(Source: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/rant-about-growing-up)

Sometimes growing up can be a good thing.

I remember as a young boy I used to always get in fights with my little brother.

They weren't so much physical fights, well I guess they were, but never fist fights. More like shoving, an occasional slug, and maybe throwing some things at each other from time to time.

Either way, it was a love hate relationship for sure.

Things turned from rough to rocky.

As we got older that relationship didn't really change all that much, I think partly because we were so close in age.

I think there was a natural compeitiveness with us, if not with him, there definately was with me.

I could never let him beat me at anything.

From sports to video games, to seeing who could hold their breath the longest. I had to make sure I always beat my brother.

After all he was my "little brother".

A glimmer of hope for us?

Fast forward a few more years to now and there is finally a change that I am noticing between us.

I noticed it for the first time a few weeks back where I felt I truly enjoyed his company and he seemed to truly enjoy mine.

Gone were the egos and the competitiveness of our younger years, instead it was all about laughing and enjoying being around someone that had similar interests.

It really was a joy and something I didn't really think I would ever get to behold.

I no longer call my little brother just my brother, now I call him a friend, and that has been one of the best parts of growing up.

Treasure your family, they are all you get.