ve noticed with my friends who only have sisters in that they never got the chance to do “boy things” growing up. We played with dragons, cars, and Pokémon all throughout my childhood together, but I may never have had I not had a brother. Usually, I was one to pick out a doll at the toy store, so having a brother meant expanding my interests even to this day. I probably would have never watched an anime show or gotten into Marvel movies if it hadn’t been for him.
4. How to be honest
If there is one person in this world who knows everything about me it’s my brother.
He’s shown me the power of honesty and how important it is to have someone in your life that you trust whole-heartedly.
He knows all my embarrassing childhood moments and we both tell each other all the things we’ve done that would probably get us in trouble with our parents.
5. To not judge others without knowing them
My brother is one of the least judgmental people I know. Even as a kid, he would talk to the person in his class that didn’t have any friends, regardless of what anyone thought because it was the right thing to do. It’s taught me to not let first impressions form my opinion of others and has compelled me to be more like him by being kind to everyone.
6. How to stay calm under pressure
Another one of our differences is the way we handle stress. I tend to freak out and overwhelm myself, whereas he is better at staying calm and collected. He’s definitely witnessed his fair share of my breakdowns, and I like to think that his attitude towards stress has begun to rub off on me, or at least made me realize how overdramatic I can be at times.
7. Laughter is the best medicine
Most of our time spent together is time spent laughing. I’ve always been able to be my true goofy self with my brother and some of my most fun memories growing up are because the two of us share a sense of humor. If I’m feeling down he is the first person to try and cheer me up with a joke and there have definitely been times I have needed it.
8. A sibling is the best friend you could ever have
Whenever people tell me they aren’t close with their sibling, I’m always surprised. A sibling is someone who shares the same life as you. You grew up in the same home with the same parents and share so many memories together from Christmas mornings to family vacations.
I couldn’t ask for a better person to have shared in these memories and I am so thankful for my brother, not only because he has taught me a lot, but because I always know I have someone who is there for me no matter what.
