We are not sisters by blood but by heart. I could try and explain it, but instead, I’m just going to let the rest of my article do that for me. Here’s to you, Maria.

To my big sister,

I am just as "forever proud" of you as you are of me, if not more.

My heart is always filled with such happiness each and every time you say or write to me that you are "forever proud" of me. I want you to know that the door swings both ways when it comes to that sentiment. The amount of roles that you play in your daily life as a teacher, a law student, a doggy mommy, a sister, a daughter, and a friend absolutely amazes me. Like you've mentioned, there's a lot of you to go around, and I am so blessed to have a part in there somewhere. Sometimes, I wish you could see my face when I get to tell people about you because I’m pretty sure that my smile while doing so starts at one ear and ends by the other. All I can hope is that I've made you as proud as you have made me because being your "little sister" has definitely made that possible for me.

The unique bond we share is something that I will always be proud of, too.

It’s a bond that may be difficult to understand or hard to believe for outsiders. It's also one that is unable to be explained largely due to the fact that our seven year age difference and text message-based communication are the very aspects that helped shape our relationship into the special thing that it is. We get it, and that’s all that counts.

Always remember that your happiness is my happiness.

Since you've come into my life, along with being a huge positive influence for me, you’ve also always wanted me to be in my very own constant “pursuit of happiness," but that doesn't keep me from being happy for you. I will always be there to celebrate your accomplishments and cheer you up when things don't go as planned. That, I can promise.

Thank you for being protective of me, but not too protective.

Making mistakes is inevitable in life, and I want to thank you for letting me make them, instead of trying to shelter me from the world. I know you’ll be there to dust me off or to call me ten times in eight minutes, when and if necessary.

I know that your tough love is still love.

When that little voice that asks me, "What would Maria tell me to do," or "What would Maria do" is drowned out by the hecticness of life and I get a little lost, you're always there to get me back on track. Thank you for keeping me in check when I need it and also when I'm convinced that I don't.

Your trust in me, steadfast honesty, and patience are unmatched.

It's impossible for me to thank you enough for those things, but I'm going to try.

I'm thankful that you know the person that I am indescribably well, but that you also encourage me to be that person all on my own.

A few words are all it takes for you to realize that something's up or that I'm not acting quite like myself. You always try your best to relate and understand what's going on, and you never deny or attempt to alter how I feel. Instead, you help me to figure out the reason why I feel the way I do and show me the good that lies in it. Sometimes, you know me better than I know myself. I remember mentioning that to you one night and you replied, “Of course I can. I know you very well. You’re my sister.”

I love learning from you.

Since you are older than me and have had more experience with this thing called life, I’m always learning from you in one way or another. Having the opportunity to see this world through your eyes is something that I will always be grateful for. I see life in a more humble, positive, and informed mindset and it's made all the difference.

I will always look up to you.

I remember being in that high school classroom, learning Chinese and saying to myself, "When I grow up, I want to be just like her." I guess some things never change. (And just in case you were wondering, you are still "Happy Hurricane" in my phone.)

You inspire me beyond belief.

Your strength. Your resilience. Your confidence. Your persistence. Your bravery. Those are just some of the things that I can only hope to obtain during my lifetime. You inspire me to be better and to do better. Most importantly, you inspire me to be me, to celebrate myself and to live my life in such a way that I am eventually able to inspire others, including you, with my very own experiences.

Thank you for always being there for me.

And yes, I believe you 110% when you say that you're not going anywhere.

There are very few things that I am absolutely certain about in this world, but two of them are that you have definitely changed my life "For Good" and that I will always be up for Frosties at midnight with you.

Love,

Your little sister