As we travel along lifes' roadways we learn much about life. Yet, the question of independence verses dependence is quite perplexing. Many great philosophers are still trying to figure that one out. The big question is: If interdependence is our goal, what is the most efficient way to get there?

We are all born dependent on our parents and others who surround our simple yet needy life. We depend on parents for the basic necessities of life. Yes, we must depend on them for food, shelter, and clothing. While these basic needs certainly would put young children in the dependent category, there are many other social needs that keep a child dependent. Children are dependent on their parents, friends, and peers for that crucial need that we call acceptance.

While food, clothing, and shelter are our basic needs, it is obvious to me that our mental health and social well being also require nurturing. It is my basic belief that children must have the approval and acceptance of others in order to be socially and mentally healthy. I also believe that as we mature and grow socially, that need to be accepted and approved continues.

So, if the desired goal in life for true happiness and efficiency is interdependence, how do we become interdependent?

We must first put out of our mind the notion that many philosophers have ingrained in our psyche. Many great thinkers feel that dependence is weakness and that independence is strength. I say that if your goal is interdependency, then you must first master dependency.

Why do we want to be interdependent? The interdependent community has the ability to achieve more and be much more efficient than the independent employee. The old expression that one plus one equals three, can only be achieved through interdependency. No matter what you are trying to achieve, efficiency is of up-most importance. Three employees working together interdependently can and will achieve their goals quicker and more productively than they will independently.

My argument with many philosophers is simple. Since interdependence is what we are thriving to achieve... dependency is much more valuable than independence. I say this because of the obvious. Dependency is part of interdependency. If you are a dependent person that relies on others then you are half way there!

In fact the independent person will actually have difficulty making the transition. The independent worker is so used to working by them self that they will have to learn how to depend on someone else. The independent worker is so used to having their own way in everything that they will be socially inept when it comes to compromise.

Let's make this real by giving an example. We all know that factory workers can not do every job in a factory. If it is within the automobile industry we need workers that are dependent on each other for the final outcome. We need people on the assembly line that can put the parts together. We need people who can primer and paint. We need many workers depending on co-workers to get a quality product. Is anyone really working independently? I do not think so. Furthermore I think that to do so would be counterproductive.