Writing this article is a tough one, because I have wanted to write this one for a while but didn't know how to go about it. But now that I do I want to share with you all on how difficult it is to have your older brother or a family member in general within in the military.

So here goes:

I have an older brother who is 5 years older than I am and he is my role model. I love my brother so much that sometimes the distance that is between us makes it difficult for me to handle sometimes; however, my older brother and I are quite similar. We have the same sense of humor, the way we think on some cases and just by our work ethic and even down to the things we are interested in. So, being a younger sister, I look up to my brother, because he has taught me a lot and since he's older, he has given me insight on my life choices, on how I should handle what life throws at me and how I just need to calm down sometimes and become more carefree. His life choice on desiring to join the military is quite the tale as well.

He may be reading this so I will be as accurate as possible but when he was younger, he knew he wanted to become a pilot and because of this he wanted to join the Air Force. He knew that he wanted to achieve this goal as early as 7 years old. I tell this story often to friends but it's one that I recall back on when I need motivation or a different outlook on life. He was able to be in the cockpit of a plane at a young age, and so he devoted a part of his upbringing to joining one day. Long story short, eventually he joined the Air Force and realized that joining and becoming a part of it was the life goal that he wanted to achieve and that alone was good enough.

Sometimes I don't find myself thinking this way though. I want to achieve the exact goal that I want to achieve and I will become down on myself if I don't. But my brother, his outlook is one that I find very humbling, reassuring and admirable. Growing up, my brother and I weren't always so close. We fought just like any other siblings would, but the great part of him serving in the Air Force is how the distance between us has made us extremely more closer. When I see him, I look forward to hearing about what has been going on his life and what life has taught him and me being able to talk to him and catch him up on my life.

This past time was even more special, because we had a very cool brother/sister moment. It's moments like these that help me realize that our relationship is our own and I should cherish that. We don't always talk, but when we do, it's more special in a week then we had for years before he joined. Distance has definitely molded our relationship into what it is now and I am so thankful for that. I am thankful for a brother who teaches me to serve humbly, to look at life as a gift and to always be mindful and grateful for those men and women who fight for our freedom each day. I have also learned that patriotism runs deep- just like loyalty and I need to respect that. Having an older brother that serves has help me grow so much as person that I wouldn't be who I am today without his guidance.