Celebrating my sister!

Today is my sister’s birthday! What a blessing it is to have her in my life. I consider that I am the luckiest person in the world, to have this sister, to have the type of relationship we have. She is my best friend, the ultimate confidante, my unwavering supporter, my rock, my role model. There is no one closer to me in this world than she. 

Yet, this is not a relationship of dependency, for what she is to me, I am to her. It is a relationship where we accept each other as we are, loving the wonderful things about each other, and accepting without judgement the other “stuff”. It is also a fun relationship, with many shared experiences – many marvellous memories of our childhood, living together in an apartment in our 20s, working together in various businesses. We share many jokes and funny stories; and those that were not so funny at the time, we now find we are able to laugh about. We even share our own language – “puppy language” – which only she and I and puppies understand! And yes, even at our age, we still speak puppy language to each other! We share secrets too – things that no-one knows but each other. And we are comfortable, for we know that we will never betray the other.

When we came into this world, I could not have asked for anything else but this sister. This relationship was divinely ordained. Indeed, I think about how people often say that we do not choose our family. Not so. I believe that we do choose everyone with whom we spend this journey. Every person in our lives is here for a reason, none more so than our family members. With each person, there is some lesson we have to learn, and some lesson we have to teach. And perhaps the greatest lesson we learn with our family is that of unconditional love.

I very wisely chose Carole as my sister. I have learned from her what it is like to love purely, for she is an example of love. I have learned from her what it is like to be an amazing mother, for she is the best mother I know. I have learned from her what loyalty and support for another is all about. I have learned from her how to gracefully accept the reality of death of loved ones. I have learned from her how to live my life on my own terms, making choices that may upset others, but knowing that you are making the right choice for yourself. I am thankful that the lessons that I learn from Carole are not those born of pain and suffering, but of love, joy and good times. It is truly a day of celebration!

Today, celebrate your own family – you chose them! Celebrate your choice! Seek the lessons! And give thanks for the shared journey.