--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Somewhere in my distant memories, I used…" description: "\"“Somewhere in my distant memories, I used to be so busy that I longed for a pause button for my life. To freeze the whole world for an hour, or an afte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c6/elena-dunkle-35800_aches-and-pains_somewhere-in-my-distant-memories-i-used_1180545.jpg" --- # Somewhere in my distant memories, I used to be so busy… ![“Somewhere in my distant memories, I used to be so busy that I longed for a pause button for my life. To freeze the whole world for an hour, or an afternoon: that was my favourite daydream. To stroll across green grass, admire the butterflies stopped in midair, stroke the soft feathers of birds at…” quote by Elena Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c6/elena-dunkle-35800_aches-and-pains_somewhere-in-my-distant-memories-i-used_1180545.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c6/elena-dunkle-35800_aches-and-pains_somewhere-in-my-distant-memories-i-used_1180545.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c6/elena-dunkle-35800_aches-and-pains_somewhere-in-my-distant-memories-i-used_1180545.jpg) > ““Somewhere in my distant memories, I used to be so busy that I longed for a pause button for my life. To freeze the whole world for an hour, or an afternoon: that was my favourite daydream. To stroll across green grass, admire the butterflies stopped in midair, stroke the soft feathers of birds at the feeder. To maybe lie down and take a nap in the sunshine and know that absolutely nothing needed to get done. No deadlines ticking closer. No obligations crowding in. But deadlines don't worry me anymore. Neither do aches and pains. Minor problems like that can't begin to touch the agony I'm in. I lie as still as I can to keep the thoughts and memories from finding me, but sick misery clings to me anyway, as close as a second skin.”” [Elena Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dunkle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator longs for a pause from relentless pressure, but now feels trapped by unrelenting pain that no deadline can ease, describing a pervasive, suffocating misery. **In simple terms:** Desire for pause turns into in pain; deadlines no longer matter Key Takeaway Seek help for chronic mental anguish Themes mental health pain isolation Mood despair lonely Type psychological emotional When to use this quote - personal diary - therapy sessions - support groups Key Concepts chronic illness depression existential dread Questions to Reflect On - What coping strategies could break this cycle? - Can external support alleviate internal agony? A Different Perspective Denial may worsen suffering ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aches and pains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aches-and-pains/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Pause button](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pause-button/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Whole world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-world/) ## Related quotes > [I trow that countenance cannot lie,Whose thoughts are legible in the eie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/i-trow-that-countenance-cannot-lie-whose-thoughts-are-legible-in-the/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [“When you are dead and buried Do your thoughts and memories bubble to the surface?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-ratliff/when-you-are-dead-and-buried-do-your-thoughts-and-memories-bubble-to/) [Richard L. Ratliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-ratliff/) > [Short But True Fact Many Thoughts, Many Memories, Just For One Person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/short-but-true-fact-many-thoughts-many-memories-just-for-one-person/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [A million feelings, a thousand thoughts and a hundred memories. All for one person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-million-feelings-a-thousand-thoughts-and-a-hundred-memories-all-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“How long has it been since I entered this blackness? Has it been days, months, or years? I’m stuck here with my mind, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-j-ryan/how-long-has-it-been-since-i-entered-this-blackness-has-it-been-days/) [Shari J. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-j-ryan/) > [“Life shows us all colours, some bright and some shades of grey, Some accept with a smile, while some frown in every way Thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehek-bassi/life-shows-us-all-colours-some-bright-and-some-shades-of-grey-some/) [Mehek Bassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehek-bassi/) > [When you were straight, evil thoughts and memories came pouring up out of the darkness inside you; buzzing black flies clinging to the insides…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-were-straight-evil-thoughts-and-memories-came-pouring-up-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Time and space may separate us, but not the thoughts and memories that bind us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-parker/time-and-space-may-separate-us-but-not-the-thoughts-and-memories-that/) [Ed Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-parker/) > [It's Hard To Fall Asleep When Your Mind Is Filled With The Thoughts And Memories Of All The Things You Wish You Could Forget...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/it-s-hard-to-fall-asleep-when-your-mind-is-filled-with-the-thoughts/) Pacifiersucker > [I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-sometimes-find-and-i-am-sure-you-know-the-feeling-that-i-simply-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There are only two kinds of thoughts you can have, memories and imaginings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/there-are-only-two-kinds-of-thoughts-you-can-have-memories-and/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am a collection of thoughts and memories and likes and dislikes. I am the things that have happened to me and the sum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macaulay-culkin/i-am-a-collection-of-thoughts-and-memories-and-likes-and-dislikes-i/) [Macaulay Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macaulay-culkin/) > [“Now that she had the diagnosis to explain her sense of reality, she sorted some of the chaotic jumble of thoughts and memories. "I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-frances-casey/now-that-she-had-the-diagnosis-to-explain-her-sense-of-reality-she/) [Joan Frances Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-frances-casey/) > [“Thoughts were nothing. Memories were nothing. They were nothing you could touch. They took no time. You could fit them all on the point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/thoughts-were-nothing-memories-were-nothing-they-were-nothing-you/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“All morning I struggled with the sensation of stray wisps of one world seeping through the cracks of another. Do you know the feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/all-morning-i-struggled-with-the-sensation-of-stray-wisps-of-one-2/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) ## More by Elena Dunkle > [“That's my conscience. We all have one. Mine never lets me settle for second best. There's no place in life for losers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-dunkle/that-s-my-conscience-we-all-have-one-mine-never-lets-me-settle-for/) [Elena Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dunkle/) > [“Because sometimes, you have to be where they can't see you. Sometimes you have to get away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-dunkle/because-sometimes-you-have-to-be-where-they-can-t-see-you-sometimes/) [Elena Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dunkle/) > [“I'm playing along. With what strength I have left, I try to reassure them that the rest I'm getting is healing me. But what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-dunkle/i-m-playing-along-with-what-strength-i-have-left-i-try-to-reassure/) [Elena Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dunkle/) > [“My heart hurts -- my damaged heart. My heart is thin, even if I'm not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-dunkle/my-heart-hurts-my-damaged-heart-my-heart-is-thin-even-if-i-m-not/) [Elena Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dunkle/) > [“Life is love. Life, in all its suffering, is love. And death is powerless to change that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-dunkle/life-is-love-life-in-all-its-suffering-is-love-and-death-is-powerless/) [Elena Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dunkle/) > [“A skull. A shell of death between me and my life. For years, that skull has stifled my better intentions. The bad people I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-dunkle/a-skull-a-shell-of-death-between-me-and-my-life-for-years-that-skull/) [Elena Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dunkle/) > [“Stress used to gnaw and saw away inside me like a tiny black hole. I learned that in spite of the stress, I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-dunkle/stress-used-to-gnaw-and-saw-away-inside-me-like-a-tiny-black-hole-i/) [Elena Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dunkle/) > [“Anger is honest. Hatred is a backhanded compliment. Envy is the best gift of all. But let them turn you into a victim, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-dunkle/anger-is-honest-hatred-is-a-backhanded-compliment-envy-is-the-best/) [Elena Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dunkle/) > [“Life is a combat zone. People who say it isn't have already lost the war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-dunkle/life-is-a-combat-zone-people-who-say-it-isn-t-have-already-lost-the/) [Elena Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dunkle/) > [“It's the girl lost in the forest. A forest that isn't even there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-dunkle/it-s-the-girl-lost-in-the-forest-a-forest-that-isn-t-even-there/) [Elena Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dunkle/) > [“So I lie still and take deep, quiet breaths. Pain doesn't bother me. I'm not afraid. I'm used to living with pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-dunkle/so-i-lie-still-and-take-deep-quiet-breaths-pain-doesn-t-bother-me-i-m/) [Elena Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dunkle/) > [“I know she loves me. As crazy as it sounds, I do know that. As unlikely as it seems that anyone could still love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-dunkle/i-know-she-loves-me-as-crazy-as-it-sounds-i-do-know-that-as-unlikely/) [Elena Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dunkle/) [Explore all 13 Elena Dunkle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-dunkle/) ## More Aches and pains quotes > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The best thing I've learned is that you have to listen to your body, and you have to be your own physician. Don't ignore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-cruz/the-best-thing-i-ve-learned-is-that-you-have-to-listen-to-your-body/) [Valerie Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-cruz/) > [“Epsom Salt - Don't underestimate the powerful healing effects of regular Epsom salt.  Soaking in hot water infused with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) boosts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-the-veggie-goddess-matthews/epsom-salt-don-t-underestimate-the-powerful-healing-effects-of/) Gina 'The Veggie Goddess' Matthews > [Let me be clear: MMA training is tough work, and every fighter has had to enter the Octagon with aches and pains as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cain-velasquez/let-me-be-clear-mma-training-is-tough-work-and-every-fighter-has-had/) [Cain Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cain-velasquez/) > [“It is a terrible thing to learn as a child that one is a being separate from all the world, that no one and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/it-is-a-terrible-thing-to-learn-as-a-child-that-one-is-a-being/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [I have never felt more confident in myself, more clear on who I am as a woman. But I am constantly thinking about my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-have-never-felt-more-confident-in-myself-more-clear-on-who-i-am-as/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [“Joe hid his grin. "A little grab-ass is not accosting." At the worst of times, Luna could amuse him. And now he finally had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-foster/joe-hid-his-grin-a-little-grab-ass-is-not-accosting-at-the-worst-of/) [Lori Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-foster/) > [It's one thing to be twenty and touring the world, but doing it in your forties, you wake up with aches and pains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wiedlin/it-s-one-thing-to-be-twenty-and-touring-the-world-but-doing-it-in/) [Jane Wiedlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wiedlin/) > [If you'd asked me when I was younger what life would be like in my 50s, I'd probably have imagined someone like my grandmother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-jones/if-you-d-asked-me-when-i-was-younger-what-life-would-be-like-in-my/) [Ruth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-jones/) > [Each day it's like: 'How many more days am I going to feel young and vibrant? I feel young and vibrant now, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/each-day-it-s-like-how-many-more-days-am-i-going-to-feel-young-and/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [“This spiritual energy is what healers and other natural-health practitioners (such as acupuncturists and massage therapists) work with in the process of removing blockages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-holland/this-spiritual-energy-is-what-healers-and-other-natural-health/) John Holland > [“I might as well go and sit in the Conversation Lounge downstairs. Complaining is pastime number one down there. I don’t think a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-groen/i-might-as-well-go-and-sit-in-the-conversation-lounge-downstairs/) [Hendrik Groen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-groen/) > [There are two days in every week that we should not worry about, two days that should be kept free from fear and apprehension.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron/there-are-two-days-in-every-week-that-we-should-not-worry-about-two/) [AaRon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron/) > [Seal my lips on aches and pains. They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-russell/seal-my-lips-on-aches-and-pains-they-are-increasing-and-love-of/) [Rosalind Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-russell/) > [I've seen better days, but I've also seen worse. I don't have everything I want, but I do have all I need. I woke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-seen-better-days-but-i-ve-also-seen-worse-i-don-t-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 80 Aches and pains quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aches-and-pains/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Somewhere in my distant memories, I used to be so busy that I longed for a pause button for my life. To freeze the whole world for an hour, or an afternoon: that was my favourite daydream. To stroll across green grass, admire the butterflies stopped in midair, stroke the soft feathers of birds at the feeder. To maybe lie down and take a nap in the sunshine and know that absolutely nothing needed to get done. No deadlines ticking closer. No obligations crowding in. But deadlines don't worry me anymore. Neither do aches and pains. Minor problems like that can't begin to touch the agony I'm in. 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