--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought I had gotten second, but I…" description: "\"I thought I had gotten second, but I didn't, so I was really happy.\" — Carly Patterson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/carly-patterson-27729_gotten_i-thought-i-had-gotten-second-but-i-didn_1838583.png" --- # I thought I had gotten second, but I didn't, so I was… ![“I thought I had gotten second, but I didn't, so I was really happy.” quote by Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/carly-patterson-27729_gotten_i-thought-i-had-gotten-second-but-i-didn_1838583.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/carly-patterson-27729_gotten_i-thought-i-had-gotten-second-but-i-didn_1838583.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/carly-patterson-27729_gotten_i-thought-i-had-gotten-second-but-i-didn_1838583.png) > “I thought I had gotten second, but I didn't, so I was really happy.” [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker expresses unexpected joy after realizing they hadn't achieved a second place, indicating contentment beyond competition. **In simple terms:** Not winning can still bring happiness. Key Takeaway Find joy in unexpected outcomes. Themes competition expectation contentment Mood contemplative optimistic Type personal reflective When to use this quote - sports - academic ranking - personal achievement - life setbacks Key Concepts self‑acceptance gratitude Questions to Reflect On - What truly makes you happy? - How do you define success beyond rankings? A Different Perspective Happiness may be fleeting without deeper purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gotten/) [Gotten Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gotten-second-2330701/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Really happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-happy/) [Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second/) [Second Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-didn-2330702/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [No one who has gotten second place at a Grand Slam is ever like, 'Yeah, now I feel fine about it.' Everyone wants the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-keys/no-one-who-has-gotten-second-place-at-a-grand-slam-is-ever-like-yeah/) [Madison Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-keys/) > [Then after I saw the scoreboard that we were tied, I was really happy, because I really wanted to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/then-after-i-saw-the-scoreboard-that-we-were-tied-i-was-really-happy/) [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) > [I had a great contract coming out of the UFC into Bellator, but it was that second contract that made me really, really happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-had-a-great-contract-coming-out-of-the-ufc-into-bellator-but-it-was/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [For my second record I had gotten ProTools (program) and started to familiar myself with hard disc recording.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-sheik/for-my-second-record-i-had-gotten-protools-program-and-started-to/) [Duncan Sheik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-sheik/) > [I had no bad moment in my relationship with Dortmund. Not one second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurgen-klopp/i-had-no-bad-moment-in-my-relationship-with-dortmund-not-one-second/) [Jurgen Klopp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurgen-klopp/) > [I store away my experiences and don't feel really happy until I've found a way to write about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-deighton/i-store-away-my-experiences-and-don-t-feel-really-happy-until-i-ve/) [Len Deighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-deighton/) > [I'm definitely ahead of the schedule where I thought I was going to be at. I'm really happy. I was excited to race and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-m-definitely-ahead-of-the-schedule-where-i-thought-i-was-going-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [Disney Channel is celebrities coated in sugar. Everything is really happy; everything is really bright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-osment/disney-channel-is-celebrities-coated-in-sugar-everything-is-really/) [Emily Osment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-osment/) > [When I was pregnant, I felt filled with life, and I felt really happy. I ate well, and I slept well. I felt much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-vega/when-i-was-pregnant-i-felt-filled-with-life-and-i-felt-really-happy-i/) [Suzanne Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-vega/) > [I definitely want to be acting and I'm really happy that I found the opportunity to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-nash/i-definitely-want-to-be-acting-and-i-m-really-happy-that-i-found-the/) [Kate Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-nash/) > [I had a really happy childhood - my siblings were great, my mother was very fanciful, and I loved to read. But there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-had-a-really-happy-childhood-my-siblings-were-great-my-mother-was/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I don't want to try to force anything, because I'm really happy with Chickenfoot; my new record with them is phenomenal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-hagar/i-don-t-want-to-try-to-force-anything-because-i-m-really-happy-with/) [Sammy Hagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-hagar/) > [A perfect movie is a different thing, but a funny movie is easy. I was really happy that I got everyone that I got.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/a-perfect-movie-is-a-different-thing-but-a-funny-movie-is-easy-i-was/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [Im really happy that I met you I hope you know that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/im-really-happy-that-i-met-you-i-hope-you-know-that/) [Im Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/im-nothing/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) ## More by Carly Patterson > [I think were all really strong and we just need to keep working really hard. If we go out there and do our best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/i-think-were-all-really-strong-and-we-just-need-to-keep-working/) [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) > [I want to do it for myself. It's my goal and dream. All I can ask for is to get the chance and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/i-want-to-do-it-for-myself-it-s-my-goal-and-dream-all-i-can-ask-for/) [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) > [She said I did good and I think she was happy with what I did. She just wants me to get my higher Start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/she-said-i-did-good-and-i-think-she-was-happy-with-what-i-did-she/) [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) > [It meant a lot because it was my first time to compete as a senior at that meet, which was kind of weird because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/it-meant-a-lot-because-it-was-my-first-time-to-compete-as-a-senior-at/) [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) > [Then after I saw the scoreboard that we were tied, I was really happy, because I really wanted to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/then-after-i-saw-the-scoreboard-that-we-were-tied-i-was-really-happy/) [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) > [Yep, my body is doing good and everything feels good and I'm ready.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/yep-my-body-is-doing-good-and-everything-feels-good-and-i-m-ready/) [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) > [If they did it like they did it in '96 or whenever, just picking it from one meet, what if someone had the meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/if-they-did-it-like-they-did-it-in-96-or-whenever-just-picking-it/) [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) > [Whoever you are, whatever your dream, you have to be strong in your head and strong in your heart. Be strong. There's no quitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/whoever-you-are-whatever-your-dream-you-have-to-be-strong-in-your/) [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) > [I think it helps me. You know, I've got two more meets under my belt, and that's always a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/i-think-it-helps-me-you-know-i-ve-got-two-more-meets-under-my-belt/) [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) > [I think we all have had better days in competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/i-think-we-all-have-had-better-days-in-competition/) [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) > [You never know what can happen. I feel like I have a pretty good chance, but you never know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/you-never-know-what-can-happen-i-feel-like-i-have-a-pretty-good/) [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) > [Athens was a great experience and I'll always be able to look back on it and say I achieved my ultimate goal in gymnastics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/athens-was-a-great-experience-and-i-ll-always-be-able-to-look-back-on/) [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) > [Probably Romania and China and Russia. I think they're all working really hard to beat us right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/probably-romania-and-china-and-russia-i-think-they-re-all-working/) [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) > [Well, first I have to make the team, of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/well-first-i-have-to-make-the-team-of-course/) [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) > [It just meant a lot because it's something I've always wanted to do. I've always wanted to be a Senior National Champ. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/it-just-meant-a-lot-because-it-s-something-i-ve-always-wanted-to-do-i/) [Carly Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) [Explore all 20 Carly Patterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/) ## More Gotten quotes > [That pesky acting career has always gotten in the way of me doing something with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiklis/that-pesky-acting-career-has-always-gotten-in-the-way-of-me-doing/) [Michael Chiklis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiklis/) > [I'm talking to anyone who has been dumped - have not gotten the job you really wanted or have received those horrible rejection letters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/i-m-talking-to-anyone-who-has-been-dumped-have-not-gotten-the-job-you/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [Being a villain is great, even though I've only gotten to do it a few times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-ashmore/being-a-villain-is-great-even-though-i-ve-only-gotten-to-do-it-a-few/) [Shawn Ashmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-ashmore/) > [“If you’ve been there, done that, gotten the t-shirt, isn’t it time to move on to a new destination? Don’t waste a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-hale/if-you-ve-been-there-done-that-gotten-the-t-shirt-isn-t-it-time-to/) [Mandy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-hale/) > [It would have been an interesting run if we hadn't gotten along! It was good casting, I suppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-west/it-would-have-been-an-interesting-run-if-we-hadn-t-gotten-along-it/) [Dominic West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-west/) > [Barry is an incredible singer. He's even gotten better through the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-weil/barry-is-an-incredible-singer-he-s-even-gotten-better-through-the/) [Cynthia Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-weil/) > [I was so lucky and blessed to have gotten 'White Chicks' so early into my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rochelle-aytes/i-was-so-lucky-and-blessed-to-have-gotten-white-chicks-so-early-into/) [Rochelle Aytes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rochelle-aytes/) > [If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/if-you-do-what-you-ve-always-done-you-ll-get-what-you-ve-always-gotten/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Income inequality has gotten worse under President Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/income-inequality-has-gotten-worse-under-president-barack-obama/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [I don't want to be in somebody else's movie, and then they make all the money. I've gotten offers to do the movies, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/i-don-t-want-to-be-in-somebody-else-s-movie-and-then-they-make-all/) [Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/) > [Whenever I get on stage, I feel safe and in control. Life can be so uncertain, but on stage, I always know how a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-o-mara/whenever-i-get-on-stage-i-feel-safe-and-in-control-life-can-be-so/) [Kate O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-o-mara/) > [After twelve years of living in Hawaii, I'd gotten a serious case of 'rock fever.' I just couldn't live on an island any longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/after-twelve-years-of-living-in-hawaii-i-d-gotten-a-serious-case-of/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [I'm happy whenever I'm in a rehearsal room. I've always gotten all my energy and creativity in there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-metcalf/i-m-happy-whenever-i-m-in-a-rehearsal-room-i-ve-always-gotten-all-my/) [Laurie Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-metcalf/) > [I've gotten e-mails asking, 'Are you taking students?' Well, come visit and I'll be happy to talk to you. But I'm not a degree-granting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-garrett-lisi/i-ve-gotten-e-mails-asking-are-you-taking-students-well-come-visit/) [Antony Garrett Lisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-garrett-lisi/) > [I was trained to serve the writer and director as an actor before I serve myself. Not to say that's gotten in my way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-was-trained-to-serve-the-writer-and-director-as-an-actor-before-i/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) [Browse all 519 Gotten quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gotten/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought I had gotten second, but I didn't, so I was really happy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Carly Patterson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/i-thought-i-had-gotten-second-but-i-didn-t-so-i-was-really-happy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gotten" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/i-thought-i-had-gotten-second-but-i-didn-t-so-i-was-really-happy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/carly-patterson-27729_gotten_i-thought-i-had-gotten-second-but-i-didn_1838583.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/carly-patterson-27729_gotten_i-thought-i-had-gotten-second-but-i-didn_1838583.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/carly-patterson-27729_gotten_i-thought-i-had-gotten-second-but-i-didn_1838583.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I thought I had gotten second, but I didn't, so I was really happy.” — Carly Patterson", "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": "Carly Patterson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-patterson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I thought I had gotten second,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/i-thought-i-had-gotten-second-but-i-didn-t-so-i-was-really-happy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-patterson/i-thought-i-had-gotten-second-but-i-didn-t-so-i-was-really-happy/#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 } } ] } ```