Freedom is often portrayed as solitary. It is a single bird, wings splayed across a blue sky. It is a horse, galloping solo across a field of high grass. For me, it looks like an impromptu movie night with friends after a bad day. It looks like a group project text chain. It looks like my partner preparing my dinner — because I asked. 

 

In short, it looks like reliance. 

 

Growing up, I thought the only person who I could rely on in life was myself. I completed group projects on my own, spent my evenings reading alone, and never spoke to anyone about how I was feeling. 

 

But as I matured and learned about the meaning of reliance, I began to lean on friends and then professional peers. I became a team player. 

 

Now, in group settings, I am flexible — I can pivot from leader to follower and back to leader again as needed, and I can communicate my needs and the needs of the group. My late-blooming aptitude for reliance has made me adept at understanding when those shifts need to happen. It is not an instinct, but a skill. 

 

So, feel free to pop into my DMs with the contact form below, and let’s see how we can rely on each other.