Dear Older Brother,

Thank you for toughening me up.

From escaping the headlocks you used to put me in to surviving our screaming matches, you made me strong enough to be able to defend myself. Being weak was never an option with you as an older brother and I am so grateful for that.

Thank you for teaching me.

So many things I do everyday remind me of you because you were my biggest teacher From rules to sports and swear words that mom didn't want me to know to showing me how I deserve to be treated from boys and how to navigate through some of the lowest points of me life, you helped raise me to be the person I am today. You're the voice in my head and although sometimes I wish you would just shut up, I am so lucky to have had all those lessons in life from you.

Thank you for understanding me.

Thank you for getting my weird humor. Thank you for the times you knew exactly what I was thinking without a single word being exchanged. Thank you for being the only person who knew exactly what I was going through. Thank you for always knowing what I needed.

Thank you for putting up with me.

If anyone was the definition of that annoying little sister, it was me. Thank you for not killing me every time I pushed your buttons (which I was so good at). Thank you for listening to endless amounts of boybands just because you knew I loved them. Thank you for loving me, even on the days that I was grumpy and taking it out on everyone around me. Thank you for listening to me go on and on over stuff that you really didn't care at all about. Thank you for forgiving me after every fight. Thank you for never getting sick of me.

Thank you for protecting me.

My whole entire life, you were crazy protective. You hated any and all boys that were in my life. You took the fall for a lot of stuff we did so I wouldn't get in trouble. You acted as a grownup way before your 18th birthday so that I could stay a kid. You never wanted me to feel one ounce of pain and you did everything in your power to prevent that. As much as I used to hate you yelling at me to go put on a sweatshirt or threatening to fight any guy that looked at me, your protective nature is something I will never take for granted.

Thank you for reminding me to never take life too seriously.

Thank you for letting me vent to you about something that I thought was important just for you to bring me back down to earth and realize it wasn't so important after all. No matter how hard things got or how bad of a mood I was in, you always could make me smile with your goofy dancing and stupid faces. You always reminded me to keep my head up and make the best out of every situation.

Thank you for picking me up when I fell.

No matter what it was, you always made everything better... boy issues, friend issues, family issues. Whether it be driving around in your car listening to our playlist, you coming into my room with Ben & Jerry's in your hand, or letting me cry into your chest, you always fixed everything for me.

Thank you for being my best friend.

Most of my favorite memories were you and I. It didn't matter what we were doing. As long as we were together, we could make anything fun... even grocery shopping. I was lucky enough to have you not only as a brother but as my best friend.

Thank you for giving me unconditional love.

"I do know where you go is where I belong" — Dave Matthews