The narrator of the story "The Only Meaning of Water Wet in Oil" by Dave Eggers illustrates how people impose themselves on other people and/or things when it's easier just simply give up. Throughout history, the contradictions between strength and surrender reveal how it is sometimes necessary to let go. A forced obsessive relationship versus a healthy relationship. Trying to fit in instead of accepting yourself and your abilities. Wants and desires as opposed to wants and needs. Letting things go with the flow rather than imposing them on yourself and others. Most human beings who like to seek dominance and strength over others do so to feel superior or even more likely to hide their own insecurities. But giving up can also be good. There is wisdom in accepting contradictions and allowing them to overcome you. In “The Only Meaning of Water Bathed in Oil” the narrator forcefully states that “this story is not about Pilar and Hand falling in love,” but the story is truly a love story (31). Pilar "knew when she hung up the phone with Hand five weeks earlier, that she was going to sleep with him in Alta" (30). Pilar thought that having an affair was simply having sex and doesn't know what a meaningful relationship is; she will never know until she finds herself and what she really wants in life. When the moment finally comes, Pilar without hesitation “lay on top of him, put her ear to his sternum…[their] ankles intertwined and said things like “I want to ride [his] back and ride [him] like a mule”(41)(34). Clearly, the story has a lot to do with lovemaking and forcing the relationship to go the way it wants instead of letting it go at its own pace. In the end, Pilar realizes that she is giving up on a relationship and gives...... middle of paper ...... iate God more and respects His authority. He finally gives in to what life is and takes it for what it is. We always say things like “why isn't this enough for me to be happy? or “shouldn't I live my life to the fullest and without regrets”? But we always take things and people for granted. We don't realize or recognize the importance of being grateful and reflecting on who we are as human beings. We control some people and force them to do what we want without realizing that sometimes what we want is not what we need and that it is not that important to our lives. Sometimes we have to let go and accept things for what they are and people for who they are. What right do we have to force or change people? Nobody! Life is all about learning, experiencing new things, letting go of the past, mistakes, unwanted memories and embracing a new beginning..