Our weaknesses define us. In my experience, I was taught to feel ashamed of my weaknesses and limitations by the immense social pressure to at least appear to be perfect. The United States is a pretentious nation; our culture is based on living up to the presentation of perfection. We’re often haunted by the nightmare of the “American Dream.” So, it can be extremely difficult to balk against the system, to rail against the status quo. However, recognizing and admitting to our weaknesses is the only true way to gain real strength because our limitations let us know where we need to rely upon the strengths of others. According to my faith, we’re supposed to lean on one another, bear each other’s’ burdens, pour our love over one another to cover a multitude of inadequacies. Human beings are like Swiss cheese. We all have a variety of holes. When we layer Swiss cheese on a sandwich, the holes don’t align. Every slice has its unique pattern. Adding another slice covers the holes of the prior one. In the same way, knowing our weaknesses teaches us, not where we need to improve, but where we need the strengths of another person to cover our holes. Once we’re willing to define ourselves by our holes, by our unique pattern of weaknesses, instead of feeling shame for having weaknesses, then we’re able to focus on using our strengths to cover the weaknesses of others and on surrounding ourselves with other people whose strengths are able to compensate for our limitations.