Our culture tells us to be independent both financially, emotionally, and physically. "If you’re not independent, clearly you’re just not strong enough. You must be incapable."
After thinking about it, my question is...why do we perceive independency as a good thing? I look at my life and the reason I want to become independent of my family is not necessarily because I want to, but because I need to prove myself. Is that all that independency is...proving to everyone that you are capable of independency?
Most people who appear independent aren’t truly independent. Not entirely. God did not intend for us to be entirely independent. God made us to be dependent most of all to Him as well as to each other. So those that claim complete independence are either lying or they are because they force themselves to be. They build walls around themselves and refuse to need other people. That’s not healthy.
Yes, I understand that certain types of independencies are healthy. Living off your parents until they die, simply because you’re too lazy to get a job is not an okay dependency. But needing support occasionally, whether it be financially, emotionally, or whatever else is NORMAL!! Why do we get this idea that it’s a sign of weakness?!
I can tell you right now, that in the past couple months I’ve been struggling with forcing myself to be independent. Forcing myself to not rely on my parents, or my brothers, or even my friends. I’m one of those “people who need people!” But culture tells me that’s a bad thing, so I find myself refusing to need people and that's not a good thing.
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Here's a fantastic song sung by Barbra Streisand. Listen to what she says at this live concert right before the song (it’s what inspired the post FYI).
People,
People who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world
We’re children needing other children
And yet letting our grown-up pride
Hide all the need inside
Acting more like children than children
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