--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After a few days in heaven, I realized…" description: "\"“After a few days in heaven, I realized that the javelin-throwers and the shot-putters and the boys who played basketball on the cracked blacktop were ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/alice-sebold-999_heaven_after-a-few-days-in-heaven-i-realized-th_2638290.jpg" --- # After a few days in heaven, I realized that the… ![“After a few days in heaven, I realized that the javelin-throwers and the shot-putters and the boys who played basketball on the cracked blacktop were all in their own version of heaven. Theirs just fit with mine- didn't duplicate it precisely, but had a lot of the same things going on inside. ~pg 17” quote by Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/alice-sebold-999_heaven_after-a-few-days-in-heaven-i-realized-th_2638290.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/alice-sebold-999_heaven_after-a-few-days-in-heaven-i-realized-th_2638290.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/alice-sebold-999_heaven_after-a-few-days-in-heaven-i-realized-th_2638290.jpg) > ““After a few days in heaven, I realized that the javelin-throwers and the shot-putters and the boys who played basketball on the cracked blacktop were all in their own version of heaven. Theirs just fit with mine- didn't duplicate it precisely, but had a lot of the same things going on inside. ~pg 17”” [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People find personal heaven in activities that reflect their inner selves, sharing common themes despite differences. **In simple terms:** Shared passions create personal heaven. Key Takeaway Seek activities that reflect inner self. Themes identity community joy commonality Mood introspective inclusive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - sports - art - friendship - community events Key Concepts personal heaven shared experience inner fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What activities reveal your inner self? - How to respect diverse heavens? A Different Perspective Not everyone finds heaven in sports. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) ## Related quotes > [The peace of heaven is theirs that lift their swords, in such a just and charitable war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-peace-of-heaven-is-theirs-that-lift-their-swords-in-such-a-just/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I got into the movie business because of 'Days of Heaven.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dede-gardner/i-got-into-the-movie-business-because-of-days-of-heaven/) [Dede Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dede-gardner/) > [I think of Terrence Malick's movie Days of Heaven - one of Richard Gere's first movies - you can push pause on almost any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/i-think-of-terrence-malick-s-movie-days-of-heaven-one-of-richard-gere/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [It was in Austin that I had the idea for 'Days of Heaven.' I found myself alone for a summer in the town I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/it-was-in-austin-that-i-had-the-idea-for-days-of-heaven-i-found/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [I don't have a favorite I like and then I'll go and watch "Days of Heaven" and I go how beautiful is that. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-brolin/i-don-t-have-a-favorite-i-like-and-then-i-ll-go-and-watch-days-of/) [Josh Brolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-brolin/) > [Let me posses what I now have, or even less, so that I may enjoy my remaining days, if Heaven grant any to remain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/let-me-posses-what-i-now-have-or-even-less-so-that-i-may-enjoy-my/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [“Only cut off a buttock of each of those ladies,' said he,'and you'll fare extremely well; if you must go to it again, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/only-cut-off-a-buttock-of-each-of-those-ladies-said-he-and-you-ll/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Cry my eyes out for days upon days Such a heaven burden placed upon me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/cry-my-eyes-out-for-days-upon-days-such-a-heaven-burden-placed-upon-me/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [“The Days Of Heaven The days of heaven are peaceful days, Still as yon glassy sea; So calm, so still in God, our days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-simpson-2/the-days-of-heaven-the-days-of-heaven-are-peaceful-days-still-as-yon/) A.B. Simpson > [AND what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days; Then Heaven tries earth if it be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/and-what-is-so-rare-as-a-day-in-june-then-if-ever-come-perfect-days/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [A revival means days of heaven upon earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/a-revival-means-days-of-heaven-upon-earth/) [Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/) > [A big part of what kept me focused on the music was already failing with basketball. I played basketball all of my life. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/a-big-part-of-what-kept-me-focused-on-the-music-was-already-failing/) [Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/) > [I was very fortunate when I was little - I played basketball. You really absolutely learn how to be a team player, how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weili-dai/i-was-very-fortunate-when-i-was-little-i-played-basketball-you-really/) [Weili Dai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weili-dai/) > [I played basketball at Kentucky in 1986-87 and '87-88 and enjoyed a 12-year NBA career. After multiple injuries and seven surgeries, I developed an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-chapman/i-played-basketball-at-kentucky-in-1986-87-and-87-88-and-enjoyed-a-12/) [Rex Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-chapman/) > [I played basketball in high school, and I love watching sports - I'll watch everything except maybe hockey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/i-played-basketball-in-high-school-and-i-love-watching-sports-i-ll/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) ## More by Alice Sebold > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [I left my mark on that man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/i-left-my-mark-on-that-man/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [These things, she felt, were not to be passed around like disingenuous party favors. She kept an honor code with her journals and her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/these-things-she-felt-were-not-to-be-passed-around-like-disingenuous/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [I don't think ignorance is a way that you gain distance on something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/i-don-t-think-ignorance-is-a-way-that-you-gain-distance-on-something/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [I was like I was in science class: I was curious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/i-was-like-i-was-in-science-class-i-was-curious/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“There are secret rooms inside us,” I had said to my therapist. “A relatively benign construct,” he said, and so I did not bother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/there-are-secret-rooms-inside-us-i-had-said-to-my-therapist-a/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“This is just a temporary hell, not a permanent one”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/this-is-just-a-temporary-hell-not-a-permanent-one/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“And a soul would run by a living being, touch them softly on the shoulder or cheek, and continue on its way to heaven.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/and-a-soul-would-run-by-a-living-being-touch-them-softly-on-the/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [As if in the other side of his kiss there could ve a new life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/as-if-in-the-other-side-of-his-kiss-there-could-ve-a-new-life/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“My little brother's greatest fear was that the one person who meant so much to him would go away. He loved Lindsey and Grandma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/my-little-brother-s-greatest-fear-was-that-the-one-person-who-meant/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“She listened for the pain in my words, not to the narrative itself. She was intuiting what it meant to me, what was most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/she-listened-for-the-pain-in-my-words-not-to-the-narrative-itself-she/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [The relationship with the words someone uses is more intimate and integrated than just a quick read and a blurb can ever be. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/the-relationship-with-the-words-someone-uses-is-more-intimate-and/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [Ruth hadn't talked to my sister since before my death, and then it was only to excuse herself in the hallway at school. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/ruth-hadn-t-talked-to-my-sister-since-before-my-death-and-then-it-was/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [Since then I've always thought that under rape in the dictionary it should tell the truth. It is not just forcible intercourse; rape means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/since-then-i-ve-always-thought-that-under-rape-in-the-dictionary-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [I live in a world where two truths coexist: where both hell and hope lie in the palm of my hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/i-live-in-a-world-where-two-truths-coexist-where-both-hell-and-hope/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) [Explore all 302 Alice Sebold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) ## More Heaven quotes > [Heaven lies around us in our infancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/heaven-lies-around-us-in-our-infancy/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe that on any trip to heaven, there are always detours through hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-finney/i-believe-that-on-any-trip-to-heaven-there-are-always-detours-through/) [Richard Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-finney/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [By the time you have no difficulties in your life, you have achieved Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brown/by-the-time-you-have-no-difficulties-in-your-life-you-have-achieved/) [Charles Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brown/) > [I'm what is known as gradually disintegrating. I don't fear the next world, or anything. I don't fear hell, and I don't look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/i-m-what-is-known-as-gradually-disintegrating-i-don-t-fear-the-next/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [I do not want a kingdom, or heaven; what I want is to remove the trouble of the oppressed, the poor, and the needy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-a-kingdom-or-heaven-what-i-want-is-to-remove-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“God is the highest good of the reasonable creature, and the enjoyment of him is the only happiness with which our souls can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/god-is-the-highest-good-of-the-reasonable-creature-and-the-enjoyment/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [“The Creator sat upon the throne, thinking. Behind him stretched the illimitable continent of heaven, steeped in a glory of light and color; before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-creator-sat-upon-the-throne-thinking-behind-him-stretched-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) [Browse all 9,540 Heaven quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“After a few days in heaven, I realized that the javelin-throwers and the shot-putters and the boys who played basketball on the cracked blacktop were all in their own version of heaven. 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