--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now I look back and think if I'd spent…" description: "\"Now I look back and think if I'd spent more time enjoying myself instead of crying into my pillow over men, my 20s would have been fabulous!\" — Denise ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/denise-van-outen-23190_cry_now-i-look-back-and-think-if-i-d-spent-m_1079482.jpg" --- # Now I look back and think if I'd spent more time enjoying… ![“Now I look back and think if I'd spent more time enjoying myself instead of crying into my pillow over men, my 20s would have been fabulous!” quote by Denise Van Outen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/denise-van-outen-23190_cry_now-i-look-back-and-think-if-i-d-spent-m_1079482.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/denise-van-outen-23190_cry_now-i-look-back-and-think-if-i-d-spent-m_1079482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/denise-van-outen-23190_cry_now-i-look-back-and-think-if-i-d-spent-m_1079482.jpg) > “Now I look back and think if I'd spent more time enjoying myself instead of crying into my pillow over men, my 20s would have been fabulous!” [Denise Van Outen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-van-outen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Regret over prioritizing heartbreak over joy, wishing more self‑care in youth. **In simple terms:** Wishing you’d enjoyed youth more, not cried over men. Key Takeaway Embrace joy now, don’t postpone happiness. Themes self‑care regret young adulthood Mood reflective hopeful Type advice personal When to use this quote - dating - career building - friendship - personal growth Key Concepts emotional intelligence life balance Questions to Reflect On - What would you do differently today? - How can you nurture self‑joy now? A Different Perspective Life still offers chances for joy despite past regrets. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Fabulous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fabulous/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [More time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more-time/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [At the end of the day, I know that I make my living by dressing up, fooling around, playing pranks and giving people a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyrus-broacha/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-know-that-i-make-my-living-by-dressing-up/) [Cyrus Broacha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyrus-broacha/) > [Success could be that moment of time when you're enjoying the fruits of your labour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/success-could-be-that-moment-of-time-when-you-re-enjoying-the-fruits/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Spend as much time enjoying the meal as it took to prepare it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/spend-as-much-time-enjoying-the-meal-as-it-took-to-prepare-it/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [In the end, it's all about taking your time and enjoying the journey without worrying too much about the destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-stanger/in-the-end-it-s-all-about-taking-your-time-and-enjoying-the-journey/) [Patti Stanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-stanger/) > [I am always floating around trying to tend to everyone and be free while at the same time enjoying some space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/i-am-always-floating-around-trying-to-tend-to-everyone-and-be-free/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [“In order to know My will, you must spend time with Me— enjoying My Presence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-young/in-order-to-know-my-will-you-must-spend-time-with-me-enjoying-my/) [Sarah Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-young/) > [Depending on whom you ask, time is money, time is love, time is work, time is play, time is enjoying friends, time is raising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/depending-on-whom-you-ask-time-is-money-time-is-love-time-is-work/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [“The harvest is a joyful time of enjoying the results of your labor and ministry”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-harvest-is-a-joyful-time-of-enjoying-the-results-of-your-labor/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [When we love something it is of value to us, and when something is of value to us we spend time with it, time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-love-something-it-is-of-value-to-us-and-when-something-is-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“didn’t have a lot of time for people; you could say I had my reservations about the species. 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Here, even though I see hundreds more people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanna-fletcher/back-at-home-i-spent-so-much-time-on-my-own-but-never-once-felt/) [Giovanna Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanna-fletcher/) > [When you have spent too much time with something, you may lose sight of what's marvelous about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-plotz/when-you-have-spent-too-much-time-with-something-you-may-lose-sight/) [David Plotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-plotz/) ## More by Denise Van Outen > [Essex is an amazing county, with its own set of rules. It's a completely different world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-van-outen/essex-is-an-amazing-county-with-its-own-set-of-rules-it-s-a/) [Denise Van Outen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-van-outen/) > [Men pretend they don't like to be nagged, but they love it, really. It makes them feel wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-van-outen/men-pretend-they-don-t-like-to-be-nagged-but-they-love-it-really-it/) [Denise Van Outen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-van-outen/) > [I did the Kilimanjaro climb a few years ago, then the six-day trek to Machu Picchu in Peru so this bike ride to raise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-van-outen/i-did-the-kilimanjaro-climb-a-few-years-ago-then-the-six-day-trek-to/) [Denise Van Outen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-van-outen/) > [Young girls look to me as a role model and think I crash diet to keep slim. That's not true, I always eat properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-van-outen/young-girls-look-to-me-as-a-role-model-and-think-i-crash-diet-to-keep/) [Denise Van Outen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-van-outen/) > [After I had the Caesarean, I was told I had really strong stomach muscles and so would heal very quickly. And I did. 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She is a little star and my life has changed so much for the better since she came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-van-outen/my-daughter-is-my-biggest-achievement-she-is-a-little-star-and-my/) [Denise Van Outen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-van-outen/) > [I used to spend all my school holidays cycling around, so all this training has made me feel like a kid again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-van-outen/i-used-to-spend-all-my-school-holidays-cycling-around-so-all-this/) [Denise Van Outen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-van-outen/) > [I did like hanging out with all the rock'n'roll boys - it was fun but all those relationships didn't work out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-van-outen/i-did-like-hanging-out-with-all-the-rock-n-roll-boys-it-was-fun-but/) [Denise Van Outen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-van-outen/) > [I'm not changing to the point where suddenly I wear floor-length skirts and start playing the violin; I'm just growing up a little bit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-van-outen/i-m-not-changing-to-the-point-where-suddenly-i-wear-floor-length/) [Denise Van Outen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-van-outen/) > [At weekends, I've been going on long but steady-paced four-and-a-half-hour bike rides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-van-outen/at-weekends-i-ve-been-going-on-long-but-steady-paced-four-and-a-half/) [Denise Van Outen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-van-outen/) > [My past behaviour makes me cringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-van-outen/my-past-behaviour-makes-me-cringe/) [Denise Van Outen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-van-outen/) > [I'd got to that age when I was out on a date with a guy and I would be thinking: Don't mention your age,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-van-outen/i-d-got-to-that-age-when-i-was-out-on-a-date-with-a-guy-and-i-would/) [Denise Van Outen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-van-outen/) > [I've never been on a fad diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-van-outen/i-ve-never-been-on-a-fad-diet/) [Denise Van Outen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-van-outen/) [Explore all 26 Denise Van Outen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-van-outen/) ## More Cry quotes > [Sam dropped me off. 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I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood and was raised by a man who did not emote, ever... I always cry at movies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/i-grew-up-in-a-blue-collar-neighborhood-and-was-raised-by-a-man-who/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [I've never bought this idea of taking a therapeutic distance. 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