Pat of our culture has a vein in it that stresses the success of the individual. There are constant references to “pulling oneself up by the  bootstraps” and one could fathom that this is all done in isolation from others. There is certainly a strong element of will and personal commitment by an individual in any success, but it is never done in isolation. There are many, some seen and others in the shadows, that contribute to our personal successes, and in fact there are networks that support every task and goal we undertake. It is well to remember that individualism without a sense of our networks can lead to narcissism and isolation. We are wed at the hip with so many, and our ability to engage in the support of others in their quests is what makes a society great.