The 20-Something Perspective
By Molly Ford
Christina and I have been writing the Flash Fridays, where we look at an issue from two perspectives: the 20-something and the 40-something, for almost a year now.
Once we’ve figured out a topic, I handle the 20-something perspective on the issue. For research on the topic, I usually Facebook and Twitter out the question, as well as email the question to a circle of my 20-something friends. For most topics, I have no problem getting a response from other 20-somethings. People have been happy to share a sentence, a paragraph or a story about woman that inspire them, dating in the workplace, and long-term planning, among other topics we’ve covered.
But this month’s question of having it all was different. When I asked other 20-somethings, “What is your having it all, and do you have it now?” the answers came in short supply. The few responses I got were all variations of “I don’t have it all, but I want to someday.” Some people listed achievements they wanted to meet in order to have it all: own an apartment, get a MBA, make X number of dollars. Other people listed life events they wanted to reach: date, marry, have kids. Everyone’s answer was different, and almost universally everyone seemed to think they didn’t have it all now.
So I started thinking.
Why do we have to have it “all” to be happy? Can’t we have a part and be happy?
I haven’t read all the books in Barnes and Noble, I don’t have all the items on my clothes wishlist, and I haven’t dated all the boys in Manhattan, but I’m really happy with the ones I have. I don’t have all the degrees universities offer, all the blog traffic on the internet, or all the friends in the world, but I’m really happy with the ones I have.
And the checklist I had of goals five years ago has already been reached. I have 21 year old’s Molly Ford’s all, and if I work hard, I hope to eventually have 31 year old Molly Ford’s all.
So, looking at these two truths: if we know that you cannot ever have all of everything, and if we know that if we work hard to reach goals we achieve t hem, then what does the phrase “having it all” mean?
I think that instead of asking someone if they have it all, it might make more sense to ask them if they are happy. Because checklists, milestones and goals can change. But in the moment right before you fall asleep, when you think about the day you had and the day you want to have tomorrow, the question is: am I happy with the way I’ve chosen to live my life?
Because the only thing anyone can really have all of is one thing: all of the happiness you can possibly suck out of your own specific life, using the cards you’ve been given and the hands you’ve decided to play.
Having all the happiness: that is the having it all, at any age.