CREDIT: KIDSNOWCANADA.ORG
Teamwork makes the dream work.

It is an undeniable fact that the culture in which we are living today worships independence. Not only that, but, we also scoff at the idea of dependence.

Dependence of any degree is judged to be a weakness. So many times, we hold back our intrinsic feelings of dependence to avoid judgements by others. We think that we protect our dignity by doing that, but nothing can be further from the truth. The inevitable truth is that we human beings are a socially needy species, and therefore, misrepresenting ourselves as being totally immune from being needy only wears us down in the long run.

We are actually interdependent social beings that cannot grow or thrive to the full potential without the support of others. For example, interdependence in economics is a very important concept. We just cannot produce everything we need. Even if you live on a farm and grow all your fruits and vegetables, you will be dependent on someone else for the hoes, rakes, tractors and other farm equipment, as you don't make these things.

In present times, teams are prevalent everywhere, irrespective of the task. There are school teams, sports teams, class groups, university associations, social gatherings, congregations and much more. Learning from team members by being open and setting aside differences is indispensable to the success of an organization. Accommodating and co-operating are some of the vital leadership attributes to resolve conflicts.

Having said that, interdependence doesn't mean blind obedience to others and being unassertive. What it means is creating a harmonious connection with some understanding and awareness, which makes way for a win-win situation in an unselfish way.

The best relationships are those where all parties acknowledge the reliance of support on each other. Trying to dominate or overpower one's stance can only make the relationship more difficult. In relationships, it's beneficial to sift the wheat from the chaff by extracting the positive qualities and ignoring the negative ones. If we do so, we commit to accept our partner as they are in an unconditional way. We are uninhibited to revel in the joys of success and face the challenges or bad phases that every relationship goes through.

Due to the myth of self-sufficiency, we believe that it's weak to be vulnerable in a relationship. However, as author Stephen Covey says in his bestselling book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, “few needs of the human heart are greater than the need to be understood — to have a voice that is heard, respected, and valued — to have influence.” It's only natural to feel a bit vulnerable in a healthy relationship. Also, we start to feel comfortable in our own skin when we experience deep love.

Loneliness is caused by the myth of independence to some extent. Your self-worth is determined by your relationship with others. A solid foundation of interdependent relationships should build your feelings of wellbeing and security. It will be a gift to your partner if you show gratitude for their passions, wisdom, talents and competencies and honour their strengths.

We should always remember that life is unpredictable and we may encounter unforeseen challenges at any point of time. In the face of adversity, our greatest power would be the support of our loved ones. Then, we can even conquer the most insurmountable times with confidence.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.