--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never looked forward before. I've…" description: "\"“I've never looked forward before. I've always looked back. I think about the past way too much and I think about what I should have done and everythin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/120/colleen-hoover-124_colleen-hoover_i-ve-never-looked-forward-before-i-ve-al_2938394.jpg" --- # I've never looked forward before. I've always looked back… ![“I've never looked forward before. I've always looked back. I think about the past way too much and I think about what I should have done and everything I did wrong and I've never once looked forward in my life.” quote by Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/120/colleen-hoover-124_colleen-hoover_i-ve-never-looked-forward-before-i-ve-al_2938394.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/120/colleen-hoover-124_colleen-hoover_i-ve-never-looked-forward-before-i-ve-al_2938394.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/120/colleen-hoover-124_colleen-hoover_i-ve-never-looked-forward-before-i-ve-al_2938394.jpg) > ““I've never looked forward before. I've always looked back. I think about the past way too much and I think about what I should have done and everything I did wrong and I've never once looked forward in my life.”” [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expresses chronic backward focus, neglecting forward thinking, leading to regret. **In simple terms:** Stuck in past, no forward view. Key Takeaway Shift focus to future possibilities. Themes regret past future Mood melancholic hopeful Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - personal crises - career planning Key Concepts self‑help psychology Questions to Reflect On - What future step can you take today? - How can you reframe past regrets? A Different Perspective Dwelling on past can cause stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Colleen-hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colleen-hoover/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-back/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) ## Related quotes > [“Just seeing her again, even from a distance, reminds meof why I crave to be around her so much. It’s only been a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/just-seeing-her-again-even-from-a-distance-reminds-meof-why-i-crave/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“As soon as the words leave her mouth, I'm completely consumed by a sense of peace. For the first time since the second she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/as-soon-as-the-words-leave-her-mouth-i-m-completely-consumed-by-a/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“You did everything you could, but sometimes all the love in the world from mothers and brothers isn't enough to help pull someone out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/you-did-everything-you-could-but-sometimes-all-the-love-in-the-world/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I'm gonna go live my life now, Les. A life I'm actually able to look forward to, and I'd honestly thought I'd never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-m-gonna-go-live-my-life-now-les-a-life-i-m-actually-able-to-look/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“What time should I come stalk you tomorrow?” “Six-thirty?” She says breathlessly. “Six-thirty sounds good.” Six-thirty is my new favorite time of day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/what-time-should-i-come-stalk-you-tomorrow-six-thirty-she-says/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“The sky is always beautiful. Even when it's dark or rainy or cloudy, it's still beautiful to look at. It's my favourite thing because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/the-sky-is-always-beautiful-even-when-it-s-dark-or-rainy-or-cloudy-it/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“She doesn’t even tell me it’ll be okay when every single ounce of whatever was left inside my chest is propelled out of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/she-doesn-t-even-tell-me-it-ll-be-okay-when-every-single-ounce-of/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I slowly lean in toward her when her lips part into a smile. “Are you planning on using tongue this time?” she whispers. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-slowly-lean-in-toward-her-when-her-lips-part-into-a-smile-are-you/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“But I’ve learned over the past year what it really means to be able to miss someone. In order to miss someone, that means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/but-i-ve-learned-over-the-past-year-what-it-really-means-to-be-able/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Do me a favor?” Anything. I’ll do anything you ask me to, so long as you’re shirtless. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/do-me-a-favor-anything-i-ll-do-anything-you-ask-me-to-so-long-as-you/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Your name. That’s all I want.” I debate on whether or not I should explain to him that my name isn't going to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/your-name-that-s-all-i-want-i-debate-on-whether-or-not-i-should/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Hi," he says simply. I laugh. "Hi." He looks around the room nervously before his eyes fall back to mine. "Is that good enough?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/hi-he-says-simply-i-laugh-hi-he-looks-around-the-room-nervously/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“No matter what happens life just keeps going and moving forward and words keep flowing and truths keep spewing whether you like it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/no-matter-what-happens-life-just-keeps-going-and-moving-forward-and/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Not your face, your dimple. And no. You’re the only guy I’ve ever had the urge to lick.” He smiles at me confidently. “Good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/not-your-face-your-dimple-and-no-you-re-the-only-guy-i-ve-ever-had/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I tilt my head and look at him. He's watching me, but I can't tell what his face is trying to convey. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-tilt-my-head-and-look-at-him-he-s-watching-me-but-i-can-t-tell-what/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) ## More by Colleen Hoover > [Please don't allow anyone to make you feel less than what you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/please-don-t-allow-anyone-to-make-you-feel-less-than-what-you-are/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Some people they grow wiser as they grow older. Unfortunately, most people just grow older.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/some-people-they-grow-wiser-as-they-grow-older-unfortunately-most/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“You can't get mad at a real ending. Some of them are ugly. It's the fake happily ever afters that should piss you off.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/you-can-t-get-mad-at-a-real-ending-some-of-them-are-ugly-it-s-the/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I’ve been looking for you my whole damn life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-ve-been-looking-for-you-my-whole-damn-life/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I tilt my head and look at him. He's watching me, but I can't tell what his face is trying to convey. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-tilt-my-head-and-look-at-him-he-s-watching-me-but-i-can-t-tell-what/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [Love and hate, despite their polar opposites, are both feelings that are induced by passion. I can handle that. It's the indifference I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/love-and-hate-despite-their-polar-opposites-are-both-feelings-that/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“We'll either come to a mutual understanding of one another, or he's going to kill me and chop me up into tiny pieces and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/we-ll-either-come-to-a-mutual-understanding-of-one-another-or-he-s/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“We kiss until the alarm sounds off on my phone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/we-kiss-until-the-alarm-sounds-off-on-my-phone/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“The sky is always beautiful. Even when it's dark or rainy or cloudy, it's still beautiful to look at. It's my favourite thing because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/the-sky-is-always-beautiful-even-when-it-s-dark-or-rainy-or-cloudy-it/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Ridge: Oh, and btw, I didn't write that on your forehead. What? I run to the dresser and look in the mirror for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/ridge-oh-and-btw-i-didn-t-write-that-on-your-forehead-what-i-run-to/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I feel like my maybe someday just became my right now .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-feel-like-my-maybe-someday-just-became-my-right-now/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“That's all I need," I say. "Well...I need the lamp. And the astray. And the remote control. And the paddleball game. And you, Dean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/that-s-all-i-need-i-say-well-i-need-the-lamp-and-the-astray-and-the/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Because if you've never felt anything when someone's kissed you, then no one's ever really kissed you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/because-if-you-ve-never-felt-anything-when-someone-s-kissed-you-then/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Tate lays her head on my arm, and we both watch her. Our daughter. I love you so much, Sam. I’m looking down at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/tate-lays-her-head-on-my-arm-and-we-both-watch-her-our-daughter-i/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I have been entertaining the idea, Sky. Believe me. It’s just a huge step that can’t be undone once it’s taken.” “What if it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-have-been-entertaining-the-idea-sky-believe-me-it-s-just-a-huge/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) [Explore all 1,065 Colleen Hoover quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) ## More Colleen-hoover quotes > [“I tilt my head and look at him. He's watching me, but I can't tell what his face is trying to convey. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-tilt-my-head-and-look-at-him-he-s-watching-me-but-i-can-t-tell-what/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“The sky is always beautiful. Even when it's dark or rainy or cloudy, it's still beautiful to look at. It's my favourite thing because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/the-sky-is-always-beautiful-even-when-it-s-dark-or-rainy-or-cloudy-it/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Do me a favor?” Anything. I’ll do anything you ask me to, so long as you’re shirtless. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/do-me-a-favor-anything-i-ll-do-anything-you-ask-me-to-so-long-as-you/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Hi," he says simply. I laugh. "Hi." He looks around the room nervously before his eyes fall back to mine. "Is that good enough?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/hi-he-says-simply-i-laugh-hi-he-looks-around-the-room-nervously/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“No matter what happens life just keeps going and moving forward and words keep flowing and truths keep spewing whether you like it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/no-matter-what-happens-life-just-keeps-going-and-moving-forward-and/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Your name. That’s all I want.” I debate on whether or not I should explain to him that my name isn't going to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/your-name-that-s-all-i-want-i-debate-on-whether-or-not-i-should/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Not your face, your dimple. And no. You’re the only guy I’ve ever had the urge to lick.” He smiles at me confidently. “Good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/not-your-face-your-dimple-and-no-you-re-the-only-guy-i-ve-ever-had/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I'm not even going to tell you what I think about what just happened in there. But I know it sucked and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-m-not-even-going-to-tell-you-what-i-think-about-what-just-happened/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Want me to run with you?” he asks, nudging his head toward the sidewalk behind me. Yes, please. “No, it’s fine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/want-me-to-run-with-you-he-asks-nudging-his-head-toward-the-sidewalk/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“I grab the pillows off the bed and chuck them at the reflection in the mirror of the girl I no longer know. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-grab-the-pillows-off-the-bed-and-chuck-them-at-the-reflection-in/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Will Cooper prefers the whole Lake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/will-cooper-prefers-the-whole-lake/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“The points are not the point; the point is poetry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-wolf/the-points-are-not-the-point-the-point-is-poetry/) [Allan Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-wolf/) > [“I'm really hoping he’s being genuine because I can already tell he isn't the kind of guy a girl gets a simple crush on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-m-really-hoping-he-s-being-genuine-because-i-can-already-tell-he/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“Time to go,” he says. “I already see this heading somewhere I’m too drunk to go right now. I’ll see you tomorrow night.” I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/time-to-go-he-says-i-already-see-this-heading-somewhere-i-m-too-drunk/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“What time should I come stalk you tomorrow?” “Six-thirty?” She says breathlessly. “Six-thirty sounds good.” Six-thirty is my new favorite time of day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/what-time-should-i-come-stalk-you-tomorrow-six-thirty-she-says/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) [Browse all 82 Colleen-hoover quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colleen-hoover/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I've never looked forward before. I've always looked back. 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