YANGON, MYANMAR

I have four children. The two oldest are teenagers now and the other two kids are still very young. My greatest wish is for them to be educated. I want them to be independent on their own—to be able to survive on their own without depending anyone. That to me is having it all.

CALIFORNIA, USA

Having it all means having agency over your own voice and your time.

ROME, ITALY

If I feel better than the day before when I wake up in the morning. If I’m good with myself—with work, with my family, with my partner. I try to do something better than the previous day, every day.

CALIFORNIA, USA

“Having it all” is emancipation from the inner and outer authoritarians we’ve inherited. For decades, this phrase has been reduced to a basic and often rhetorical question: can women really have it all? The answer, on the whole, has been “no.” Not at its extreme cost: the steepness of the grade is absurd, and the pace relentless. The burn rate of the feminine is dangerously swift and barely acknowledged.

Having it, all is recognizing that our ambition packs intrinsic empathy, altruism, and nurturance; that when women win, everyone wins. Having it all means remediation for the burdensome levy of patriarchy, a net negative yet applied with fervor. It means caring for the caregivers – at long last.

At this moment, having it all means radical rest – daring to do less and receive more. More support, more encouragement, more money, more opportunity, more respect, more time. Society loses when women have to fight so hard to do what is human – discover who we are and actualize the piercing vastness of our voices.

Having it all means the support of the “village” as a fully blossomed community of practice. It's the expectation that we will compose and re-compose our lives, evolving, enjoying every powerful swing of the pendulum that guides us to the next iteration of ourselves – without pretense or apology.

Having it all is an open invitation to the audition and a seat on the bench when it’s time to recover. No questions asked. It’s un-learning and un-patterning at scale. It’s a homecoming to interdependence; it's the safety to unfurl and the courage to re-wild. It’s relentless optimism and full-saturation presence.

Having it all asks that we be all in on ourselves. And on lifting the 51% around us, whose shoulders are our very own.

MONROVIA, LIBERIA

A person can’t have it all, but we’re all striving for perfection. Some people don’t know how to say “thank you.” Some people don’t know how to say “please.” Some people don’t know how to say, “I’m sorry.”

I mean, we’re all lacking something one way or the other, but then we’re all learning. “Having it all” just means that I’m good—good enough. It makes your presence relevant.

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Having it all would be traveling around the world writing and not worrying about having to make money. What I enjoy most about my writing is the possibility of connecting and communicating with people who are very far away—transcending time, distance and languages. Some of my influences are Rimbaud and Mishima; and from Argentina, Borges and Cortazar.

CALIFORNIA, USA

Being fulfilled with what I have, and not what I don’t have.

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

The older the better. I think my life started after forty. I’ve traveled more, have more money, and am at peace with myself. I think I look better now than I did in my twenties.

Be yourself and enjoy your life just as it comes. Getting older is not scary.

CALIFORNIA, USA

Having it all to me means that I can do work in what I am passionate about, have a balanced home life with my daughter and husband, and simply having essentials in life, like clean water food.

CALIFORNIA, USA

Being able to comfortably live life without worry

VENICE, ITALY

I think having it all starts from within: being at peace with ourselves, with the various parts that make up our identity. Once you have that, you should establish what your life goals are—then, find a compromise between your character and goals, with what society expects from you.

I think that you should achieve that not only in the best possible way but also in the best possible environment—a place where your past meets your future vision.

MONROVIA, LIBERIA

“Having it all” means that I wouldn’t need to do anything I don’t want to do. I would be successful in my education and in my work. I would be able to achieve my goals. I will know I am ready to have children when I find a good partner who is sincere, loving, and caring person.

CALIFORNIA, USA

Doing what I want, when I want. Being an inspiration to all.

YANGON, MYANMAR

If you are healthy you will be happy. When people are happy from the inside, they are healthy. This not about money—money cannot buy health. When people are unhealthy, they cannot be happy. 

Even if you are poor, you can be happy. It depends on how you define “having enough.” 

Let it go! Let it go! This is happiness. If you let things go you don’t need to worry.

CALIFORNIA, USA

Health. Happiness. Strength. Integrity.

MONROVIA, LIBERIA

I wanted to leave all this struggle and live on my own, no matter how hard it is. So I fought on my own to have the passion to become a beautician so that I could graduate from high school and be able to live on my own.

After high school, I didn’t have any support to send me to college, so I forced myself to work. That’s why “having it all” would be having all the materials to become a professional beautician.

CALIFORNIA, USA

The phrase is so loaded. For me, it's right up there with "life balance", both of which sound great but are far from realistic.

I'm a childless, unmarried woman who constantly feels societal pressure. I sincerely cannot comprehend how mothers get it done.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

Just being happy. Being content in my life.

I have bipolar disorder and a big part of my happiness is just being in balance with everything. When I don’t get manic depressed or episodes, I can just chill.

CALIFORNIA, USA

Having it all for me is about feeling spiritually connected and emotionally balanced so I can be present for life. I need this kind of presence in my work as an astrologer and I value it.

Being centered helps me to be a better mother, wife, and friend, and gives me the ability to show up for my community and my relationships in a thoughtful, loving way. When I have all of this I am more generous and more able to help others.

Having it all means I cherish my life and my people and I'm not always seeking more or seeking to be better. To feel content with myself in the here and now is really precious.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

“Having it all” means that I can do whatever I like—but I don’t know what that is. Right now, I’m trying to figure out who I am because my daughter just moved out.

When I was young, I thought I knew everything. But now I don’t! Shall I stay where I live? Shall I travel around? Shall I change jobs? Can I do something else?

Of course, I can. I can learn something new. I can do anything. But right now, I am stuck. Things are too easy and I think I’ve gotten lazy. I want to challenge myself!

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

I am happy now. There was a time I was very sad because I was divorced, and it was very sad for my child.

I’m not sad anymore. It takes time. You have to believe again in yourself. I started looking in the mirror and saying to myself, “Look at me—I am a nice woman. Everybody likes me. So come on, do your thing.” And now, life is back!

CALIFORNIA, USA

Having it all for me means that I am in a place of gratitude for everything I have.

YANGON, MYANMAR

The opposite of “having it all” would be losing contact with my loved ones and my family. This would be the biggest fear of my life.

Starting this year, I am trying to live on my own. I know it’s late for a woman who is already over 30, but feel like starting something new. I want to build an independent alternative art space of my own within the next two to three years, connecting international and Myanmar artists together to exchange ideas. I would also like to be exhibited in accredited museums worldwide and be an internationally recognized Southeast Asian contemporary artist.

In the past, I felt out of control when I lost sight of what was trying to achieve. Now I am a freelancer and trying to get as much work as I can to cover all my living expenses and invest in my art at the same time.

As for family, I am not sure. I had a wonderful childhood but I still have a vague dream of me having the family of my own. But I want to be a successful woman so that I can support my parents and elders.

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

You can’t everything, it’s better to be happy with what you have. If you are obsessed with trying to have it all, it never ends.

Breathe and you can take control of your life. Follow your spirituality and look inside of yourself. Meditation is everything. It’s easy.

CALIFORNIA, USA

Air to breathe, food to eat, a safe place to sleep, and equal opportunities for all

MONROVIA, LIBERIA

I have been working at the same restaurant for twelve years. I feel so happy about this. The reason I love my job because I am not relying on people and begging around for a job or money.

I am happy to be working and earning something for myself. “Having it all” is having everything you need, and not needing to rely on other people.

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Having it all for me is traveling—but it’s not about place. It’s about learning about myself. I prefer to travel alone because I can go wherever I want.

I used to think that I was a very open person. But I discovered while traveling from Poland to Peru that I am actually really shy. This is a new realization for me. I’ve realized that I’ve been pretending to be somebody else.

YANGON, MYANMAR

My whole life, I have had one thing in mind. And that is to commit to supporting my parents. Honestly, I work all kinds of jobs to make more income to support my family.

I want to be more successful and get more jobs in modeling. I want to be an actress. And I am working hard to make it. I recently won the title of “Miss Tourism” in Myanmar. There are lots of people and many competitions in the modeling industry. To participate in an event or fashion show, you have to work really hard. And to see your face in the media is even harder. 

BANGALORE, INDIA

I have a plan to open a play home for small kids. I would rather be home with my daughter. That is my dream actually.

Working as a single mom is very difficult. Facing men—colleagues, guys. If they come to know that you are not married, they start harassing you. They make sexual proposals. I used to have to change my jobs often because of this.

MAUI, HAWAII, USA

What makes me happy are my kids—I have two little ones. I really miss my family in Mexico, and I want to see them.

MONROVIA, LIBERIA

I think most people wish to have everything in life. Trying to get everything can be motivating. But you can only have some, and you can’t have it all.

Getting money to support my family and supporting others in need, and helping the helpless to make their dreams come true. That would be amazing.

VENICE, ITALY

I am the original Venice girl!

Having my family close by. Because they are the only people that mean something to me. I left my daughter back in the Philippines when she was only seven years old while I worked here for 17 years as a domestic helper.

So I want to go back home and spend time with my son and my grandchildren. I already have three grandchildren! Maybe I would set up a small grocery store or whatever, so that I can get some income.

FLORENCE, ITALY

Succeeding in my career but still managing to have a family and raise my kids. And not to give up on either of the two things.

Career: because I really studied a lot—for years—so I don’t want to give up on my career. So I feel this need to not give up. Family: because I am fortunate to be from a happy family, so I want to have a family of my own.

Being successful in my career means being an independent woman. A name in my field. I cannot go without reading a book, talking about a manuscript, talking with my professors. For me, it’s a need—a physical need.

BANGALORE, INDIA

In India, women are not given that much privilege with working. But I think, they should be given equal opportunity. They have a life at home; they should also have a life in the workplace. And they should know how to balance it.

It is important for women in India to work because otherwise, they will continue to discriminate between the men and the women. They should make their own mark in this world.

I want to achieve something. I want people to recognize me. That gives me that motivation.

AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

That’s a question I hardly ever think about. “Having it all” is waking up and realizing that everyone I love is doing well and so am I. It’s not in material things, it’s about being healthy and happy.

BANGALORE, INDIA

I just want to be free—no restrictions at all. I want to be able to go anywhere with anyone. I want to be allowed to go out at night to bars to have fun. Right now we are bachelors, so we can do whatever we want. After marriage things will get difficult. So I will have to manage this.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

It’s impossible to have everything. I think everybody should choose what is important for themselves.

It’s just like freedom: we have to give up something to gain something.

For instance, I have had to give up my job to follow my husband to different countries. We have lived in France, Germany, England, and now, here.

FLORENCE, ITALY

Feeling good with other people. And knowing that everyone is staying well. To be without fear, envy or negativity.

I have had a quiet life. A quiet life is the best life. I only dedicate myself to things that need my attention—work and family, not travel and other distractions.

YANGON, MYANMAR

I think mainly about my daughter. I want to give her the safety—and I feel like living abroad might be safer and offer her a better education.  I want my daughter to grow up in a developed country and attend school abroad. I recently inquired about going to school in Canada. It might possible to enroll her in a school and for me to apply for a resident’s permit. I have always wanted to settle in a foreign country but I haven’t been able to until now. 

I love being a lawyer because it requires me to learn all the time—about related subjects and about my country.  For my daughter, being a lawyer provides a good image as a mother. Parents might work all kinds of jobs like vendors or shopkeepers. But I want to stand up as a role model of what a mother can be for my daughter. I’d say this is the main reason I like my job.

I am a single mother. Our society doesn’t like the idea of divorce. They don’t want us to be separated in Myanmar tradition. Usually people want to blame me—the woman’s side—saying that I was not good at maintaining the marriage. The truth is, [prior to the divorce] I had to take care of my daughter alone and faced so many challenges.  For a while after I divorced her father, me and my daughter alone. Now we live with my mom and dad.

MONROVIA, LIBERIA

My goal is not to have it all, but at least to have some. Having nothing is like being just nobody. And I want to become somebody.

BANGALORE, INDIA

Work is easy. But at home, there is a lot of work—cooking, washing clothes, and teaching my children. I have two children—a son and a daughter. I adopted my daughter when she was a baby, and now she is seventeen years old. She wants to become an engineer or a pilot.

I don’t have any hopes and dreams. My dreams are God’s dreams. He takes care of us and I depend on him. I don’t depend on any humans.

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

To be carefree. To live life without worrying. To play and enjoy simple things, like I did when I was a kid—no schedules, no worries, no judging. Complete freedom to go where my imagination takes me. And to laugh nonstop with my friends.

YANGON, MYANMAR

Having it all would be running a successful business while staying close to my family.

These days, it’s getting harder to raise a child. You need to give up so much of your personal time. As a mother, it’s a big responsibility.

Mainly, I want my son to be educated. We will do everything we can to support his dreams and passions.

YANGON, MYANMAR

I am planning to start a small business of my own and have already taken a few steps towards it. I am attending design courses to learn dress design and hope to transition into this career in the next few years.

I am married but I don't have a baby yet and want to have one.  Now I am a certain age and I feel like I need a baby.  My husband has his own business, I will help him and I will work on my career too. I expect my family life to be simple once we have a baby. 

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

I'm from Peru, currently living in Argentina on a dance scholarship. I go through many ups and downs. Being alone in a foreign country away from my family is very hard.

I love dancing because I can be myself. Through dance, I can communicate about all that is going on in the world around us, and everything that I feel inside. I'm truly happy when I dance. Art can cure any evil in the world. Having it all would mean to fulfill my dreams without abandoning my current studies and my career.

In Peru, art is not valued as much as it is here in Argentina, which is really challenging for me. Despite all the economic difficulties in Argentina, I still chose to study in Argentina and then plan to go back home.

MONROVIA, LIBERIA

Actually, “having it all” is not for me, it’s for my country. Because I love my country and I want us to be better one day.

An achievement for me to be able to help other people. And when I see Liberia being one of the good countries in the world, when I see Liberia being clean, then I’ll know that I’ve achieved something.

BANGALORE, INDIA

I don’t have any plans for the future. I am enjoying life right now. I have to take care of my children. I have to help them study well, and maybe they’ll choose to be doctors one day—whatever they like. Right now I am just taking care of my family. That’s it.

YANGON, MYANMAR

To be a valuable person. I want to be an entrepreneur and earn lots of money so I can do whatever I want—in the right way, of course. In the future, I want to build an educational institute that offers free education for families who cannot afford good quality education. There is so much good I want to do, but I just don’t have enough money for it yet. 

For myself, I want to have a nice car, a nice house, and travel abroad at least in once a year. So far I been achieving in my dreams. Last year, I went to Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. This year I will be going to India. Next year I want to go to the US.

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

My son has autism and it would be great to have support groups for parents to embrace one another—and together, inhabit the world without fear.

SINGAPORE

I hope one day I can take care of my family without needing to work. I have two children and a husband who stayed in Indonesia. So I’d like to go back and take care of them. My employer is very good to me. They welcome me like family since I am away from home.

YANGON, MYANMAR

I don’t want to live in the same place all the time. I’ve been living in Myanmar my entire life. So now I want to explore the world a little bit. I’m still looking for my opportunity to get higher and higher. 

I want to travel all the time and help people. So I wish I could be richer to be able to help more people. I’m working with an association to help children’s education, working on getting toilets into schools. 

I don’t really want to have my own family—I’d like more of a free lifestyle. Having someone waiting for you at home, you have to go back home. If you don’t have anyone waiting for you, you have a free life. Getting married is not necessary. I can have a boyfriend without needing to get married. It’s not a life goal. 

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

My life is perfect. I've been building it step by step. I dreamt about the things I wanted—and have achieved them.

My work is very satisfying to me because I play a lot at work. I have fun.

I was married twice—and am happy to be single now. I have fallen in love before, but it wasn't with either of my two husbands.

I didn't have any children. And now I'm very happy because I decided not to have kids so that I could be fully independent. I absolutely love spending time alone at home.

Actually, my life would be even more perfect if I could get involved in politics and work for a positive change in society by strengthening the educational and legal systems.

MAUI, HAWAII, USA

Having it all is definitely not monetary as some people might think. We’re surrounded by so much beauty here on Maui that we sometimes take it for granted. We really do have it all. We have friends and family. We have God. We have nature. We have everything we want to make us happy. We are very fulfilled.

SINGAPORE

I had been working for the past ten years, but I am a homemaker now because of my children. Now my focus is my children.

So “having it all” is having peace—peace at home and peace of mind.

MAUI, HAWAII, USA

Having it all? This is it—family, friends, ohana. Everybody being together and celebrating together. To be surrounded by everyone is life. It’s important to have people love you and support you—and give everything.

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

I’ve come to realize that happiness is something you achieve on a daily basis. You can live happily with whatever is in front of you, every minute.

Yesterday the gas company cut the heat at my place, so I started complaining because it was cold. Then I went outside and saw a line of people collecting warm clothes from a charity. Then I thought, there’s no need to complain about the heat, as my situation was only temporary. And right then and there, I found happiness.

MAUI, HAWAII, USA

Being content and happy with your life. You don’t need a million dollars to be content if you can be happy with what’s around you—your family, doing what you love, loving where you live. That’s having it all. What else do you need?

POSITANO, ITALY

My family means everything to me, especially when I am living abroad. And having babies of my own—one day.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

Having it all means not eating alone. I don't like to eat alone. If I eat too fast, I get a stomach ache. It’s important to have good company—you can talk, you can share advice. And by doing so, you can enjoy your meal even more.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

It’s the freedom to decide for yourself how you want to shape your life—what you want to do with your time and where you want to spend it.

SINGAPORE

I want to get married when I am 29. I don’t want to marry early because married life is very, very hard. First, I need to save for the future.

I want to have one girl and one boy—that’s enough for me. I want to work as a manager in an office with my own house and car. I want to be a successful woman.

I would like to be living back in the Philippines because my family is back there. I am just living here temporarily.

ROME, ITALY

Just enjoying life and being free.

ALBANY, CALIFORNIA, USA

Having it all means happiness, health, family, embracing challenges with positivity and strength, and doing what we can to improve the future of this planet.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

For me, having it all will be finding something to do that is meaningful. And to have more time with my family—with a freer life, fewer things, and live more sustainably.

I think I have too much right now, which is why I am not content. Nowadays, you have a lot of stuff and you’re working all day, and you don’t have time to be with your family. I think I just want to take it down a notch and just be.

BANGALORE, INDIA

It’s about being free to make whatever choices I want to in life. In a very corporate set-up, your life is defined by someone at the top. I think it should be the other way around—you decide what you want to do. You find your own way, rather than taking a path that is all decided by someone on the top.

I don’t feel creative when I have a job. I draw my energy from being creative. If I don’t do something creative for a few days, I feel so dull. My source of energy is to create.

It’s about being free and being able to enjoy diversity. I think human beings evolve when they grow in that diverse environment. Otherwise, if I try to follow a monoculture, it just restricts my identity.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

My health, my family, and my job give me the joy to reach what I'm aiming for, which is more stability with my family—financially and emotionally.

FLORENCE, ITALY

Love—having love. Having someone to share your life with. And most importantly, staying in peace with the ones you love.

MAUI, HAWAII, USA

For me, it’s all about my family. As long as my mom and my grandchildren are fine, I am happy.

FLORENCE, ITALY

Having it all, right now, would be to retire somewhere very sunny and warm. Somewhere other than Italy. It’s getting really hard to work here now. I’m just really tired.

BANGALORE, INDIA

I want to be a lawyer. From a young age, I’ve loved to be known. And I’ve always spoken strongly. After completing law school, I plan to go join someone who has practiced law and learn from them. Then I will start my own law firm.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

I couldn't be without my family and friends. They give me emotional stability. They make me feel safe and full. Being happy comes down to having family—if you have family and friends, you have it all.

I am here in Mexico City studying business administration. I’m hoping to go back to help my family one day. I do like it here, but I'm still on my own here.

MONROVIA, LIBERIA

Having it all it means having everything under your control. You would give commands, rules, and orders for people to follow. You would serve as a leader.

When everything is under your control, everyone would listen to what you say. And it’s all about how you interact with people—talking to people in a calm way, instead of being very aggressive.

It’s hard to be in a society where people are so aggressive because you are afraid to open up and express yourself.

SINGAPORE

I would go back my country and have my own business. I would like to start a pig farm.  I want to help people back home because they are very poor. So if I have a business I can employee them. They would help my business and I would help them grow.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

It’s the satisfaction of having my family and friends close. Meeting new people each day and having good relationships.

CALIFORNIA, USA

“Having it all” can take on different meanings each day. Some days I take on big creative projects, other days I spend the morning organizing, and some days having a simple cup of tea feels just right.

Regardless, “having it all” means I am working towards a better, well-cared-for me so I can be stronger physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for myself, my loved ones, and my community.

ROME, ITALY

Feeling loved every day and being secure in my heart. Having people around me who are my core—my family and friends.

ROME, ITALY

The “all” for women is freedom. Freedom for me is to do whatever I want and go wherever I want—to travel, to study. To be an educated woman to be able to stand for her rights, to be able to have a good job. That’s why I’m here in Italy, studying to be a more productive young woman.

I think every woman should have the right to be free. In my country, many girls are not allowed to study because their parents feel that studying is not for girls. They prefer to have their daughters married at an early age—that is not freedom.

MAUI, HAWAII, USA

I feel like I have it all here. Experiencing other cultures, hearing other people’s stories brings me joy—it really does.

ROME, ITALY

I am Buddhist. To me, this is everything.

CALIFORNIA, USA

Having the people I love close to me and still connected to the ones far away. Being healthy and of sound mind is the basis to be able to enjoy all the things that are around me. Grateful for all of the things in my life that make me comfortable and creative.

CALIFORNIA, USA

It’s about experiencing all of the colors of life, from the warmth and joy of love to the grief and sadness of illness and loss. It’s being able to engage in exciting and exhausting work and being able to be silly and fully engaged in motherhood. It’s being enough while still wanting more in life.

CALIFORNIA, USA

Having the opportunity to decide what's most important to me. And then having the energy and resources to pursue those priorities.