Being independent.

That's a virtue to me. I've always valued independence. Self-sufficiency is a trait I strive for.

One shouldn't need a crutch to go through life. And in this crazy world of ours, one can't always count on others to be there for you.

I believe it's important to be able to take care of yourself. Got a flat tire? Fix it yourself. Hungry? Make something for yourself. Got dirty clothes? Wash them yourself.

Want something done right? Do it yourself.

Oh wait, back up a second. There's a huge exception here.

Work. In work, you can't be independent. When you're building an Internet business, you need other people. You need to work in a team. You need the specialized knowledge that others have.

So the exception is work. But in other aspects of life, I believe that independence is important.

Trust is hard to come by. And after living in big cities like New York City and San Francisco, I've learned that you can't trust anybody.

It may sound like a sad and cold way to live life. But it's more for protection than anything else.

Keep your shield up, hide your trust deep inside, and do things for yourself.

Oh wait.

I have another exception.

You can't hold your trust from everybody out there. Sure, I don't want to depend on anyone. But deep down inside, it's sometimes a mighty relief to be able to ease that burden off my shoulders and share the weight with someone else.

Like with family, a best friend, or someone you love.

Being independent can take a lot of energy. And if you're always active and alert, you'll tire yourself out.

Okay, so I strive for independence and self-sufficiency. But I make sure to know when to be dependent also.

Because, while I don't want a crutch to go through life, I sometimes need a shoulder to lean on.

. . .

What do you think of independence?