There are so many benefits of having a sibling.
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I’m especially blessed to have a wonderful sister.
“A sister is worth one thousand friends.”- Unknown
”A sister is both your mirror and your opposite.”- Elizabeth Fishel
“Sweet is the voice of a sister in the season of sorrow.” – Benjamin Disraeli
“Is solace anywhere more comforting than that in the arms of a sister?” – Alice Walker
I have certainly been in a season of solace. I’ve been faced with chronic health issues. Depression. Questioning my self-worth. I’ve wrestled with things I’ve never blogged about— and may never do so. In times like this, you need someone to reach out to. Someone who will always be there, no matter what.
Friends tend to come and go in these seasons. That’s the hard reality of living with chronic illness. Some friends have a difficult time being there for someone who is so unwell.
That’s okay. It’s natural, and we have to give them grace. After all, there are certainly friendships that I have let fall by the wayside. People I have hurt. That’s the natural consequence of living with a mental health issue, and just growing and maturing in general. Your friend circles change.
The one friend who has stuck by me through it all is my sister. Happy birthday, Allie. This post is for you.
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Also, I am not a doctor or mental health professional. Just someone who has lived with anxiety for many years who is passionate about sharing her experiences and tips for success. If you are in crisis call your doctor, then click here for some good mental health resources.
About my sister
I became a big sister on December 4, 1987 at the tender age of 22 months. Man alive, I had no idea what I was in for.
I think no matter how old you are when you become a sibling, there is really no way to adequately prepare. You could read a million books and never be ready for the rollercoaster of emotions.
It’s like an episode of “Game of Thrones.”
There’s envy. There’s hatred. Sometimes, there’s resentment. But there’s also the purest, sweetest love mixed in.
Where there’s eye rolls, mean gestures, and slammed doors, there are also giggles, and tears streaming down your face with laughter, and incomparable memories.
We’ve definitely had our ups and downs over the years. There were so many times I resented Allie growing up. She was healthy, she got better grades, she was pretty.
I spent a lot of times wishing my parents could see me the way they saw her. (Or rather, like I imagined they saw her.)
Despite the innate sense of competition that comes with being a sister (Remember the Ever After contest, Allie?), there also came with it a friendship that is unparalleled.
We were maids/matrons of honor at each other’s weddings.
She comforted me while I cried over our grandmother.
She has stayed by my side through massively diverging religious beliefs.
She’s comforted me through insecurities I never thought I would go through.
There is no one like her.
The benefits of having a sister
According to an article on Bustle, there are 8 massive benefits of having a sister:
- Having a sister makes you a nicer person, according to a 2010 study. Brothers were also beneficial, but they saw that nothing compared to having a sister.
- A study through Brigham Young University saw that people with sisters felt less negative emotions. They don’t even need to be close in age.
- The same BYU study showed that people with sisters felt more loved than people without.
- Research shows that having a sister makes you less likely to get divorced, and every additional sibling reduces your odds by 2%.
- I thought this was especially interesting: “Not only do the siblings benefit from the presence of a sister, but so does the entire family: Families with at least one daughter are more likely to engage in conversation and express emotions, whereas sons tend to have the opposite affect.”
- Men with sisters are better at talking to women! They grow up with a better sense of empathy.
- Another study (this time through the University of Ulster) discovered that people with sisters are more independent and goal-oriented.
- Finally, having a sister makes you more psychologically balanced.
Don’t have a biological sister?
I really feel like there is no true replacement for having a sister by blood. However, if you are not so fortunate, there are definitely relationships you can foster that can come close.
- Step siblings
- Half siblings
- Cousins
- Sorority sisters
- Childhood friends
- Family friends
- Fellow church members
- Sisters-in-law
Taking regular time to nurture these relationships can provide some of the same benefits as having a biological sister. They are so special and can add so much meaning to your life.
Although, I’m a bit biased and would say nothing truly compares.
There is nothing like a sister
My sister means the world to me. My sister means the world to me. We might be very different people, light years apart in many respects. We might believe in vastly different things, but that’s okay. It’s wonderful even, we can complement each other and help each other grow.
But we are each other’s mirror images. I am dark where she is light.
She is hopeful when I’ve lost all hope.
She accepts me where I can’t yet accept myself.
Allie is my sister, and I couldn’t ask for a better friend. Happy birthday, Allie! I hope this is the best year of your life. Except for the the year you got me as a sister.
I have two sisters and they are the best! They live far away and I miss them so much.
Hey Rika, that’s awesome! Mine lives a few hours away and I miss her too. I haven’t seen her in maybe 7 months, when usually we see each other every couple months. It’s a bummer. Take care, and thanks for reading!
My husband and I were both only children. I really wish we both had siblings! I have two kids of my own, I think it is wonderful and lots of great benefits!
Hey Marysa, it really is so cool to watch them grow up together and bond. Thanks for reading!
My friends are my sisters. We are so closely bonded and I can’t imagine life without them.
Hey Monica, that’s great that you’ve found such a close circle of friends. Thanks for reading!
My sister and I always had a tough time getting along but I wouldn’t trade her for the world.
Hey Jupiter, me and my sister have had our moments too LOL. As long as you make up at the end of the day. Thanks for reading!
My sister is my absolute best friend! We’re 2 years and 10 months apart. Even in middle school and high school we were pretty close despite sibling rivalries. Now she’s the first person I run to when I need something and I don’t know what I would do without her!
Hey Amy, that’s so wonderful! Sisters are the best <3 Thanks for reading!
I have a sister and even that she lives far away from me, i feel her always near me. I have two daughters and I hope they will have the same feeling!
Hey Gust, I have two daughters too and it is so amazing to watch them bond every day. Thanks for reading!
I am so thankful to have a sister too! I’ll never forget when I told my daughter that she was going to have a sister too – such a precious moment!
Hey Jenn, same!! It’s so wonderful to see them grow together and bond. They say they don’t want this baby to be a boy (we find out in a few days) so I’m trying to explain that brothers are cool too! LOL. Thanks for reading!
Sisters are the best bond ever! I love my sis
Hey Michelle, they really are! Thanks for reading!
I’m the oldest sister of two and I adore my younger sister. She has a good heart and makes me a better person just knowing her.
Hey Terri, awww. That’s so great! I love hearing people’s sister stories. Thanks for reading!
My sister is my best friend. We talk everyday and can’t imagine life without her.
Hey Heather, that’s awesome! I haven’t seen mine in person since February because of Covid and I’m so bummed. Thanks for reading!
I am an only child and have always wished I had a sibling (I sort of do as I’m also adopted and my birth mother at least went on to have another child, however it’s not the same – not someone you grew up with).
Hey Sarah, I hear ya. Hopefully you have a friend that you can strengthen your bond with in the absence of a biological sibling. Thanks for reading!
I love the quotes here! I have two sisters and, though we bicker and argue and crack each other up, it is to each other we can tell some of our inner fears and dreams.
I also totally agree sisters do not have to be biological! It is the feeling of closeness that counts 🙂
Hey Jaya, sounds like you all have a really special bond. My sister and I definitely disagree on a lot but we come together on a lot too! Thanks for reading!
I LOVE having a sister. Having siblings in general rocks – I just love that the love is unconditional (in most cases) and at a moments notice, I could reach out to them, and know they’re there to listen!
Hey Gigi, I love that too! Even if they live far, they are just a phone call or text away. Thanks for reading!
I’m an only child and for a while I longed for a sibling. Now I’m glad I didn’t have one. I think it taught me to be independent and to be okay with being alone.
Hey Amber, there are definitely benefits to being the only one as well. It can depend on what individual person needs emotionally I suppose. Thanks for reading!
I am very lucky to have two sisters and a brother. I do feel closer to them than any other friends I have. Sisters are always your best friends and confidants.
Hey Melissa, absolutely. I’m bummed mine lives 3 hours away. With covid, I haven’t seen her since February. Hopefully we can spend the holidays together. Thanks for reading!
I love this post! I feel the same way about my sister who is 18 months younger than I am. There is nothing like this special bond.
Hey Jodie, that’s so wonderful. Sisters really are the best! I am so glad my two have each other, and another sister or brother on the way. Thanks for reading!
I have a little brother who I took care of sometimes, had to drive around, etc. And as a kid, I hated him. He was always bothering me, but I wouldn’t trade him for anything. He’s my baby brother and I love him. Don’t tell him I said that thought. LOL
Hey Tammy, LOL. My little sister did definitely annoy me at times, but as adults we have such a special bond. I’m glad for anyone who knows what that feels like! Thanks for reading 🙂
What an absolutely lovely post! I know firsthand the benefits of having a sister…I have two of them! I’m smack dab in the middle of a trio of sisters (and my younger sister is only a few months older than yours…she was born August 3rd 1987). I had no idea of all the benefits of having a sister! I can’t believe divorce rates are lower for families with daughters, though it comes as no surprise that families with daughters are more emotionally communicative. Our family certainly was…still is! And even though it’s just the three of us now (our parents have passed away), we’re still incredibly emotionally intuitive and expressive people. This post has made me want to text them…thank you for sharing!
Hey Carolyn, thanks so much! Sisters are so so special, and I am so grateful for mine. She has supported me in ways I have never even discussed publicly and I could never thank her enough. Sounds like you all have a special bond as well. I’m grateful that my ids have each other too. Thanks for sharing!
Great blog post! Keep up the good work 🙂
Hey there, thanks so much! I appreciate it.