Oprah Redefines What It Means To "Have It All"

There's nothing quite as freeing in life as knowing what you want and what you don't want. When it comes to motherhood, Oprah Winfrey revealed she never wanted children, and that is the kind of truth that could set more than just Winfrey free. Winfrey's words on her desire to remain childless are, to me, absolutely a sign that it's not only OK to not want children, but also that young women don't necessarily need to "have it all" in order to have success and happiness. Not only that, but the definition of "having it all" is definitely subjective.

In a recent, candid interview with Entertainment Tonight, Winfrey was asked whether she had any regrets on not having children in the past. Her reply is absolutely fantastic. She said,

"When people were pressuring me to get married and have children, I knew I was not going to be a person that ever regretted not having them, because I feel like I am a mother to the world’s children ... I didn’t want babies. I wouldn’t have been a good mom for babies. I don’t have the patience. I have the patience for puppies, but that’s a quick stage!"

Over the course of her career, Winfrey has maintained relatively mum about her private life, especially when it comes to her romantic life. Not necessarily out of a distrust for reporters or worries of privacy invasion, but simply because the work she has done in television, film, print, and philanthropy has garnered enough praise and attention to keep fans satisfied. What's more, I would argue that her choice to not become a mother has never stopped her or downgraded how much value she has in pop culture.

In short, Winfrey's confirmation that having children was never something she wanted is absolutely amazing. It's a great example for young women who may look up to Winfrey when it comes to life and career choices; just because you're childless doesn't mean you're not able to be happy, have friends, have a fulfilling career, or even find love.

In a time when women can have whatever they want and are capable of fulfilling any dream, sometimes being able to take a step back and learn from our role models about what it's OK not to have is equally valuable.