--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never in a million years thought that…" description: "\"I never in a million years thought that my life would unfold the way it has.\" — Audra McDonald" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/audra-mcdonald-9650_life_i-never-in-a-million-years-thought-that_3052973.jpg" --- # I never in a million years thought that my life would… ![“I never in a million years thought that my life would unfold the way it has.” quote by Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/audra-mcdonald-9650_life_i-never-in-a-million-years-thought-that_3052973.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/audra-mcdonald-9650_life_i-never-in-a-million-years-thought-that_3052973.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/audra-mcdonald-9650_life_i-never-in-a-million-years-thought-that_3052973.jpg) > “I never in a million years thought that my life would unfold the way it has.” [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expresses amazement at life's unexpected path, highlighting humility and openness to change. **In simple terms:** Life can unfold unexpectedly. Key Takeaway Embrace life's surprises. Themes life humility unexpected journeys Mood reflective hopeful Type biographical inspirational When to use this quote - career shifts - personal growth Key Concepts personal narrative career evolution Questions to Reflect On - What unexpected events shaped you? - How do you stay adaptable? A Different Perspective May overlook planning importance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Million years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-years/) ## Related quotes > [I never in a million years thought I would be able to be a Paralympic athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oksana-masters/i-never-in-a-million-years-thought-i-would-be-able-to-be-a-paralympic/) [Oksana Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oksana-masters/) > [It's hard to watch your life unfold, and sad. Life changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/it-s-hard-to-watch-your-life-unfold-and-sad-life-changes/) [Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/) > [“The truth is that most of life will unfold in accordance with forces far outside your control, regardless of what your mind says about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-a-singer/the-truth-is-that-most-of-life-will-unfold-in-accordance-with-forces/) [Michael A. Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-a-singer/) > [I don't tell you what you should do or not do; I only show you who you are -the timeless and unchanging awareness. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mooji/i-don-t-tell-you-what-you-should-do-or-not-do-i-only-show-you-who-you/) [Mooji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mooji/) > [I always write to understand my place in the world. I can see myself and my life unfold on the page, and I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-always-write-to-understand-my-place-in-the-world-i-can-see-myself/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I am free when I allow my life to unfold. As soon as I restrict myself to new outcomes, I've got shackles on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/i-am-free-when-i-allow-my-life-to-unfold-as-soon-as-i-restrict-myself/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [Let life unfold, say what you mean. You can’t always think about what you’ve lost, or what you don’t have, or what you didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/let-life-unfold-say-what-you-mean-you-can-t-always-think-about-what/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [I never in a million years would have thought I would end up with Golden State.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demarcus-cousins/i-never-in-a-million-years-would-have-thought-i-would-end-up-with/) [DeMarcus Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demarcus-cousins/) > [I never in a million years thought I would be starring in Hairspray, ever. Because if you think about my past, it's been 30…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/i-never-in-a-million-years-thought-i-would-be-starring-in-hairspray/) [John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/) > [Never in a million years would I have thought I could have been an astronaut candidate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-kim/never-in-a-million-years-would-i-have-thought-i-could-have-been-an/) [Jonny Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-kim/) > [I never in a million years thought I'd be helping someone move into a home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-gurley/i-never-in-a-million-years-thought-i-d-be-helping-someone-move-into-a/) [Todd Gurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-gurley/) > [If you were mine, I would never have broken up with you, not in a million years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/if-you-were-mine-i-would-never-have-broken-up-with-you-not-in-a/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [Never in a million years did I get into comedy to make anyone upset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-sherman/never-in-a-million-years-did-i-get-into-comedy-to-make-anyone-upset/) [Sarah Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-sherman/) > [You could never plan your life in a million years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-viorst/you-could-never-plan-your-life-in-a-million-years/) [Judith Viorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-viorst/) > [The Earth has been lawned with life for something over 3.5 billion years. That's a span of time great enough to encompass some honest-to-goodness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/the-earth-has-been-lawned-with-life-for-something-over-3-5-billion/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) ## More by Audra McDonald > [Anytime I get the chance to sing or work with Michael John, it is such an incredibly fertile and incredibly creative and safe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/anytime-i-get-the-chance-to-sing-or-work-with-michael-john-it-is-such/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [One thing that is constantly on my iPod is India Arie - I like her a lot; I listen to her a lot. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/one-thing-that-is-constantly-on-my-ipod-is-india-arie-i-like-her-a/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [And I found the theater, and I found my home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/and-i-found-the-theater-and-i-found-my-home/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I was a little girl with a pot belly and Afro puffs, hyperactive and overdramatic, and I found the theater and I found my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-was-a-little-girl-with-a-pot-belly-and-afro-puffs-hyperactive-and/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I find that I'm just drawn to anything that's going to challenge me as an actress. So, anything that's going to help me grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-find-that-i-m-just-drawn-to-anything-that-s-going-to-challenge-me/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I choose things that challenge me. I was afraid of the camera - that's why I chose to do 'Private Practice.' It's not like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-choose-things-that-challenge-me-i-was-afraid-of-the-camera-that-s/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [When you become a parent, it blows you open in ways that you never thought possible in terms of a level of love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/when-you-become-a-parent-it-blows-you-open-in-ways-that-you-never/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [Without theater, I don't think I would have thought I was a smart person or excelled at anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/without-theater-i-don-t-think-i-would-have-thought-i-was-a-smart/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I feel a connection to many songs that I won't sing because I don't think they are right for me! There is something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-feel-a-connection-to-many-songs-that-i-won-t-sing-because-i-don-t/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I've spent my whole career trying to stay out of any box that anyone could put me in. 'I'm going to do a play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-ve-spent-my-whole-career-trying-to-stay-out-of-any-box-that-anyone/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I auditioned for Julliard because I wanted to live in New York, and I wanted to be on Broadway at the time. Julliard seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-auditioned-for-julliard-because-i-wanted-to-live-in-new-york-and-i/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I used to practice Tony speeches in my bathroom with my hairbrush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-used-to-practice-tony-speeches-in-my-bathroom-with-my-hairbrush/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I think in the end there is one ultimate goal with all my careers, and that is, as a performing artist, you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-think-in-the-end-there-is-one-ultimate-goal-with-all-my-careers-and/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I guess what I know now that I definitely didn't know as a child, is that being truest to yourself is the greatest weapon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-guess-what-i-know-now-that-i-definitely-didn-t-know-as-a-child-is/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [Every human being has a dream. I think what's special about the American Dream is that it implies, given everything that's happened with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/every-human-being-has-a-dream-i-think-what-s-special-about-the/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) [Explore all 71 Audra McDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/) [Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/) > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) Deanna L. Lawlis > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never in a million years thought that my life would unfold the way it has.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Audra McDonald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-never-in-a-million-years-thought-that-my-life-would-unfold-the-way/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-never-in-a-million-years-thought-that-my-life-would-unfold-the-way/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/audra-mcdonald-9650_life_i-never-in-a-million-years-thought-that_3052973.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/audra-mcdonald-9650_life_i-never-in-a-million-years-thought-that_3052973.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d9/audra-mcdonald-9650_life_i-never-in-a-million-years-thought-that_3052973.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never in a million years thought that my life would unfold the way it has.” — Audra McDonald", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Audra McDonald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never in a million years...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-never-in-a-million-years-thought-that-my-life-would-unfold-the-way/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-never-in-a-million-years-thought-that-my-life-would-unfold-the-way/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```