Sisters may annoy one another more than they’d like to admit, but at the end of the day, they have each others’ backs more than anyone else. Blood runs thicker than water, as they say, and sisters have one of the closest bonds among anyone. Even if they fight over the smallest things, they won’t hesitate to provide a shoulder to cry on or go on an ice cream run to help each other through a break up the very next second.
Even if they haven’t talked in a while, sisters can call each other up and pick up where they left off without worrying about awkward silences or holding grudges. Life gets busy, and we don’t always have time for our family. However, sisters understand this and won’t ever turn away when they need each other the most.
In other words, sisters aren’t going anywhere. No matter what happens or who else in their lives might desert them, they’re there to stay through thick and thin. Not to mention, another benefit to having a sister is that they make you a better person, according to research. Skills like communication, compromise, and negotiation are learned through resolving conflicts and trying to understand each other.
Sisterhood: Promoting good mental health
“A sister is someone who loves you from the heart. No matter how much you argue you cannot be drawn apart. She is a joy that cannot be taken away. Once she enters your life, she is there to stay.” – Shiva Sharma
Plus, another study published in 2010 in the Journal of Family Psychology found that having a sister can boost your mental health and self-esteem. Sisters provide moral support when the other one is going through a hard time. Researchers from Brigham Young University found sisters help one another from “feeling lonely, unloved, guilty, self-conscious and fearful.”
This makes sense because only children have no one to confide in or lean on for support, so having a sister is like having a guaranteed support system.
It teaches you to be ambitious and have greater independence
A 2009 survey performed by British psychologists discovered that people who grew up with at least one sister had more independence and determination than those who only had brothers. Study co-author Tony Cassidy of the University of Ulster said in an interview with the Daily Mail, “It is about that intrinsic desire to want to do better every time, to strive towards goals. It certainly seems there is something about the family situation with the number of girls in it that leads to more encouragement to achieve and be independent.”
Now that you know about some of the benefits of having a sister, we will go over some traits that sisters exhibit.
11 Benefits of Having a Sister
Here are 11 common traits sisters have that most people don’t know about:
1 – An inner knowing when something is wrong
Sisters don’t have to say when there’s something amiss. They can read each other like the back of their hand and nothing gets past them. Even if they don’t live together, their senses go off when the other one is going through a hard time. Some might call that a sixth sense or intuition, and it’s even stronger between siblings.
2 – You can share the most embarrassing facts and stories with each other
No matter what happens in your life, you know you can always confide in your sister. The things you would hesitate to tell someone else, you know you can count on your sister to not judge you for, even if she laughs hysterically or makes fun of you at first.
Having a sister is like having a free therapist; you can speak freely without fear of judgment or criticism. Being able to open up and share your innermost fears, desires, and stories with someone is important, and sisters are always there to listen.
3 – A hidden language
Whether that means talking in funny accents, coming up with your own code words, or having a secret handshake, sisters speak in ways others would never understand. They’ve been through it all together, and after years of spending time together, they’ve developed their own special way of communicating.
4 – Looking up to one another
Even if they might call each other names and argue at times, sisters admire one another for the traits they’re lacking. Of course, some sisters have a lot in common, but even so, they are their own people. They might not admit it to each other, but one of the traits sisters have is simply admiring one another for the people they are.
5 – She’ll tell it like it is
Sisters don’t sugarcoat anything. They are honest with each other about everything, even if it seems harsh or inconsiderate. They want the best for each other and will not hesitate to lay it all on the table.
6 – Talking the same way
If you observe sisters, you will probably notice that some speech patterns are similar, such as:
- the tone of voice
- rate of speech
- laughing the same way
- even using the same phrases
Because they’ve been around each other so long, many sisters find themselves speaking in similar manners. They aren’t trying to copy each other, but they’ve just picked up on one another’s speech patterns. Next time you’re around sisters, see if you notice this about them!
7 – Annoying each other for no reason
Plenty of sisters like to get under each other’s skin just because, and this is just part of what it means to be siblings. It could be due to sibling rivalry or maybe repressed anger if the younger one got more attention at some point. If you have a sister, you know exactly what we mean – from the name calling to hair pulling to clothes stealing, sisters will do whatever it takes to push each other’s buttons.
8 – Only the big sister can pick on the little sister
It’s fine for the older one to call the younger one names or tease them, but if anyone else tries to do the same, the big sister will always stick up for her little sis. This goes the other way, too; no matter how small she is, little sister will stand up to anyone who tries to bully her big sister.
9 – Being able to talk about personal things
Since the older sister goes through a lot of life experiences first, she can be there when the younger sister inevitably has questions. Whether it’s about puberty, boys, weird things happening with her body, or anything in between, sisters can always count on each other to answer the sometimes uncomfortable or embarrassing questions.
10 – Knowing each other to the core
No one knows you as your sister does. She’s seen you at your worst and doesn’t judge you for it. During your darkest moments and toughest battles, she’s been at your side supporting you through it. Living with someone really shows you who they are, and unless you’ve been married for many years, no one has lived with you as long as your family.
Sisters have such a deep understanding of one another and have seen each other’s darkness many times. No matter what demons they might face, sisters tackle them together.
11 – Complaining about your parents together
As you get older, you probably get more annoyed with your parents. You still love them, of course, but they’ve gotten a little more grouchy and set in their ways, and you both have noticed. Whenever they aren’t around, this is a common topic of discussion between you.
Whether you’re talking about your mom’s obsession with cleaning the house or your dad’s loud chewing at mealtimes, there’s always something to talk about when it comes to your parents’ strange, sometimes irritating habits. Sorry mom and dad, we promise we love you!
Final thoughts about traits sisters have that most people don’t understand
Having a sister is one of the greatest blessings in life. It might not always be sunshine and rainbows, but when everyone else deserts you, you can always count on your sister to stand by your side. Sisters have such a deep understanding of one another because of everything they’ve been through together, so they can easily accept each other’s flaws and look past them.
Sisterhood is more than just a blood relation; it’s having a best friend you can always count on. Friends can leave at any moment, but family is forever. The older you get, the more you realize just how important your family is, because they’ve seen you at your worst moments and still love you anyway.
If you have a sister, make sure to reach out to her and let her know just how much you value her in your life. She will always give good advice and have your best interest at heart.
“The best thing about having a sister was that I always had a friend.” – Cali Rae Turner