--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't know what I wanted to Be...A…" description: "\"I didn't know what I wanted to Be...A sense that I had permanently botched things already, embarked on the trip without the map. and it scared me too, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ac/deb-caletti-697_ability_i-didn-t-know-what-i-wanted-to-be-a-sens_858033.png" --- # I didn't know what I wanted to Be...A sense that I had… ![“I didn't know what I wanted to Be...A sense that I had permanently botched things already, embarked on the trip without the map. and it scared me too, that I might end up as a mother of 3 working in a psychiatrist's office, or renting surfboards...I guess I saw their lives as failed somehow…” quote by Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ac/deb-caletti-697_ability_i-didn-t-know-what-i-wanted-to-be-a-sens_858033.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ac/deb-caletti-697_ability_i-didn-t-know-what-i-wanted-to-be-a-sens_858033.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ac/deb-caletti-697_ability_i-didn-t-know-what-i-wanted-to-be-a-sens_858033.png) > “I didn't know what I wanted to Be...A sense that I had permanently botched things already, embarked on the trip without the map. and it scared me too, that I might end up as a mother of 3 working in a psychiatrist's office, or renting surfboards...I guess I saw their lives as failed somehow, absent of the Big Win...What is fate was an inherited trait? What if luck came through the genetic line, and the ability to "succeed" at your chosen "direction" was handed down, just like the family china? Maybe I was destined to be a weed too.” [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) ## 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 feels uncertain about life direction, fearing failure and questioning whether success is inherited or predetermined. **In simple terms:** Uncertainty about purpose and inherited success. Key Takeaway Embrace personal agency over presumed destiny. Themes identity fate self‑doubt inheritance choice Mood reflective anxious hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - family expectations - personal growth - mental health - creative pursuits Key Concepts determinism existential anxiety self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - Do you believe your path is shaped by family or by your choices? - How can you define success beyond external expectations? A Different Perspective Success may depend more on effort and mindset than genetics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability to succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-to-succeed/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Psychiatrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychiatrist/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [“Maybe we’re destined to be this way and no matter how hard we try to change..all our attempts lead us to be more and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-adel/maybe-we-re-destined-to-be-this-way-and-no-matter-how-hard-we-try-to/) [Sarah Adel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-adel/) > [Maybe I was destined to forever fall in love with people I couldn’t have. Maybe there’s a whole assortment of impossible people waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-rifka-brunt/maybe-i-was-destined-to-forever-fall-in-love-with-people-i-couldn-t/) [Carol Rifka Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-rifka-brunt/) > [“I wanted to give a sense of the people of the book, the different hands that had made it, used it, protected it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/i-wanted-to-give-a-sense-of-the-people-of-the-book-the-different/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [What I wanted to do was to get that sense of being in touch with this lost world while holding onto what draws readers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-greenblatt/what-i-wanted-to-do-was-to-get-that-sense-of-being-in-touch-with-this/) [Stephen Greenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-greenblatt/) > [he wanted to do, to be, to feel- and could not; he wanted sense, he wanted purpose- in Freud's words, 'Work and Love'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sacks/he-wanted-to-do-to-be-to-feel-and-could-not-he-wanted-sense-he-wanted/) [Oliver Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sacks/) > [“She gave me peace just by looking at her, which might explain why I looked at her for too long, and with too much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/she-gave-me-peace-just-by-looking-at-her-which-might-explain-why-i/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [I think it's one thing to be part of a very important group called the Senate of the United States and cast a vote.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-ridge/i-think-it-s-one-thing-to-be-part-of-a-very-important-group-called/) [Tom Ridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-ridge/) > [Football Beyond Borders is about learning, establishing new beliefs in an ability to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-smalling/football-beyond-borders-is-about-learning-establishing-new-beliefs-in/) [Chris Smalling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-smalling/) > [The Lord gives us a spirit of hope and a feeling of comfort and confidence that we can overcome the obstacles we face. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/the-lord-gives-us-a-spirit-of-hope-and-a-feeling-of-comfort-and/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [Many of us are fortunate to be blessed with the ability to succeed - not for our sole benefit, but so we may apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mckinney/many-of-us-are-fortunate-to-be-blessed-with-the-ability-to-succeed/) [Frank McKinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mckinney/) > [Implement your plans with courage and persistence. Have complete faith in your ability to succeed and never, ever give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/implement-your-plans-with-courage-and-persistence-have-complete-faith/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The health and well-being of our players are a critical component of our ability to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-budenholzer/the-health-and-well-being-of-our-players-are-a-critical-component-of/) [Mike Budenholzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-budenholzer/) > [Getting people where they want to go, reliably and happily, can make or break their ability to succeed in a work endeavor or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/getting-people-where-they-want-to-go-reliably-and-happily-can-make-or/) [Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/) > [“Your mind is a powerful magnet for wealth. By nurturing positive beliefs about your ability to succeed and embracing a mindset of abundance, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linsey-mills/your-mind-is-a-powerful-magnet-for-wealth-by-nurturing-positive/) [Linsey Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linsey-mills/) > [My willingness to fail gives me the ability to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/my-willingness-to-fail-gives-me-the-ability-to-succeed/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) ## More by Deb Caletti > [“More, much more, will happen after this. Things involving maps and books and true love and tragedy, tragedy like you wouldn't believe. But fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/more-much-more-will-happen-after-this-things-involving-maps-and-books/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [“Hannah and Kayla are talking without saying anything. Their conversation goes like this: Hannah: Uh-huh. Kayla: It was like, ugh! Hannah: I know. Kayla:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/hannah-and-kayla-are-talking-without-saying-anything-their/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [Another person is, at the heart of it, unknowable. And if you cannot know a person enough to always guess what they’re capable of,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/another-person-is-at-the-heart-of-it-unknowable-and-if-you-cannot/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [That's what people do who love you. They put their arms around you and love you when you're not so lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/that-s-what-people-do-who-love-you-they-put-their-arms-around-you-and/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [If fate is a shape-shifter, then loves is too. It can be, anyway, in its most dangerous form. It´s your best day and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/if-fate-is-a-shape-shifter-then-loves-is-too-it-can-be-anyway-in-its/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [If you don't participate, you're just taking up oxygen. (Bunny) Life is a banquet. Approach it with hunger. (Chuck)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/if-you-don-t-participate-you-re-just-taking-up-oxygen-bunny-life-is-a/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [“You wanted more from people sometimes. And sometimes,you wanted more from yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/you-wanted-more-from-people-sometimes-and-sometimes-you-wanted-more/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [Because that’s how it works after something terrible has happened. You know this is true if something terrible has ever happened to you. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/because-that-s-how-it-works-after-something-terrible-has-happened-you/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [“Good guy. There was efficiency to male language. Those two words were what guys said about other guys that they really respected. Guys they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/good-guy-there-was-efficiency-to-male-language-those-two-words-were/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [“In a world of insanity, nothing is sacred. It's an insane world, nothing is sacred.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/in-a-world-of-insanity-nothing-is-sacred-it-s-an-insane-world-nothing/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [“And because he was nice in the beginning did not mean he was a good man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/and-because-he-was-nice-in-the-beginning-did-not-mean-he-was-a-good/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [“I like those very realistic paintings that look like photographs, or novels that are so much like actual life that you feel understood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/i-like-those-very-realistic-paintings-that-look-like-photographs-or/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [This is what happens when nice people are pushed too far. We give too many chances, and so when we've finally had enough, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/this-is-what-happens-when-nice-people-are-pushed-too-far-we-give-too/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [“I confess I had a Child of Divorce Reunion Fantasy Number One Thousand, where I for a moment imagined my father finding out that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/i-confess-i-had-a-child-of-divorce-reunion-fantasy-number-one/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [so what brings you to the doctor today?" "hmm, im afraid i have the chronic desire to save people" "i know about that. i've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/so-what-brings-you-to-the-doctor-today-hmm-im-afraid-i-have-the/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) [Explore all 404 Deb Caletti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't know what I wanted to Be...A sense that I had permanently botched things already, embarked on the trip without the map. and it scared me too, that I might end up as a mother of 3 working in a psychiatrist's office, or renting surfboards...I guess I saw their lives as failed somehow, absent of the Big Win...What is fate was an inherited trait? 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