If something is untethered, there is an implied relationship to another. It is not simply loose or free – it is released from something or someone else. A boat that is untethered is not physically tied to another, but there is an expectation that it will not simply sail away. An untethered climber climbs unattached, but there is a responsibility to hold tight, to not fall. There is freedom but also accountability, limits.
Some people seek out roles as a way to define who they are and put structure around their lives. Others prefer to live off the grid, free of attachments and responsibilities. But between these two extremes exists a spectrum of tension between being selfish enough to feel free, but close enough to feel connection. It is a continual quest for balance and fulfillment – to be insular but intimate, honest but accountable.