Independence

Is there such a thing as being independent? I know that independence comes in many forms. For youth, it is oftentimes the idea of not being dependant on your parents anymore. And for a long time, that was independence for me. Sure, we all grow up. We don't ask our parents for money anymore, to pay for our clothes, our bills, our nights out. We don't rely on our parents for rides to the mall, to birthday parties and to the movies. Instead, we get full time jobs to earn money to pay for our clothes, our bills, our nights out. We buy the only car we can afford so that we can drive ourselves to the mall, to parties and to the movies. We start to do things for ourselves. Until we finally have the courage (and the money) to move out. Moving out - the pinnacle of independence. Paying for our own mortgage, our own bills, our own food, on top of the car and the entertainment expenses. We learn to budget for the pure need of survival. Survival based on no support from our parents.

Sure, this has always been my idea of independence. But I look back now and think, are we, am I, ever really going to be independent? Maybe physically, yes. I will not need my parents for survival. But emotionally, I don't think so. I think I'll always be dependent on my mom and dad for love, support, friendship, courage, motivation and to be that shoulder to cry on. I think I'll always be dependent on my tea for comfort, my computer to keep me organized, my cell phone to be connected, my hairdryer for non-frizzy hair. So I ask you, is there really such a thing as independence?