My eldest brother was thee best man who ever lived he treated me like a person since the day I was born, listened to me like I mattered even when I was very little and was always ready to guide me and support me, he was always rescuing me.
May he RIP.

My surviving siblings do care, but they're not always really equipped to demonstrate the type of support I need...

My eldest sister (15 years my senior) forgets I'm 30 and is continuously surprised at my advice to her regarding her husband. (I'm single)
She tries to be supportive, but is mostly too wrapped up in her own drama to be of any real emotional use to me. To her its easier to hand me some cash and catch up in a few week's time. I appreciate the fact that she's been willing and able to help me out financially in the past, but talking about ME for more than 3 minutes would be most welcome too.

Then there's my (12 years) older sister, we never got along while I was growing up, as I replaced her as the baby girl in the family hierarchy, but we've been doing much better in recent years, and have managed to build a relationship with one another, almost a friendship, but not quite.

My issue with her is that I have very poor boundaries and she's an opportunist...
So while I offer "A", I end up doing or giving "A-Z" and then kick myself for weeks for being roped in.

She however has surprisingly been reading up on my BP and checks in quite regularly, and best of all? She doesn't say patronizing things in hopes of making me feel better. She sticks to what she knows and offers me spiritual support, which I appreciate immensely.

My younger brother, we've become quite close over the past few years, he's actually one of my best friends. It's been a strange experience watching him mature into a young man, and taking on his new role as head of the household, after our father died.

He is not verbally supportive, but when BP depression is kicking my butt, he instinctively gives me space when I need it, or knows when I need to be forced out of isolation by encouraging me to watch comedies with him, to get me out of my own head. This is also the time when he helps out with my daughter. I have no idea how to begin describing the level of gratitude I have for this young man.

Why I posted a novel?

Even though I don't always get the type of support I seek, I do make a point of validating and appreciating the kind that is available to me.

Took a while for me to even be able to recognize these alternate support styles though.