There really is no “having it all.” Wait, I take that back. Maybe there is, but the “all” that you have has to include a little discontentment. Everything in life requires choices, which means making tradeoffs. Even if I’m deciding between two great options like a weekend at a spa with girlfriends, or a weekend at the beach with my husband, a tradeoff is required! My twin sister has an amazing career, but she made the choice not to become a mother. I could never parent the way I want to and support a job like hers. (And certainly not without giving up much of everything else I love in my life, like spending time with friends or alone with my husband, doing philanthropy, yoga and exercise, and just the relaxed pace I’ve learned to love).
I guess it’s how you define the ALL in “having it all.” Some days, I’m ok that my “all” includes awareness of the things I’m sacrificing and not doing. That is, I have it all and having it all is not non-controversial! Other days, I am dissatisfied with this “all” I have mapped out for myself, because I feel I’m wasting parts of my talent or not being productive enough or inadequately balancing the competing demands. Read more…