My life changed drastically when I was given a little brother. I was eight years old and already had a little sister. She was loud, witty and creative, but my family and I did not know what we were in for with a little brother running around though.

Trust me, I’ll be the first to complain about the number of Matchbox cars and trucks scattered throughout the house, the constant dribbling of the basketball and the fact he nearly never has a shirt on and probably makes himself too comfortable around our house. Regardless, I wouldn’t give him up for the world and would drop anything and everything to be there for him if he needed me.

When you give a girl a little brother, you give her…

A Pain in the Ass

Pardon my French, but “pain in the neck” and “pain in the butt” just don’t do little brothers justice. They seem to have the loudest toys and games, most obnoxious friends, mischievous behavior and adventurous minds. We love my little brother to death, but man… What I would do for a day without hearing a basketball dribbled around the house.

He is as annoying as ever, but it has made me into a stronger, more tolerable person. Not to mention, the fact I get along better with guys than girls for the most part, so I learned I have to be mentally, physically and emotionally strong to keep up with him. He can call me any name in the book, beat me in a game of one-on-one (yes, it’s true), but he will never bring me down.

A Role Model

As young as he is, my brother is someone I am really starting to admire. He is free-spirited, athletic, crazy, happy-go-lucky and smart. He inspires me every day with his will to push himself to work harder and harder to become the best basketball player he can be. He has a big heart, the best laugh and the goofiest sense of humor. He doesn’t let people bring him down and always knows what to say to help other people smile.

A Best Friend

Funny as it sounds, my little brother is now one of my best friends. We joke around, play video games, get coffee and lunch, listen to music, swim, study and do life together. He’s the greatest gift my parents could have ever given me (along with my sister, of course).

We have grown so close over the last couple of years, and it comforts me to know I am someone he trusts and will always be honest with. He’s lucky to have me, I know, but I don’t think he knows just how lucky I am to have him. Luckily, he has a great fashion sense and helps me put together outfits and is honest when he says which shoes look best.

A Protector

I never thought it were possible to be protected so deeply by someone so young, and so much younger than me. I dated my first boyfriend as a sophomore in college, and it gradually became a very unhealthy relationship. Little did I know, my 11-year-old brother was observing the toxic effects of the emotional, physical and mental distress the relationship was causing me.

He now has his first girlfriend, and at 14 years old, understands more about communication, trust, loyalty, faithfulness and honesty than most of the guys I am surrounded by on a college campus. He talks to me about my relationship and asks me why I put up with it for so long, he questions why I didn’t want more for myself and it makes my heart so full to know that he is there for me despite how much younger he is than me.

Even though we aren’t all blessed with a younger brother, or even sister, we all have people in our lives who fill these roles for us. In 2017, appreciate those people in your life and focus your attention on those who truly care about you and genuinely want the best for you. Let go of those who bring you down, because you will only ever find happiness when you push out the negativity in your life.