High Notes

Sister

What is it to be a sister? I often reflect on this because of my podcast, Citizen Sister. The word sister has always carried weight for me, but in the most positive way. I have two sisters—an older sister, Jen, and a younger sister, Melissa—and being a middle sister gave me a pretty strong perspective on the topic. I knew how to be both a leader and a follower at any given moment, and I was often the meditator and the halfway point between fights, joys and all the dramatic things siblings share.

All three of us at times longed to be different than each other or longed to be the same. We shared humor, lip gloss, stories, music, pain, loss, victories, jobs, eye rolls and had plenty of fights and even more hours of comforting talks and jokes that made us laugh ‘til our bellies hurt. They were, are and will always be my ride or die bloodline best friends.

In the world outside the tribe of my family of origin, the word sister seemed to get thrown around with frequency. It could be used with a stranger to evoke an instant bond; or it could be used with a best friend or someone who shared the same cultural background. I felt strongly about it because of how strongly I felt about my sisters.

But through life and over time, I’ve realized something: My sisters are the reason I am who I am. They are the reason I see the world with compassion and kindness or why I don’t tolerate injustices. They are the reason I use humor, laughter and smiling to make the hard things in life better. They’re the reason I’m a good listener and a comforting shoulder to cry on. They’re the reason I know that a really good chocolate chip cookie can make the worst day a little better.

Knowing these things gave me a way to walk through the world with purpose. I am not only their sister, but I am also a sister to my friends, my community and to the planet, and I can bring all of that sisterhood to every conversation, every song I sing and every friend I make.

My podcast is my love letter to them and to all sisters I have collected along the way. Whether here on Bainbridge Island, in a remote part of Asia or somewhere in Paris, I am proudly a sister, a Citizen Sister.