A Letter To My Little Sister…

Dear little sister,

You are no longer the girl who followed me everywhere around the house. You are slowly maturing into a wonderful young adult, but to me you will always be my little sister. I have thought long and hard about what advice I can pass on to you, but I realise now that if I were to provide you with every piece of wisdom I have attained, I would leave you with no blank canvas to create your own story.

You are already aware of many things I wish for you to know, but there is still so much for you to learn as you reach the age of adolescence.

The love and compassion you hold within your heart is brilliant and is something I have always admired. Your heart is one of the greatest I have ever known and your passion for life and knowledge is absolutely inspirational. In the short amount of time you have been on this Earth, you have shown an incredible thirst for life that many go without during their lives, even as adults.

I am sorry I wasn’t always there for you, and I am sorry I live so far away from you now. Regardless of how imperfect our relationship has been, you are the most perfect person to ever enter my life. You are not only a little sister, you are a mentor to me and an inspiration to everyone who is blessed enough to know you for who you truly are.

You are a beautiful, wonderful creation and I never want you to lose that sense of wonder placed inside your soul. You are my tiny dancer; you are my mini-me; you are the greatest gift somebody could ever ask or pray for. As your older sister, it’s my job to help prepare you for the world and the paths that lie ahead. Although I cannot protect from all the evils ahead and I cannot prevent you from making mistakes, there are some key words of advice I must share with you.

Never think you are anything less than beautiful

The models in the magazines, the women you see on television and the music you listen to are more powerful in affecting your subconscious than you may know. You are so unique and have a heart of gold. Embrace yourself and release your confidence so that you can grow into the strong woman I know you will be.

Keep your values grounded and your sights set afar

Life goes by quicker every year that you are in the world. With all of the changes going on, it’s much too easy to let others persuade you and lead you astray. You will have the urge to change who you are so it’s easier to fit in. You will be tempted to silence your words so nobody can judge your thoughts. But please, please do not conform to their expectations. State your opinions and stay true to who you are so that you may flourish. The more you stand with who you truly are, the more love and respect people will have for you. Be bold and be brave.

Refuse to go to sleep angry

Our parents will infuriate you, school will stress you out and the drama within your friendship group will be enough to make your head spin. There are always going to be bad days, but do not let them take over your life. When you go to sleep angry, whether it is with someone else or yourself, you will wake up the next day unable to approach the world with the positivity that shines bright within you. Anger wrinkles the soul and life is much too short to carry such a burden. When you rest your head upon your pillow, make sure your soul is not heavy with anger and that the smile upon your face is true.

Be your own dream catcher

Whether you want to visit another country, become president of the United States, save lives in a hospital or become a professional ballerina, do not give up on your dreams. You are a force to be reckoned with, an unstoppable whirlwind of imagination that creates a better world for those around you. Do not allow others to crush your dreams and when someone tells that you are not capable of achieving greatness, smile at them with a twinkle in your eye and thank them for the encouragement for you to work harder in your stride.

So, my tiny dancer, be all that you can be and live your life to the fullest each day. The most important day for me was when you were born, and the most important day for yourself is when you figure out why. The day will come and you will know exactly what you’re meant to do but before that happens, there are some things I wish for you. I wish for you to be wise and learn from any mistakes that you make. I wish for you to find your voice and share it with everyone you encounter. I wish for you to discover your passion and pursue it, because the day your dream becomes an accomplishment you will truly be successful. I wish for you to be honest, generous and kind, for we were placed on this earth to love one another and help each other grow. I wish for you to be fearless, as you are more powerful than you could ever imagine.

Little sister, you have changed my life. I consider myself the luckiest person in the world to have someone like you connected to my soul and a part of my existence. You are my role model and my best friend. I never knew that someone so much younger than I, and so innocent could impact me so much. You gave me my first taste of motherhood, my first realisation of adulthood, and the biggest love I could ever hold in my heart for another person.

You are now, and forever will be, my little sister. I will always be your greatest supporter in all that you do and I love you more than words can express.