That's a quote from the inspiring Oprah Winfrey.
I've never really understood what it meant, until I got to my mid 30's.
In life, we all try to not only create, but to maintain a sense of balance.
That's what life is all about right?
Balance.
With balance, comes harmony.
Peace.
The dictionary definition of harmony, is as follows:
"The quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole."
And the dictionary definition of peace?
"Freedom from disturbance; tranquility."
So, how do we go about creating this "pleasing and consistent whole"?
This "freedom from disturbance; tranquility"?
Well...it really is quite simple.
It's about deciding what is important to you.
What it is that you truly want.
And it's compromising, and negotiating from there.
In my short lifetime, I have come to discover, that what Oprah said was true.
You CAN have it all.
Just not all at once.
And it applies to everything in life.
I recently read an article on "egg freezing" in the local Australian Sunday newspaper.
About women, predominantly in their mid 30's - and sometimes early 40's, attempting to freeze their eggs, on account of having chosen their own individual paths due to a myriad of reasons.
Not having met the right person.
Having spent the bulk of their adult lives climbing the corporate ladder.
Thinking that they had more time on their hands, in terms of producing a "biological child".
I even read the thoughts on a lot of women, that they feel as though that the government should subsidise them for their "choices".
Life is all about choices.
And it's ultimately all about balance.
It's about deciding what it is that you want from this life.
You CAN have it all.
But not all at once.
"Life", happens to all of us.
And you cannot hold anyone else accountable for your "choices".
Or for your mistakes.
No one is responsible for us, expect us.
It's childish, and selfish to think of it in any other way when it is something that you have actively participated in selecting for yourself.
With everything in life, you need to decide what it is that you want to work towards, and to keep your eye firmly planted on your target.
Your prize.
It is not up to anyone else to be held responsible for your choices.
Nor should anyone else be paying for those choices, or life circumstances in which you have created for yourself.
#ShitHappens - as the saying goes.
It is not your "right" to take your "pound of flesh".
Life is about adapting to whatever is thrown at us.
And dealing with it accordingly.
So it's with this realisation that you have a choice.
What is it that you want?
Seriously.
And hey, I'm sorry to burst your bubble.
But shit does happen.
Welcome to adulthood...
But what is it that you want?
Do you want to climb the corporate ladder?
Do it.
Do you want to be the party girl / boy, rubbing shoulders with the "who's who" of whatever it is that tickles your fancy, or whatever you're consumed / involved with?
Do it.
Do you want to be a "mad artist"?
Do it.
Do you want to work like crazy to make yourself more comfortable financially?
Do it.
Do you want to get out of a relationship?
Do it.
Do you want to eat McDonald's everyday?
Do it.
Do you want to be a #fitspo model on Instagram?
Do it.
Do you want to travel the world like a gypsy, forgoing a consistent income?
Do it.
But know, that everything has it's price.
And it's all on you.
That it all comes back to creating the better good for yourself, so that you can be the best possible version of yourself that you can be.
Which benefits all of us.
But most of all, if benefits YOU.
It's the new modern holy trinity.
BALANCE.
TRANQUILITY.
PEACE.
If what you truly want in life is balance, tranquility, and peace - set about making that happen for you.
Stop pointing the finger. Stop bitching about it. Stop blaming everyone else, and allow yourself to make the choice once and for all.
Listen to your heart.
Listen to your intuition.
And go about creating that balance.
That tranquility.
That peace.
Decide how bad you really want it.
So today, from someone who first-handedly thought that they "had it all" - know this:
You CAN have it all.
Just not all at once ;) ...