I’ve been blessed with an amazing family that I have fulfilling relationships with, especially significant sibling bonds. I’ve grown up with a little sister and eight first cousins who have always been more like siblings than anything else.
Throughout my life, I’ve seen how relationships aren’t always what they seem. The titles we give certain relationships aren’t limited to our blood relations; they are bonds that we make with anyone at any point in our life. I’ve been fortunate enough to find siblings through friendship.
The term sibling is used when referring to someone who shares at least one parent with you, but I couldn’t disagree more. I met my best friend in seventh grade, and with her being a year younger than me, that overprotective older sister aspect of my personality became apparent in a very short period of time. I’d be lying if I said she wasn’t a sister to me.
Siblings are the ones who stick by your side, the ones you can argue with over the stupidest things, but, at the end of the day, they’re there when you need them. Siblings are those who fight for you, love you unconditionally, but will always put you in your place and be upfront with you. Siblings know you; they know how to tell if you’re exhausted or off, and they notice things.
That isn’t something that just automatically comes with being blood-related and sharing at least one parent with someone. That’s something that comes with the bond of siblings, a bond that holds more than words can ever describe. That’s something I share with my best friend who has no blood relation to me, but is just as close to me as anyone I share blood with. That’s something I’ve found in multiple friendships, a familiar sibling bond that isn’t limited by blood relation.
The beauty of a sibling bond is that it can be found in any way, shape or form. It comes in unexpected ways at unexpected times, and is one of the best parts of my life. My best friend has helped me push through some of the most difficult moments of my life; she’s been there for me more times than I can count and not sharing the same blood has never stopped her or dulled that bond. It’s important to make relationships based on love, care and support, rather than the definition of terms based on biology.
I’m eternally grateful to have multiple siblings in my life, multiple people to go to when life gets rough or the weight gets too heavy to hold alone. No one has ever been there for me like my siblings have; regardless of which one, what relation or what bond, they’ve all played different and crucial roles in my life. When life pushes me into the ocean, my best friend has always thrown me floaties; she won’t let me drown, but she has enough faith in me to know that I can bring myself back to shore.
