Man’s Battle: The Price of Independence in Today’s World

All beings desire to stand alone and break free. This also applies to people. At a certain stage, a baby starts to wriggle and attempt to walk alone, a teen will one day desire to make their own choices of clothes and a teenager will want nothing but to mature quickly, so as to be free and be in their own world. This is a cycle that goes on and on in the life of every man. 

Most humans desire to break free–to stand and depend on themselves. It could be to massage their ego of maturity or experience things for themselves, but the fact remains. 

But at a certain stage in their lives, they begin to crave dependence. They begin to crave the attention of others. They begin to feel loved and cherished in the presence of others. What happens if the love they need isn't present? What happens if they're far gone in their pursuit of independence, thereby leaving the ones they claim to love behind in this world of uncertainty? Have we given another meaning to independence, because tell me how a 90-year-old man, after years of pursuit in fulfillment, harbors loneliness in his old age even when his seeds are scattered all around the earth. 

What really is independence?

According to the dictionary, it is seen as the freedom to organize your own life and make your own decisions without needing help from anyone.

The emphasis lies on ”freedom to organize your own life,” but still, it seems like society has overindulged this meaning of independence in the short existence of humans.

Independence gives one the power to make his or her life choices, and they can also decide to need help from his/her friend, and it doesn't stop them from being independent. Passing a call across in times of distress doesn't make you less independent. 

The dictionary said, "without needing”. That means it shouldn't be continuous. You don't have to plead for help and ask for aid every time. If it becomes a consistent thing, then it is no longer independence. It becomes dependence. 

If one day, Nigeria always finds itself in a state of dependency on other nations, then that's because it always runs to them for help. 

Nigeria is an independent nation today because we have leaders, rules, and policies that guide us as a nation. Together we stand, divided we fall.

You can be independent and still have people cheering you on.

The Modern Pursuit–Independence as Power 

In our society today, most people crave for independence–Financially, academically, emotionally, and even spiritually. They venture into this world, and not long into it, they crawl back into dependency, into comfort–their shell, and most times, it’s often due to their limited capacity or level of preparedness.

Maya Angelou said, “Independence is a heady draft, and if you drink it in your youth, it can have the same effect on the brain as young wine does. It does not matter that its taste is not always appealing. It is addictive, and with each drink, you want more.”

This is only valid, when one goes about it the right way–through constant learning and interactions with minds that ignite yours but somehow, the interactions of the world slowly seep into our minds, diluting our beliefs and visions for our lives; everyday, we hear stuffs like “Learn to stand alone, be the boss of yourself, aim for success, you don't need anyone” etc. 

While this is not bad, it has a way of imprinting itself on already made decisions of humans, and they begin to question themselves. 

If only the correct explanation of independence is known, it will be much easier to navigate.

Independence is Power. Having control over your emotions is a strength. Having control of your finances is discipline, but if one makes up his/her mind to live an independent life, then there's a price to pay.

What is the Price of Independence in Today's World?

 Firstly, not everyone is capable of paying a price for a thing of value. That is why, even in our communities today, we still have a lot of dependents roaming the streets. Anytime a price is attached to a thing of value, it portrays its worth; it shows its usefulness.

The Price of Independence is Responsibility, Discipline, and Sacrifice. To gain independence, one has to put in the work–to make sacrifices when it's needed, to be disciplined even when it isn't convenient, to be responsible when no one is watching. You no longer have time for irrelevant conversations. You begin to prioritize the needful.

Responsibility gives your choices meaning.  

Financially, you begin to track your spending, keep a budget, and exercise financial discipline. You no longer follow the trend, but then, you become the trend. The moment responsibility is attached to your venture, your life becomes more meaningful.

When a price is being paid, one has full authority and power over that thing, be it value, resources, accessories, etc, and if the price to be paid is one that can guarantee the impact of what was bought, then the purchase is not in vain. 

Freedom is like a vast island–a sea, without boundaries and limits, but when freedom is bought with something worth it, and though costly, one will know how to make good use of it. But when there's no price, freedom could lead to damage and destruction.

Responsibility keeps you in check, it makes one fulfilled, and it builds one into the best version of themselves. It turns a careless person into a careful and attentive individual. It creates impact–a force that the world will want to reckon with. Responsibility gives one an edge over the turbulences of life. 

Independence is freedom, and just like Albert Einstein says,” For everything really great and inspiring, it is created by the individual who can labor in freedom”. The greater the freedom, the greater the responsibility.

CONCLUSION 

This is man’s ongoing battle–contemplating living a life of independence. For one who hasn't seen the world yet have heard many stories from those exploring the world. It's a matter of choice, yet a consistent turmoil battles within them. They wonder,” Can I pay the price?”, “What if I'm left alone?”, “What if I lose myself?”" Can I still find relevance in a world where everyone is on the run?”. Still, when yielded right and better understood, independence is power. It lets you build the life you've always dreamed of. 

You can't do that while sitting on your mother's lap! 

This battle has been and will always be. Many are stuck in it, but some people have won this battle.

It all falls back to the magnitude of your decision, driven by your choices. 

You could choose to remain in your shell–to remain a suckling and do little things, but for how long? When you decide and you’re ready, even the universe will back you up. 

Manoj Arora says, “The price you pay for your freedom is far less than what you pay for a lifetime of slavery” (paraphrased)

Independence isn't about standing alone; it's about standing firm.