Here in the US, we celebrate ‘Independence Day’ today, but I thought it would be nice to take a moment and reflect on the interdependence that characterizes our society and our world. In reality, we are all interdependent. We rely on our environment, our friends, our families, and others around the world for our survival, whether we consciously think about it or not.
You don’t have to look far for evidence of this – just look at how the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is having broad impacts on society and the way of life of millions of people. Those of us who live hundreds or thousands of miles away rely on the region, just as the region relies on us. It is a complex web that shows us how we are all connected in one form or another.
This interdependence is not a weakness, but it is quite possibly our greatest strength. Together, we can achieve more than any one person or nation ever could. We have the capacity to meet immense challenges when we harness our collective strength and will. I can’t think of a more important time for that to happen than right now.
So today, let’s take a moment and remember that while we rejoice in our nation’s independence, we really do live in an interdependent world and always have. Enjoy this time with your friends and families and reflect on how much we really do rely on each other. I believe this is the best gift you can give on this holiday.
Photo: Wikimedia
