Yvonne Battle-Felton

There is a rumor, no matter how innocent its intent, that you can’t have or be everything. Perhaps, this was started to spare those of us who are not gifted with the ability, commitment, time management skills, determination, resources, personality to do or be everything. But, to those of us who can—these words sound rather like excuses.

You most certainly cannot please everyone all of the time. Despite knowing this, there are those of us who plan weddings, parties, dates, with one meat, one poultry, one veggie selection and the advice that those for whom this menu does not appeal eat before they arrive.

Or, maybe that’s just me.

And while I said a mere moment ago that you can be anything (actually, I said you can have or be everything)—you can do it all, you know—I meant all things within reason, skill, resources, experiences, commitment (and, or the ability to obtain the reason, skill, resources, experience, commitment…). You can balance a family, your education, career, friendships, relationships and marriage (as a recent divorcee, don’t quote me) without losing your mind, sacrificing one relationship over the other, or lowering your expectations to include the possibilities of failure (I don’t count divorce as a failure).

As someone who is successfully balancing family, friendships, dating, working, grad school (recently graduated), writing: life (successfully may be up for debate but really, if you would care to debate it—feel free to start a blog), I know that I need to have competing deadlines, multiple projects, ongoing tasks.

I am a mom, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a writer, a lover, a neighbor. I am a doer of many things, a keeper of many keys, a student of many teachers. Each role refreshes, restores and reawakens something in me, each provides me with something I need while allowing me to give something to another.

And, at the end of the day what do I need? I need the many roles, the many tasks, the many expectations to be fulfilled. I need the solitude and peace of knowing that today I have done all that I set out to do. I need to know that tomorrow promises a myriad of opportunities to succeed.