Defined: independence – the quality or state of being independent. Independent – not subject to control by others: self-governing; not requiring or relying on something else; not looking to others for one’s opinions or for guidance in conduct; not committed to a political party; not requiring or relying on others; free from necessity of working for a living; showing desire for freedom. Freedom – absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action; liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another.

If I had to say what the number one reason for conflict is between humans, it would be centered on freedom from someone else’s way of doing or thinking something. This is especially the case when the other’s way of doing or thinking something interferes with one’s own way of thinking or doing something. For instance, if you have decided to farm your land and your neighbor raises cattle on his, there may be a potential conflict if the steers trample through your crops and ruin them.

One obvious solution to this problem is to go through the expense and labor of putting up a fence around your farm land to keep the steers out. As some of us who are old enough to remember, there used to be range wars in America regarding the putting up and taking down of fences in respect to free ranging steers.

The point to this example is that there is quite often a restriction against one having the independence and freedom to do whatever one desires to do whenever one decides to do it. Restrictions are usually imposed to help keep things civil enough so that most people can, at least in theory, enjoy the full set of freedoms allowed within a certain society. Even if one lives alone on an island, it will not take long to notice that nature itself will impose its own restrictions on one’s actions.

As an example, let’s say that Mr. Robinson decides to build a hut on top of a hill and decides that the surrounding trees are blocking his panoramic view of the surrounding ocean. He then proceeds to chop all the trees down. A short while later, a heavy rain hits the hill and creates a mudslide because of the missing trees, therefore taking away the hut with Mr. Robinson fast asleep in his bed. Now he finds himself on a very small one-man "cruise ship" in the middle of the ocean.

We see that restrictions can be natural or manmade and are inherent within the system one exists within. The more one is aware of the restrictions within the system, the more one is able to maneuver with the greatest freedom possible within it. If one does not like the limitations within that system then one can seek out another system or attempt to change the one they have.

Speaking of changing the system, there are many people who would like to have no restrictive system at all. An example of this would be anarchy, which is the absence of government. An anarchist does not want to be controlled by others at all and seeks the removal of government from her life.

Can you imagine what it would be like to have a complete absence of government authority? For those of you who exist under very restrictive governments this idea may sound quite wonderful. But then again those who live under very restrictive governments would probably not be allowed to read this article.

While the concept of having no government restricting one’s independence may sound like a wonderful system of tolerance, it would not take long before the anarchists started making rules to control behavior because they learn that tolerating everything is intolerable. I suggest that most people are not harmonious enough to be civil and orderly within a state of lawlessness.

If it is the case that there are restrictions placed upon us no matter where and with whom we live, then what does it mean to be independent and free? I suggest that it is being independent enough to be aware of what choices are possible, being able to select the best choice possible, and then having the freedom to act on the choice made.

How would one increase his or her independence and freedom? If we take the definitions above and add some of my own suggestions, we can create a basic list – perhaps something similar to the following:

• Having a healthy body and mind. This allows for optimum thought and mobility.

• Not being physically restrained. This allows for free movement.

• Self-reliant. Having the skills, knowledge, wisdom and resources to make choices and to act upon them

• Free from outside coercion. This allows one to make the right choice for oneself.

• Self-governed. Having the discipline and control to make choices and act upon them.

• Live in a society/system that allows for the optimum independence and freedom for all within it.

As many of us realize, even if we were able to have the independence and freedom to act on choices made, there are built-in restrictions upon what our bodies can do. For example, if we made the choice to lift up into the sky and fly our bodies could not do it. However, if we use modern technology we can fly.

Most of us do not have the desire, skills, tools, resources or the time to do everything necessary to live our lives without relying upon someone else for something. If we out of necessity of expediency rely on another, one may ask the following question. Does relying on another make us less or more independent? Ironically, having the assistance of the right people, at the right time, and in the right way may help each person develop the qualities necessary to be as independent and free as one ultimately can while in the human body.