"Communication is a continual balancing act, juggling the conflicting needs for intimacy and independence. To survive in the world, we have to act in concert with others, but to survive as ourselves, rather than simply as cogs in a wheel, we have to act alone"

This quote by Deborah Tannen talks to the importance of striking a balance between our requirement for intimacy and independence. In order to survive on the planet, we need to have the ability to connect and work together with others. Nevertheless, in order to keep our individual identities, we need to likewise be able to act individually. This is a hard balancing act, as both requirements are essential and can often conflict with one another. We should have the ability to find a way to please both requirements in order to achieve success in our relationships and in our lives. It is necessary to keep in mind that both intimacy and self-reliance are necessary for a healthy and fulfilling life.