Something beautiful happened on Friday

The best lessons in life come in the form of my dear siblings.

My little sister called me last week. We don’t talk often, and to be honest, sometimes it’s difficult for us to get along. She’s loud, unfocused, and has a short fuse. She’s so easy to make fun of (in a loving but maybe somewhat obnoxious way). My little sister is also sweet, kind and the most giving soul. I’ve been trying to talk to her more often and focus on those aspects. She makes me laugh a lot too.

My sister has a lot of friends; few real ones. She’s often misunderstood. She’ll give her soul to someone who is kind to her (and often to people who aren’t so kind either). She’d get out of bed in the middle of the night for anyone who’d call her. Not so many people would do the same for her.

I think talking with her makes me a little sad. She works so hard to grow. Yet, you could feel the Milchtein life that left a grip on her. She wants to own a restaurant one day. My sister works in a kitchen where most people don’t appreciate her. It’s probably because of her rough exterior. Also, I know kitchens aren’t the easiest places to work too.

We started chatting about her boss. She told me he’s socially awkward. Without telling anyone, she studied for months and passed a certification, allowing her to become a manager¹. She wanted to talk to him about a raise. He yelled at her for texting him on a Sunday. She said she fumbled her words and couldn’t make her point. She’ll try to have another conversation with him soon.

My sister perked up in the middle of our conversation.

“Gudia, Gudia! I made a friend!”

I pulled the phone away from my ear (did I mention she’s LOUD?).

“I made like a REAL friend.”

She went on to tell me how similar they were: they both have ADHD and dyslexia and work in a restaurant. She told me how this friend has been introducing her to all the cool places in town.

“We were hanging out yesterday, and I told her about the great shoes I have. I can stand in the kitchen for hours, and my feet don't hurt.”

My sister kept going, her excitement bubbling through. She found someone she felt connected with.

Then, she shouted again, “GUDIA, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT MY FRIEND BOUGHT THE EXACT SAME SHOES AS ME?!”

I put my phone on the counter and kept listening.

“CAN YOU BELIEVE I JUST TOLD HER ABOUT SOMETHING I LIKE, AND SHE TRUSTED ME SO MUCH THAT SHE BOUGHT THE EXACT SAME SHOES?”

I don’t know what it was, but in that moment, she broke my heart and healed it a little at the same time.

My sweet, sweet sister. All she wants is for someone to care about her opinion. What a small thing it is. What a painful thought. Some people don’t have others who trust them. That my sister, who has been working her butt off her whole life to connect, care, and give to others, just wants someone to listen to her. Someone to validate that she and everything she represents is valid.

I must talk to my sister more often. I must also pay attention to others more. What power we have in our hands: to show love, all we need to do is acknowledge and listen.

Excuse me, but I need to go wipe my eyes. Thinking about this makes me cry again.

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Printed with permission.

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