I don’t live independently. Every success and accomplishment I have in my life has been possible because of someone else and their support. The Japanese phrase Okage Sama De (おかげ様で) captures this teaching well. It means "I am here because of those around me." In Japanese culture, the sense of self (that is, your perception of who you are) is cultivated as a group, not as an individual. From this perspective, my accomplishment is your accomplishment that I must express gratitude for. In this image, there is a group of supporting hands underneath the garden. Even if one is proud of the beautiful garden their hands have created, they should never forget that the garden exists because of these supportive hands. I believe this is true for parenting, career building, social justice movements, and for life in general. We are who we are because of those around us.