It’s interesting to think about the concept of Independence Day while Austin, much like the rest of the country, hunkers down to flight off the current pandemic. Over these last 3 months, we’ve been anything but “independent”. On one hand, we are reminded that our individual behavior ripples to those far beyond our immediate circle. At the same time, we are shut off from many of the social customs that create a sense of community.
I love making temporary friends over a beer as much as the next person, but true independence is not just about whether I have the right to walk into a bar. It’s more about my own identification of self value. To be truly independent means being comfortable in your own skin and the ability to adapt to the uncontrollable set of circumstances that will always swirl around us.
But it can’t stop there. In times of challenge, it’s important that we look out for those around us. Only by taking care of ourselves first can we start tending to our loved ones and extended communities. To borrow an oft cited travel analogy – it’s about putting on our own oxygen mask first.
We are both Independent and Interdependent. Now more than ever.
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