On siblings

Recent events have had me thinking a lot about my family, and about what it means to be a family. (Warning... I am about to bare my soul here....) I just need to say, for the record, that I love my brothers. Both of them. Fiercely.

We may fight and disagree from time to time, and we may all have different personalities that make it difficult to connect sometimes, and it's true that I get along better (and keep in better touch with) one than with the other. But the truth is that even when I get spitting mad at my "big brother," it's almost always about wanting him to accept me just as I am, and approve of the person I've become. And I think he does, deep down. It's also true that my "little brother" consistently rolls his eyes when I try to express stuff like this, but I also believe that he feels the same way, deep down.

My brothers are both hardworking, intelligent, decent, caring (in their own way ;-) ), stable guys who both have a great sense of humour. Maybe it's the gene pool (LOL), and I like to think I've "sistered" them well (I read an article in Chatelaine about that once and loved that term to describe how boys without sisters are different than boys with sisters). Most certainly our parents had much to do with how we turned out. But we siblings have also each shaped the other in many ways. And both brothers are incredible gifts in my life in very different ways.

As the one statement in that last video I posted pointed out, our siblings are the people most likely to be a part of our lives from start to finish... And my brothers have always been there when I needed them. As I will always be there for them. Because that's what family is. And I like to think I come from a family that is exceptional at being a family.

Don't worry Mom, you and Dad will get your own separate posts. Just not tonight. It's past my bedtime, you know. ;-)

Strength

We have a lot of amazing students at the place where I work. It sounds corny, but each is really amazing in their own way. I learn more about inner strength and beauty with each day that I work there.

In particular, one of our students is a 17-year-old girl who shall remain anonymous. She has had a rough time of it when it comes to growing up. Yet somehow, she continues to grow. The word resilient doesn't begin to cover it. That Great Big Sea quote, "She might stumble if they push her 'round. She might fall, but she'll never lie down," reminds me of her. So do Carolyn Arends' lyrics:

"I’ve heard it said there’s got to be a crack or two
For the light to get through
It seems to me that you are meant to be the kind
Who shines"

But instead of going on and on quoting songs that make me think of her, how about I just share the quotes from her journal that she was willing to share with us at school...

"I always felt like I never had a place in this world but day by day I slowly see the evolving inner beauty of myself. I realize better now than ever before that without the bad things in my life I would not be the person I am today. I am not normal…I am excellent. I am precious and untouchable.

I write to feel, I write to forget, I write to stay alive, and for the first time I am writing to heal.

One day I will make a difference you’ll see, whether it’s great or small I will be there and be strong throughout it all."

This young lady is clearly a force to be reckoned with.