---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My life hasn't been conventional and it…"
description: "\"My life hasn't been conventional and it hasn't been linear. I've had to make it up as I've gone along, which has taught me a lot. If you don't accept t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/beth-ditto-3017_accepting_my-life-hasn-t-been-conventional-and-it_1023831.png"
---

#  My life hasn't been conventional and it hasn't been…

![“My life hasn't been conventional and it hasn't been linear. I've had to make it up as I've gone along, which has taught me a lot. If you don't accept the obvious options that are laid out for you, it's up to you to work out where you're going and to create your own specific rules and goals.” quote by Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/beth-ditto-3017_accepting_my-life-hasn-t-been-conventional-and-it_1023831.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/beth-ditto-3017_accepting_my-life-hasn-t-been-conventional-and-it_1023831.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/beth-ditto-3017_accepting_my-life-hasn-t-been-conventional-and-it_1023831.png)

> “My life hasn't been conventional and it hasn't been linear. I've had to make it up as I've gone along, which has taught me a lot. If you don't accept the obvious options that are laid out for you, it's up to you to work out where you're going and to create your own specific rules and goals.”

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote emphasizes that life isn’t always straightforward; embracing non‑linear choices leads to personal growth and self‑defined goals.

**In simple terms:** Life can be messy, but you can shape it yourself.

Key Takeaway

Embrace uncertainty and design your own path.

Themes

self‑determination growth non‑conformity

Mood

reflective empowering

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career changes
- creative projects
- personal crises
- education decisions

Key Concepts

personal development autonomy goal setting

Questions to Reflect On

- What unconventional choices have defined you?
- How do you balance spontaneity with planning?

A Different Perspective

Not everyone can thrive without structure; some need clear guidance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules/) [Setting goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setting-goals/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-out/)

## Related quotes

> [I worshipped Ethel Merman and I worshipped Ethel Merman a lot. It's incredible - Ethel Merman was a conventional singer. Her naming her child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/i-worshipped-ethel-merman-and-i-worshipped-ethel-merman-a-lot-it-s/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [Quite often in life, when a tragic event arrives it becomes a springboard for mirroring all other things in one's life that one hasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-rampling/quite-often-in-life-when-a-tragic-event-arrives-it-becomes-a/)

[Charlotte Rampling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-rampling/)

> [“I’ve never practiced a profession and have lived like a sort of student. I consider this my greatest success, my life hasn’t been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-cioran/i-ve-never-practiced-a-profession-and-have-lived-like-a-sort-of/)

[Emil Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-cioran/)

> [My life hasn't been static - I spent a lot of time in Europe, a lot of time in India. So I traveled around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kraftsow/my-life-hasn-t-been-static-i-spent-a-lot-of-time-in-europe-a-lot-of/)

[Gary Kraftsow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kraftsow/)

> [Woz is living his own life now. He hasn't been around Apple for about five years. But what he did will go down in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/woz-is-living-his-own-life-now-he-hasn-t-been-around-apple-for-about/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [My life hasn't been what I expected it to be, but I'm here and I have friends and family! I have a roof over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/my-life-hasn-t-been-what-i-expected-it-to-be-but-i-m-here-and-i-have/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [Well, my life hasn't really changed... I've been homeschooled for a long time. So that helped a lot because of shooting and stuff. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/well-my-life-hasn-t-really-changed-i-ve-been-homeschooled-for-a-long/)

[Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/)

> [Everybody sees me now, and I'm the head coach at Clemson and this and that, but my life hasn't always been this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabo-swinney/everybody-sees-me-now-and-i-m-the-head-coach-at-clemson-and-this-and/)

[Dabo Swinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabo-swinney/)

> [I guess my life hasn’t always been happy, or easy, or exactly what I want. At a certain point, I just have to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/i-guess-my-life-hasn-t-always-been-happy-or-easy-or-exactly-what-i/)

[Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/)

> [My life hasn't changed, it's been the same. What's helped me with that is keeping my circle tight, having the people that care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pascal-siakam/my-life-hasn-t-changed-it-s-been-the-same-what-s-helped-me-with-that/)

[Pascal Siakam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pascal-siakam/)

> [My route so far through life hasn't been particularly logical, or even thought out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-cocker/my-route-so-far-through-life-hasn-t-been-particularly-logical-or-even/)

[Jarvis Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-cocker/)

> [I have two lovely sons and some good memories, but I've had a rather tumultuous personal life. It hasn't been dull; I've been the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-have-two-lovely-sons-and-some-good-memories-but-i-ve-had-a-rather/)

[Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/)

> [I'm not invited to any exciting parties and my life hasn't really changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/i-m-not-invited-to-any-exciting-parties-and-my-life-hasn-t-really/)

[Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/)

> [“No one has ever done this before. No one has ever been you before. This exact interrelated web of people and events and places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/no-one-has-ever-done-this-before-no-one-has-ever-been-you-before-this/)

[Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/)

> [Things have changed, Charlie, since you've been gone...Life hasn't been no piece of cake. -Vera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/all-dogs-go-to-heaven/things-have-changed-charlie-since-you-ve-been-gone-life-hasn-t-been/)

All Dogs Go To Heaven

## More by Beth Ditto

> [I was overcome by the Holy Ghost one time, but in a Baptist way. I was six or seven, and I was saved. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/i-was-overcome-by-the-holy-ghost-one-time-but-in-a-baptist-way-i-was/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [I've never had a very quiet voice. I tried in choir to make it smaller, and it just didn't work out. And I listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/i-ve-never-had-a-very-quiet-voice-i-tried-in-choir-to-make-it-smaller/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [Someone told me once that Lucinda Williams takes six years between albums, and that's what stuck to me; it's like, you really are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/someone-told-me-once-that-lucinda-williams-takes-six-years-between/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [True love is about being able to accept raw emotions, no matter how difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/true-love-is-about-being-able-to-accept-raw-emotions-no-matter-how/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [Granny Ditto always referred to perfume as 'smell good' and for me it's an essential. I have a sweetheart who's extremely allergic to most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/granny-ditto-always-referred-to-perfume-as-smell-good-and-for-me-it-s/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [When I think about the idea of Rebel Wilson having to go to the Oscars and not having something amazing to wear that's made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/when-i-think-about-the-idea-of-rebel-wilson-having-to-go-to-the/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [I was born fat and have always been, which was just fine and even healthy and cute until I turned ten or so. Puberty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/i-was-born-fat-and-have-always-been-which-was-just-fine-and-even/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [Growing up as a chubby kid with a ton of imaginary friends and a Cyndi Lauper obsession, I learned about rejection early on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/growing-up-as-a-chubby-kid-with-a-ton-of-imaginary-friends-and-a/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [This archaic idea - that a woman who is unmarried and childless at 30 is somehow unnatural - will probably always exist, and, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/this-archaic-idea-that-a-woman-who-is-unmarried-and-childless-at-30/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [Not everyone wants to be sexy everyday, wearing tight dresses and spanx.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/not-everyone-wants-to-be-sexy-everyday-wearing-tight-dresses-and-spanx/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [Here is my prescription to heal all wounds. Watch the film 'Funny Girl' at least five times, eat at least 45 chocolate bars, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/here-is-my-prescription-to-heal-all-wounds-watch-the-film-funny-girl/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [As a kid, I was always mad - just noticing the women at Thanksgiving, running around the kitchen, while the men were watching football.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/as-a-kid-i-was-always-mad-just-noticing-the-women-at-thanksgiving/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [You know, either I'm too fat or I'm flavour of the month. I don't feel either, but maybe I'm both, who knows?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/you-know-either-i-m-too-fat-or-i-m-flavour-of-the-month-i-don-t-feel/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [A weird thing about Gossip that I've always said: 'If I weren't in this band, I would never listen to it.' But I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/a-weird-thing-about-gossip-that-i-ve-always-said-if-i-weren-t-in-this/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [I worshipped Ethel Merman and I worshipped Ethel Merman a lot. It's incredible - Ethel Merman was a conventional singer. Her naming her child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/i-worshipped-ethel-merman-and-i-worshipped-ethel-merman-a-lot-it-s/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

[Explore all 142 Beth Ditto quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

## More Accepting quotes

> [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/)

[Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/)

> [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/)

[Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/)

[Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/)

> [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/)

[Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/)

> [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/)

[Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/)

> [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/)

[Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/)

> [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/)

[Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/)

> [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/)

[John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/)

> [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/)

[Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/)

Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "My life hasn't been conventional and it hasn't been linear. I've had to make it up as I've gone along, which has taught me a lot. If you don't accept the obvious options that are laid out for you, it's up to you to work out where you're going and to create your own specific rules and goals.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Beth Ditto"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/my-life-hasn-t-been-conventional-and-it-hasn-t-been-linear-i-ve-had/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Accepting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/my-life-hasn-t-been-conventional-and-it-hasn-t-been-linear-i-ve-had/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/beth-ditto-3017_accepting_my-life-hasn-t-been-conventional-and-it_1023831.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/beth-ditto-3017_accepting_my-life-hasn-t-been-conventional-and-it_1023831.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/beth-ditto-3017_accepting_my-life-hasn-t-been-conventional-and-it_1023831.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My life hasn't been conventional and it hasn't been linear. I've had to make it up as I've gone along, which…” — Beth Ditto",
                "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": "Beth Ditto",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "My life hasn't been conventional and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/my-life-hasn-t-been-conventional-and-it-hasn-t-been-linear-i-ve-had/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/my-life-hasn-t-been-conventional-and-it-hasn-t-been-linear-i-ve-had/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
