If a cook book existed for the perfect recipe for every relationship in one's life, a relationship between two sisters would list the longest amount of ingredients. Patience, love, and selflessness are all necessary for maintaining a healthy bond between sisters; especially ones as close in age as my sister and I. Although my sister knows how to push my buttons and at times makes me lose my temper, I couldn't imagine my life without her. Now that my high school diploma sits on my desk at home, I know a hefty amount of lessons from my role as an older sister. Here are a few of my favorites.

1. Never hold a grudge.

Although my sister and I have learned to keep the fighting to a minimum, we still bicker like any other pair of sisters. If one of our arguments lasted long enough, I would try to stay mad at her until she apologized. Predictably, my guilt sunk in within 10 minutes of my sulking, and I needed to make up with her on the spot. Now, I know that the bond I share with my sister is worth much more than the ability to say that I won in an argument.

2. Sharing leads to selflessness.

When I was younger, my sister split everything we owned in half. We shared the food on each other's plates and the clothes in each other's closets. We're only a year apart in age, 15 months to be exact. That being said, clothing never exclusively belongs to me or her. This habit of always giving a part of what I owned to her soon enough taught me about selflessness and the fulfillment of sharing.

3. Lead by example.

Whether I like it or not, I've always been somewhat of a role model to my sister. Yes, our ages are not very far apart, but I know that my decisions always somewhat influence hers. That's why I treat others with respect and make the best decisions for my well-being, hoping that she notices. I'm not perfect, and neither is she, but I can confidently say that I do my best to teach her how much she deserves out of life through my example.

4. Loyalty is the foundation of a relationship.

Other than love, loyalty has proven to keep my relationship with my sister strong. No matter the situation, I will always stand up for her and think of her best interests. Friends come and go, but a sister is forever. My parents instilled in us from an early age that we will never have ulterior motives for our relationship, and that we should always stand by the each other's side. There's a saying that a mom goes into "mamma bear" mode when protecting her child, but many people don't fully recognize the power of a "sister bear."

5. Be able to admit when you're wrong.

My sister is never afraid to call me out when I'm in the wrong. I'm grateful for her honesty, and know that it comes from a place of love. She knows me better I know myself sometimes, and I fully trust her viewpoint. Admittedly, I've battled with admitting I'm wrong in the past, but my relationship with my sister has taught me to choose humility over pride when I must.