My Sister, My Best Friend
By Yuet Mee Ho-Nambiar
As the year begins to wind down, I’ve found myself in a quiet, reflective space, looking back on the months behind us and wondering what the future holds. Throughout these contemplations, one theme keeps surfacing: the enduring bond between sisters.In recent years, my travel patterns have shifted. While my holidays used to be centered almost entirely around my immediate family, the home front demands have softened, leaving me with the headspace to explore new sources of joy. This has opened a door to traveling with my sisters—a truly wonderful way to unwind.
We recently went away together again and it was such a gift. We spent our days wandering through museums and savouring local delicacies, but the real magic was in the connection. We joked and laughed endlessly, we reminisced with joy and sadness, we celebrated each other’s accomplishments, we spoke about our longings and our hopes, sharing things we could only say to one another. There is such a profound serenity in being known so deeply; there is no judgment, no “I told you so,” just the simple, pure enjoyment of each other’s company.
It felt as though the stars were aligning when a very dear friend, Kee E-lene, published her labour of love entitled ‘My Sister, My Best Friend‘. As the younger sister, she wrote this heartfelt love letter as a gift for her sister’s 60th birthday. It’s a gorgeously illustrated book, and was launched at ‘The Library by BookXcess’ in Kuala Lumpur, surrounded by family and friends.
In her own words,
This story highlights the unique connection between two sisters and chronicles some of their shared stories. My Sister, My Best Friend inspires and evokes a profound sense of warmth and comfort – particularly for its young readers. Told through the eyes of the naughtier younger sister (the Author, Kee E-lene), these true stories from childhood more than fifty years ago through to adulthood sparkle with laughter, mischief, and the timeless magic of family. From daring rescues to everyday moments of care (and a few ‘lawyerly’ threats at adulthood), this beautifully illustrated book about the powerful bond of sibling love – sisterly love – reminds us all to love with courage, live with gratitude, and keep growing hearts big enough to hold it all.
Seeing her tribute reminded me that relationships like these don’t happen by accident. They are the fruit of a supportive family environment where parents guide their children toward a life of devotion, virtue, and service. Through the quiet pattern of daily life and countless conversations, our parents nurtured in us the qualities and habits that allow sisterhood to flourish. Crucially, they created a space that was loving and nurturing rather than competitive. Whether in the tiny details of a daily chat or during the major milestones of our lives, we learnt to genuinely celebrate and support one another. These bonds of love and unity offer a lifetime of upliftment—a steady bulwark against the petty jealousies that can sometimes pull families apart.
As I look toward the new year, I feel very deeply grateful to my parents and my sisters – and my brother – who is a gem of a sibling too – for this foundation of love.
Guided by personal ethics of ‘do more good’, Yuet Mee Ho-Nambiar has a long involvement with sustainability and community building activities. Belief in the oneness of humanity and the nobility of man underpins her interest in matters relating to unity and social cohesion of communities, while her background in a finance-related profession focuses her interest to the area of inclusive economics and development.