History
Though generally taken to mean a female
relative descending from shared parents, the connotation of the word sister
is a familial relationship between people that is often not based on being
related. Women that share a particular culture, language, behavior,
geography, lifestyles, or experiences are referred to as sisters,
especially when they unite for one of those reasons. For example, a female
military expert might consider all other female soldiers to be her sisters
in arms, or women experiencing pregnancy may feel the sisterly bond with
others in that situation. Whether the sisters you played with while growing
up were literally that or really close playmates, the bond formed between
people of approximately the same age within a larger family, neighborhood,
or kin structure is irreplaceable. In spite of the potential rivalry,
maintaining a connection with your sisters throughout adulthood is vital to
the survival of the family dynamic. Celebrated annually on the first Sunday
in August, Sisters' Day commemorates the special relationship between
genealogical sisters and celebrates the many other dimensions of
sisterhood!
Tradition
In keeping with the spirit of Sisters'
Day, the inclusion of step- and adopted sisters in the celebration is vital
to keeping the changing face of the modern family up to date. Parents of
siblings should use this holiday to encourage interaction, communication,
and the basis for a supportive relationship between them from an early age.
If you and your sisters are separated by time, distance, and lifestyle,
this is your chance to renew your connection with them. Reach out across
the country, or around the world, and bring your sisterly network to life
again through phone calls, scheduling reunions that are independent of
times that your family or sisterhood already gets together, or establishing
an electronic link. Keep updated on your respective lives, because you
never know what you might find out about each other, or yourself! In the
event of no sister(s) with whom to share this meaningful occasion, seek out
a group of women with whom you may foster a sisterly bond based on various
aspects of your culture, personality, and much more. Sisterhood is about
more than being sisters, namely, it is about being women and being there
for each other!
Facts
According to a recent study, older women
that have maintained a connection with their sister(s) are less likely to
be depressed or feel a sense of abandonment that typically grows with age.
In fact, all evidence gathered about positive relationships between sisters
points to its value and significance, emotional and otherwise, for all
parties involved.
Incredibly, people of any age, even as young as a year old, actually cope
better with the separation from their parents than that from their
siblings.
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