--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I finally did stop and look at my…" description: "\"When I finally did stop and look at my life, I realized that I had done what I'd set out to do. In my pitiful little way, I had climbed the mountain I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/bette-midler-1976_chosen_when-i-finally-did-stop-and-look-at-my-l_1621031.jpg" --- # When I finally did stop and look at my life, I realized… ![“When I finally did stop and look at my life, I realized that I had done what I'd set out to do. In my pitiful little way, I had climbed the mountain I had chosen. And there I was, on top.” quote by Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/bette-midler-1976_chosen_when-i-finally-did-stop-and-look-at-my-l_1621031.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/bette-midler-1976_chosen_when-i-finally-did-stop-and-look-at-my-l_1621031.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/bette-midler-1976_chosen_when-i-finally-did-stop-and-look-at-my-l_1621031.jpg) > “When I finally did stop and look at my life, I realized that I had done what I'd set out to do. In my pitiful little way, I had climbed the mountain I had chosen. And there I was, on top.” [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Realizes personal achievement after reflecting on life, feeling triumphant. **In simple terms:** Achieved personal goals after reflection. Key Takeaway Reflect to recognize progress. Themes self‑realization achievement reflection gratitude Mood reflective proud Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career milestones - personal projects - life reviews Key Concepts Goal setting self‑assessment personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What personal mountain have you climbed? - How does reflection shape future goals? A Different Perspective May ignore ongoing challenges after reaching a peak. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [I have been a world champion, I have climbed that mountain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-garbrandt/i-have-been-a-world-champion-i-have-climbed-that-mountain/) [Cody Garbrandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-garbrandt/) > [When I was 23, I went to Alaska by myself into the glaciers of the coast range and climbed a mountain by myself. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/when-i-was-23-i-went-to-alaska-by-myself-into-the-glaciers-of-the/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [Because of what I did and where I came from, people just assumed I'd climbed every mountain in my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmal-purja/because-of-what-i-did-and-where-i-came-from-people-just-assumed-i-d/) [Nirmal Purja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmal-purja/) > [I knew I needed to challenge myself mentally and physically - not just for me but for my family - so I climbed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorit-kemsley/i-knew-i-needed-to-challenge-myself-mentally-and-physically-not-just/) [Dorit Kemsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorit-kemsley/) > [You never know what's around the corner. It could be everything. Or it could be nothing. You keep putting one foot in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/you-never-know-what-s-around-the-corner-it-could-be-everything-or-it/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [I have climbed my mountain, but I must still live my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzing-norgay/i-have-climbed-my-mountain-but-i-must-still-live-my-life/) [Tenzing Norgay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzing-norgay/) > [There came a moment in my life when I realized that I had stepped into another part of my life. I used to walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-principal/there-came-a-moment-in-my-life-when-i-realized-that-i-had-stepped/) [Victoria Principal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-principal/) > [I've been a story-teller all my life but I realized it only recently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-ve-been-a-story-teller-all-my-life-but-i-realized-it-only-recently/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I asked myself the question, 'What do you want of your life?' and I realized with a start of recognition and terror, 'Exactly what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-asked-myself-the-question-what-do-you-want-of-your-life-and-i/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [There's a wonderful saying that's dead wrong. 'Why did you climb the mountain?' 'I climbed the mountain because it was there.' That's utter nonsense...You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-ellison/there-s-a-wonderful-saying-that-s-dead-wrong-why-did-you-climb-the/) [Larry Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-ellison/) > [“It's taken me a white to get here, but in a way, it feels more pleasing, because I've had periods that haven't been so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/it-s-taken-me-a-white-to-get-here-but-in-a-way-it-feels-more-pleasing/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [“Have you ever climbed a mountain in full armour? That's what we did, him going first the whole way up a tiny path into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/have-you-ever-climbed-a-mountain-in-full-armour-that-s-what-we-did/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [Have you ever climbed a mountain? You see, once you arrive at the top of a mountain, you think you've reached the highest point.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/have-you-ever-climbed-a-mountain-you-see-once-you-arrive-at-the-top/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [“I had never climbed a mountain, but standing at the bottom, looking at the summit, thinking, “How the fuck am I going to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-g-payge/i-had-never-climbed-a-mountain-but-standing-at-the-bottom-looking-at/) [Grace G. Payge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-g-payge/) > [“Being sure of things in life, he realized, was easy; questioning things was what was hard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-colt/being-sure-of-things-in-life-he-realized-was-easy-questioning-things/) [K.J. Colt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-colt/) ## More by Bette Midler > [If I could be granted a wish, I'd shine in your eye like a jewel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-i-could-be-granted-a-wish-i-d-shine-in-your-eye-like-a-jewel/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I firmly believe that with the right footwear one can rule the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-firmly-believe-that-with-the-right-footwear-one-can-rule-the-world/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [You can't just have a clean public space - you also have to have people willing to use it, and something that will draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/you-can-t-just-have-a-clean-public-space-you-also-have-to-have-people/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I read neither good nor bad about me. I let it not even in my life, so it has no effect on me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-read-neither-good-nor-bad-about-me-i-let-it-not-even-in-my-life-so/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [ If they \[at the audition\] don't like the way you sound they won't buy you anyway, ripped dress or no ripped dress, ass hanging… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/if-they-at-the-audition-don-t-like-the-way-you-sound-they-won-t-buy/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [The old forms of entertainment are not extinct. Live performances are the pinnacle. If you can something that people want to see live, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/the-old-forms-of-entertainment-are-not-extinct-live-performances-are/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance. It is the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/it-s-the-heart-afraid-of-breaking-that-never-learns-to-dance-it-is/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I made a pact with myself a long time ago: Never watch anything stupider than you. It's helped me a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-made-a-pact-with-myself-a-long-time-ago-never-watch-anything/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [It's the one who won't be taken that cannot seem to give, and the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/it-s-the-one-who-won-t-be-taken-that-cannot-seem-to-give-and-the-soul/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Culturally, it's very hard to change people's attitudes about public space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/culturally-it-s-very-hard-to-change-people-s-attitudes-about-public/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [As you age, feelings do diminish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/as-you-age-feelings-do-diminish/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I decided years ago not to read stories about myself anymore. Each one is a potential minefield: Whatever it says, you're bound to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-decided-years-ago-not-to-read-stories-about-myself-anymore-each-one/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [Sometimes my brain goes on CD shuffle. You know, you put a bunch of CD's on and hit play and random things come out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/sometimes-my-brain-goes-on-cd-shuffle-you-know-you-put-a-bunch-of-cd/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I come from an overly confident place. But I'm overconfident because of feelings of inferiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/i-come-from-an-overly-confident-place-but-i-m-overconfident-because/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [My idea of superwoman is someone who scrubs her own floors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/my-idea-of-superwoman-is-someone-who-scrubs-her-own-floors/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) [Explore all 193 Bette Midler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) ## More Chosen quotes > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [My Chosen Daughter, No one can define you without your permission. I want you to be so secure in who you are in Me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/god/my-chosen-daughter-no-one-can-define-you-without-your-permission-i/) God > [I would have let you shoot me without further ado! But it is not possible to hang the German Reichsmarschall! I cannot permit this.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-goring/i-would-have-let-you-shoot-me-without-further-ado-but-it-is-not/) [Hermann Goring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-goring/) > [People have a whole lot more choices than they've had in the past, and I have only earned the right to be considered -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/people-have-a-whole-lot-more-choices-than-they-ve-had-in-the-past-and/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [You basically have a group of four spies who are chosen for a mission they feel for the fact of how competent they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-leblanc/you-basically-have-a-group-of-four-spies-who-are-chosen-for-a-mission/) [Matt LeBlanc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-leblanc/) > [ \[In science any model depends on a pre-chosen taxonomy\] a set of classifications into which we divide the enormous complexity of the real world...… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/in-science-any-model-depends-on-a-pre-chosen-taxonomy-a-set-of/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [It seems that the whole world is beginning to decay, and that its putrefaction has chosen to spread outward from here, from the land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/it-seems-that-the-whole-world-is-beginning-to-decay-and-that-its/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [At a time when painting itself often seems to be a threatened, even despised, form of artistic activity, Andrew Salgado emerges as a dazzlingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lucie-smith/at-a-time-when-painting-itself-often-seems-to-be-a-threatened-even/) Edward Lucie-Smith > [Love your country. Your country is the land where your parents sleep, where is spoken that language in which the chosen of your heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-mazzini/love-your-country-your-country-is-the-land-where-your-parents-sleep/) [Giuseppe Mazzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-mazzini/) > [You'd chosen to be an upright biped on the surface of a small planet of a minor sun on the edge of a minor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/you-d-chosen-to-be-an-upright-biped-on-the-surface-of-a-small-planet/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [The Republicans have chosen to neglect young Americans who need assistance with the costs of higher education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-conyers/the-republicans-have-chosen-to-neglect-young-americans-who-need/) [John Conyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-conyers/) > [When adults come together to form an intimate relationship, each person releases into it unresolved issues from their trans-generational pool of unconscious fantasies. Partners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-raphael-leff/when-adults-come-together-to-form-an-intimate-relationship-each/) [Joan Raphael-Leff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-raphael-leff/) > [Here's my advice to you: don't marry until you can tell yourself that you've done all you could, and until you've stopped loving the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/here-s-my-advice-to-you-don-t-marry-until-you-can-tell-yourself-that/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I am responsible. Yes, I have chosen to be single.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadya-suleman/i-am-responsible-yes-i-have-chosen-to-be-single/) [Nadya Suleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadya-suleman/) Browse all 1,955 Chosen quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I finally did stop and look at my life, I realized that I had done what I'd set out to do. 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