i hope we are sisters in every universe

a love letter to my older sister

I was lucky enough to be born into a family where I have an older sister. She claps for me so loud I can’t hear the silence of others. She’s my number one supporter—whether I’m making a brilliant decision or a downright stupid one. She gets mad at me. Big time. We fight like only sisters can. But five minutes later, she walks into my room, laughing at some random thing, and just like that, the storm has passed.

I am lucky. Lucky to have been born into this world with a built-in companion. Someone who will follow my lead, no matter how uncertain or messy it gets. When life feels impossibly lonely, I know I’m just one phone call away from her, and that makes all the difference. People laught at us that we are like Siamese sisters, always side by side.

Sure, she annoys me like no one else in this world. But honestly, how lucky am I to be annoyed by my best friend (to be hones, that’s not always my way of thinking)?

I am, and always will be, a full person. I don’t need anyone to complete me—because I already am complete. But with my sister, it feels like something extraordinary happens: she doesn’t fill in missing pieces; she expands what’s already there. She adds dimensions to my wholeness, helping me uncover parts of myself I might never have known existed. It’s not that I’m incomplete without her—it’s that with her, I become braver, bolder, and more fully alive than I sometimes allow myself to be.

My sister teaches me, every single day, how to be a woman. How to be courageous. How to take up space unapologetically. I wouldn’t be living the life I am now, making my dreams come true, if it weren’t for her. She’s the one who gives me the push I need. She gives me those three insane seconds of courage that make all the difference. When I’m scared, uncertain, or just feeling stuck, she’s there, offering exactly what I need to take the leap (or sometimes pushing me off the edge a little).

And as much as this piece was meant to be her birthday gift, let’s consider this a wish flying out into the universe—a thank-you for every time she’s been my lifeline.

Because she is. As dramatic as it sounds, it’s true. I’d describe her aura as blue—not because of sadness, but because of its calmness, its depth, and the sudden chaos and excitement she can bring. Knowing her, experiencing all her different sides, is like learning how to surf. At first, you’re unsure, maybe terrified. You fall and fail, and it doesn’t always make sense. But when you catch the wave—well, it’s more than worth it.

I remember one time we traveled to Crete. It was supposed to be a low-budget trip, just a little sisterly escape. Naturally, we ended up paying way too much for a rental car. After driving through crazy Greek mountain roads in 40-degree heat, we learned our accommodation was unreachable by car. There we were, in the middle of nowhere, melting in the sun, trying to figure out how we’d booked a room that could only be reached by boat—or a serious hike. It was stressful. It was tiring. Did anything go according to plan? Not a single thing. Did we have the best time ever? Absolutely.

And then there was the time my wallet got stolen in London. My sister sat with me at the police station for hours. It should’ve been miserable, but somehow, we had such a blast sitting there together. Every time we pass that building now, we can’t help but laugh. That’s just who she is. She makes everything—no matter how boring or frustrating—better.

That’s the thing about sisters: they turn the mundane into extraordinary, the stressful into stories you’ll tell for years to your kids. She’s been my anchor, my cheerleader, my toughest critic, and my biggest laugh.

Nana, I hope we are sisters in every universe. I know we would be, because I’d choose you in every lifetime we exist. Happy birthday. I love you more than words can say.

Your (not so) little sister,

Julia

ps. please send good wishes to my sister.