If I had children, I would be very selfish. I wouldn't be out

The words of Linda Blair — “If I had children, I would be very selfish. I wouldn’t be out doing things. But by not having kids, it makes me freer to travel the world and talk about things I feel are important.” — ring with the deep honesty of one who has looked into her own soul and chosen her path with clarity. In her voice we hear not rejection of life’s sacred duty to nurture, but an acceptance of the truth that every destiny is shaped differently. She reminds us that the greatness of a life does not rest only in raising children, but also in carrying one’s message to the wide world, in offering service, wisdom, or action to a broader family — the family of humanity.

The ancients often spoke of the balance between the private and the public life. To raise children is to give oneself to the hearth, to nurture and preserve. To refrain, and instead devote one’s energy to the world, is to stand upon the stage of destiny and speak to nations. Both paths are noble, but each requires sacrifice. Linda Blair acknowledges this truth: that had she borne the duties of motherhood, her selfish desire to roam, to serve, to bear witness to global struggles might have been extinguished. Thus, she chose freedom, not for indulgence, but for the work she deemed vital.

History offers us examples of such choices. Consider Florence Nightingale, who never married nor bore children, but devoted her life to the wounded and the broken upon fields of war. She could have chosen the path of hearth and home, but instead she traveled into darkness to bring light to countless suffering souls. In doing so, she became a mother not of one or two, but of legions, remembered not for absence of family, but for the abundance of her compassion. Linda Blair’s words resonate with the same spirit: that one may forego one kind of love to multiply another.

And yet, her confession also contains humility. She speaks of selfishness, not as condemnation, but as truth: to attempt both paths, without full commitment, might dishonor both. To parent while longing for freedom can breed resentment. To travel and serve while tied by duty to the hearth can divide the spirit. Thus, she chose to embrace her freedom fully, rather than betray either calling with half-heartedness. This is wisdom — to know oneself, and to act with honesty, rather than conform to expectations that do not align with one’s essence.

But let none misinterpret her words. She does not belittle the raising of children; she elevates the necessity of choosing one’s path with integrity. For some, the greatest calling is to pour their strength into the shaping of young souls. For others, the calling is to be unbound, to talk in every corner of the earth about matters that stir the conscience of humankind. Both paths are sacred, so long as they are walked with devotion.

The lesson is this: your life must be guided not by what others demand of you, but by the truth of your own spirit. To know yourself — your strengths, your desires, your burdens — is the first act of courage. The second act is to choose accordingly, without shame. If your calling is the hearth, give yourself to it fully. If your calling is the road, the cause, the mission — then embrace it with all your heart. Do not live half a life trying to serve both, but live wholly in the path that aligns with your deepest truth.

Practically, this means examining your own desires with honesty. Ask yourself: what work do I feel compelled to do? What duties am I truly prepared to bear? What sacrifices am I willing to make without regret? Then act upon the answers, even if they defy the expectations of your culture or peers. For in walking the path of truth, you will find the freedom and the peace of mind that arise only when your life’s choices mirror your soul’s calling.

So remember, child of tomorrow: there are many ways to love, and many ways to serve. To raise children is one; to travel and carry your voice to the world is another. What matters is not that you follow the same path as others, but that you walk your own with clarity, with courage, and with devotion. For in such living, no choice is wasted, and every life becomes a testament to truth.