What is your relationship to independence?

I agree that we are definitely relational beings; we thrive in healthy relationships.  However, if one has the misfortune of being born into an environment of unhealthy, abusive relationships, independence is vital in order to exist.  Knowing that I have the choice of being  independent from destructive reltionships has saved my sanity and quite possibly my life.  In a perfect world, we could all be interdependent on one another; living in peace.  However, when vast dysfunction exists, the freedom to be independent is a gift.