Having It All

We all know this one: “You can’t have it all.”  I was talking with a friend on our Halloween walk following the kids last night and I found myself agreeing with her – you can’t really have it *ALL*.  But then I started to think about that and wondered why I couldn’t have it all.  I know that one can’t have something both ways.  For example, one can’t have and not have kids.  One can’t be married and not married.  One can’t be here and there at the same time.  But is what I’m asking for *ALL*?  And if not, why can’t I have it?

The discussion was around travel and how much I missed it vs raising kids to be the strong, confident, smart kids that I seem to have.  Having lived abroad for 10 years and experiencing extensive travel in my childhood and into my 30’s, I was brought up to believe travel was part of our education, of our life experience.  I always knew it wasn’t everyone’s experience and I was always grateful for the opportunities I had, but it was my ‘normal’.  Then I got married, had kids and the travel substantially slowed down even though it’s one of my greatest pleasures.  I mentioned how envious I was that my friend took the time to travel with her close girlfriend for a week in Italy, just the 2 of them, and were later joined by their spouses for one more week.  I have never done that.  For as much international travel as I have done, I have never traveled with a girlfriend.  I am lucky enough to have a mother/former business partner with whom I was able to share great journeys through our work.  But to have the opportunity now that I have kids, husband, mortgages, dog, responsibilities, a business … that’s the stuff my dreams are made of.

The thing is how do I have it all?  How do I get my new business off the ground, manage a family and a household, raise great kids and keep a relationship going?  How do I manage the schedules, the activities, the responsibilities and the tight budget and add all the things I want like travel and time with friends and family?  How do I find time for exercise and date nights, and creating a successful business that will give me the freedom to do a lot?

So I know I can’t have it ALL – I just want all that I want.