Recently, I received a call from my youngest sister, seeking advice. To give context, it’s her first year of college, and she’s getting worn down from the reality of our world. She has left my parent’s nest, and found that others will often take advantage of her natural kindness. Knowing all that she has gone through in her first year as an adult has broken my heart. I wish nothing more than to leap to her aid, protect her from the cynical worldview that comes with each of our own coming of age. Realistically, I cannot and should not. Sometimes we must let the ones we love learn through their own actions, and all we can do is provide guidance when they seek it, God willing.

And so, I have trucked along through my own life. Striving to do my best in everything, to give it all and then some more. I may not be able to protect my sister, but to show her that we should push onward, even through all the nonsense we do not wish to do. 

Finally, it seems as if my sister has noticed (looping back to the purpose of my tale, her call). She gripes, she complains, already sick of the monotony in her world, regardless of the benefits she’ll eventually receive from her struggles. I responded with my own credo, of which I previously stated simply. We should always give our best in everything, especially when it is something we do not wish to, but are forced to do. And to my surprise, she affirmed. “I know, and I will. Trying to be like you, after all.” 

I could care less about others’ opinions, much less trying to impress and inspire them. But for my younger sister, I could not be more ecstatic to have impressed an early adult such as her. Her reaffirmation of what I have tried so hard to teach her has only made me double down on my worldview, to do even better than before.

If anyone is reading this, thank you for doing so. Additionally, I apologize for my lack of skill in writing and storytelling. At the end of the day, I am a soldier, not a scholar. I only seek to reflect and improve upon myself in writing. Again, thank you for reading.