Eddie Eccker, MS, LMFT

Picture this: you’re a fish—just an ordinary fish, nothing Pixar-worthy. You glide through the water, completely unaware of the invisible force that shapes every moment of your existence. You don’t question it, not because you’re ignoring it, but because you don’t even notice it. That invisible force? It’s the water. It surrounds you, supports you, and defines your world, yet remains unseen. Now, replace the fish with yourself and the water with the stories you tell yourself about your life...

I’ve seen a lot of comments lately online that echo the same sentiment: “Marriage is a scam.” Or my personal favorite—“I’d rather go it alone than be weighed down by a bunch of idiots.” And honestly? I get it. Those aren’t just edgy opinions. They usually come from pain. Pain that’s been worn as armor. Pain that’s been dressed up as clarity. Because when you’ve been hurt enough times—or watched others get hurt—it’s tempting to write off the whole institution.

Radical individualism is eroding family, community, and purpose. Can we rediscover commitment and shared values before it’s too late?