There's nothing quite like being independent. When nobody is around to tell you where to go or where to be at what time. The freedom to eat when and where you want, shop when and where you want, hang out with who you want where you want, it's truly beautiful. The ability to walk to the beat of your own drum is inspiring. I didn't really feel independence until college hit and that is where I really fell in love with it.

This may sound bad, but when I moved into college I couldn't wait for my family to leave so I could start doing things the way I wanted to and could avoid different opinions. Don't get me wrong I love people's opinions when it comes to a more difficult decision but when it is something I can easily decide, I want to be firm in my decision. I was excited for classes to start so I could decide when I wanted to work on classwork and when I wanted to eat and hangout with people. The power to choose is a beautiful thing and when I feel independent is when I am happiest.

The downside comes when I become too independent. When I think that I can handle everything on my own then come to find that I am sacrificing other parts of my life because I think I have everything covered. Sacrificing friendships because I have too much to do and not enough time to sit down with friends and see how they're doing. Sacrificing sleep because there aren't enough hours in the day to get all of the missions I have started accomplished. I don't want to ask for help because that would make me look like I don't have everything together and this independent shell that I have been hiding in starts to crack. It falls apart and is only able to be glued back together when I give the tight rope I've been walking a little slack.

Giving the rope slack means realizing that I will never be able to do it all. Realizing that I am always going to need other people in my life to help me along the way. Realizing that I have friends to encourage me when I am feeling burnt out. Realizing that I have a family that is more than willing to help me if they know I need it. Realizing that taking a break won't be the end of the world. Realizing that nobody in their right mind could live their whole life without asking for help.

There is still independence in asking for help. You have the ability to choose who you want to ask, and the best part is you don't even have to take their advice if you don't want to. Every time someone gives advice, they know there is only a 50% chance you will even listen to them. There is still independence in taking advice because you have the power to make it original changing it to fit you. Your independence never goes away, it is always strengthened by the idea that you can do what you want with whatever comes your way.