For those of you who have siblings, you know how many different aspects of a relationship are brought out. I feel love, anger, fear, competitiveness, annoyance and so many other emotions towards my three brothers that it is sometimes hard to tell if I truly like them. I do, but you get my idea. When people ask the question, why are you the way you are, it is all too easy to say my parents, my teachers, my friends, my school, my tv, and my video games, but i truly believe my brothers have shaped me the most. I am one of FOUR boys who grew up in a household. We were taught from a young age to never lay a hand on each other. We were taught things like; "play nice", "help each other", "hey put that down", "hey, put HIM down!" etc. The fact is though people do not always do what they are taught. people lose sight of things like that. my house had an only few times spoken rule of pecking order. It was a mix between oldest/strongest got their pick when it came to seats on the couch, and who sat shotgun in the car, and where we sat at dinner. it seems like all our competition was for a seat somewhere, but it was more than that.
When i play a sport or even a board game, it is all i focus on, and i play my heart out. i remind myself on the daily to not let my competitiveness take over me, and i need to do this because of my brothers. I spent my life competing for seats, competing for respect, play fighting to see who was strongest, arm wrestling, 1 on 1 basketball, foot races, chess matches, backyard football, sparring sessions, report cards, who pissed Mom and Dad off the least, who pissed Mom and Dad off the most, and so much more. For what though? Bragging rights i suppose. It's no mystery why i'm not nervous to compete for jobs when i graduate. I'm not afraid of competing for that promotion one day. competing is how I grew up. i learned how to win, and i learned how to lose. i don't get down when i don't win something because i've had plenty of experiences losing just as much as i have had winning, and i blame Mike, Ryan and Danny boy for that. They taught me to push my limits and to know when ive lost, and how good it feels to win. They are my friends, AND my enemies. My brothers inadvertently shaped who i am with our endless competition, but also endless support.
Which sibling you are closest to changes through the years, and whichever brother i was closest to at whatever time in my life, i could always talk to any of them about anything. i learned things from my brothers, and taught them all things. Ryan got me my job at Red Lobster, then I got Danny boy a job there. we helped each other with homework. we threatened bullies for each other. we grew up knowing we always had someone to help us with anything.
My brothers were the biggest influences on who i am. Now less than before though.
Do you think siblings play as big a role in socializing as i do?
What do you think makes us want to compete with each other?
