I would define myself as a fairly independent person. I like to spend a lot of my time alone, and I tend to work better by myself rather than in groups. For a long time, I was convinced that I was able to do things completely on my own; with the least amount of help possible from others. I was under the impression that this way, I would be less of a burden on other people, and that’s probably how they would want me to operate, too. It would just be the best situation for everyone involved. I learned quickly that that isn’t true, and to just be plain and simple: everyone is dependent on someone, and that is more than okay.
Independence means something different to everyone. To me, it is almost synonymous with being able to make decisions for myself. Whether it be living situations, issues with finances, or simply deciding what to do for supper, I like to be able to make my own decisions. This isn’t something that only applies to me, either. I know many people who take pride in being able to spend their own hard-earned money on things that make them happy, and they should absolutely be able to. That’s the fantastic part about being independent and being able to take care of yourself – you are in charge of your own decisions. What happens, though, when we don’t know if the decision is a good one to make? What happens when we don’t understand the repercussions of a decision and need a little more help with it? Surely, we can’t expect ourselves to make the right decision 100% of the time, which is where dependence comes into play.
It isn’t shameful to ask for help every once in a while. It doesn’t make you any less of a “grown-up” to ask a parent for some financial advice or even a slight loan. It definitely doesn’t affect your independence when you need some assistance trying to decide what car or house to buy, or which job would benefit you more in the long run if you’re choosing between a few. To be honest, if everyone were truly independent and didn’t ask for help every once in a while, the world wouldn’t function in a way that would be helpful for anybody. I want to take some time, especially with everything going on right now, to highlight the fact that it’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to not know what to do, and to reach out to someone who might have some answers for you. Being dependent on others to help you be successful independently should not be something that we ever shy away from.