--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel rather drab and shy for a few…" description: "\"“I feel rather drab and shy for a few minutes. But then I remember that I am old and nobody is looking at me.”\" — Emma Healey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c85/emma-healey-14595_quote_i-feel-rather-drab-and-shy-for-a-few-min_1118870.jpg" --- # I feel rather drab and shy for a few minutes. But then I… ![“I feel rather drab and shy for a few minutes. But then I remember that I am old and nobody is looking at me.” quote by Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c85/emma-healey-14595_quote_i-feel-rather-drab-and-shy-for-a-few-min_1118870.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c85/emma-healey-14595_quote_i-feel-rather-drab-and-shy-for-a-few-min_1118870.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c85/emma-healey-14595_quote_i-feel-rather-drab-and-shy-for-a-few-min_1118870.jpg) > ““I feel rather drab and shy for a few minutes. But then I remember that I am old and nobody is looking at me.”” [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feeling self‑conscious fades when remembering age grants anonymity. **In simple terms:** Age gives freedom from scrutiny. Key Takeaway Embrace your stage in life. Themes self‑esteem age anonymity Mood lighthearted reflective Type quote humorous When to use this quote - Social events - personal reflection - creative work Key Concepts Midlife confidence social perception Questions to Reflect On - How does age change your self‑image? - What freedoms does anonymity bring? A Different Perspective Ageism may still affect confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Tell them you miss them! Dont be shy, even if it has only been a few minutes since you saw them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tell-them-you-miss-them-dont-be-shy-even-if-it-has-only-been-a-few/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“there was a very old-looking dwarf on the step with a white beard and a scarlet hood; and he too hopped inside as soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/there-was-a-very-old-looking-dwarf-on-the-step-with-a-white-beard-and/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“that instead of living life by time and dates, to live them by moments. And instead of trying to remember how old I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mclean/that-instead-of-living-life-by-time-and-dates-to-live-them-by-moments/) [Jay McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mclean/) > [I can't remember how old I was, maybe 13, 14, and to see these fellows and hear their stories and to see life come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/i-can-t-remember-how-old-i-was-maybe-13-14-and-to-see-these-fellows/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [I remember the old Times Square from when I was younger, and there was a seedy thrill to it. Some of that is gone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-remember-the-old-times-square-from-when-i-was-younger-and-there-was/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [WWE Network isn't like what it used to be I remember the old WWF days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wwe-network-isn-t-like-what-it-used-to-be-i-remember-the-old-wwf-days/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember that the old lady who's taking forever in line is someone's grandma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stonestreet/remember-that-the-old-lady-who-s-taking-forever-in-line-is-someone-s/) [Eric Stonestreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stonestreet/) > [Remember me? I'm back to my old self again. No responsibilities, no attachments, no encumbrances. I don't want to own anything, love anyone, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-steel/remember-me-i-m-back-to-my-old-self-again-no-responsibilities-no/) [Danielle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-steel/) > [I remember old Elvis when he forgot to remember to forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/i-remember-old-elvis-when-he-forgot-to-remember-to-forget/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [If we think.we are is sad situation.so we should try to remember old best memory of your life or we should try to happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romey-thakur/if-we-think-we-are-is-sad-situation-so-we-should-try-to-remember-old/) Romey Thakur > [I will remember what I was, I am sick of rope and chains - I will remember my old strength and all my forest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/i-will-remember-what-i-was-i-am-sick-of-rope-and-chains-i-will/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“I was there. I remember. It’s old and ratty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-there-i-remember-it-s-old-and-ratty/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It was tough to think in new ways and equally tough to remember the old.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-jonasson/it-was-tough-to-think-in-new-ways-and-equally-tough-to-remember-the/) [Jonas Jonasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-jonasson/) > [“It is a mind-wandering time Remember the old times when illusions were distinct Remember the old times when a friendly chat was all we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rixa-white/it-is-a-mind-wandering-time-remember-the-old-times-when-illusions/) [Rixa White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rixa-white/) > [Remember when old ones died and new were born and life was changed, disassembled, rearranged?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/remember-when-old-ones-died-and-new-were-born-and-life-was-changed/) [Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/) ## More by Emma Healey > [People always want to give you advice about parenting. People who you've never met before will tell you you're doing something wrong. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/people-always-want-to-give-you-advice-about-parenting-people-who-you/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I used to say I wasn't interested in writing about characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-used-to-say-i-wasn-t-interested-in-writing-about-characters/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I can trace my interest in modern classics to the summer before art college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-can-trace-my-interest-in-modern-classics-to-the-summer-before-art/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I was a 20-something woman living in London and didn't want to write about a 20-something woman living in London! It's an area well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-was-a-20-something-woman-living-in-london-and-didn-t-want-to-write/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [While I was writing 'Elizabeth Is Missing' and struggling with the intricacies of the plot, I told myself the next book would be really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/while-i-was-writing-elizabeth-is-missing-and-struggling-with-the/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I feel like Mills and Boon saved my life. It was a way of not living. I read a lot of other books as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-feel-like-mills-and-boon-saved-my-life-it-was-a-way-of-not-living-i/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I've been surprised that 'Elizabeth is Missing' has been so well received as a crime book. I love mystery stories, and that is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-ve-been-surprised-that-elizabeth-is-missing-has-been-so-well/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [When I was writing my first novel, 'Elizabeth is Missing,' I was writing the only novel I had ever written and writing about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/when-i-was-writing-my-first-novel-elizabeth-is-missing-i-was-writing/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [“My reflection always gives me a shock. I never really believed I would age, and certainly not like this.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/my-reflection-always-gives-me-a-shock-i-never-really-believed-i-would/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [Sometimes people ask, 'If you'd never had a reader, would you carry on writing?' No.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/sometimes-people-ask-if-you-d-never-had-a-reader-would-you-carry-on/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I spend a ridiculous amount on pots, lilacs, and alliums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-spend-a-ridiculous-amount-on-pots-lilacs-and-alliums/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [Several members of my family have, or have had, one form of dementia or another. I really wanted to explore what it might like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/several-members-of-my-family-have-or-have-had-one-form-of-dementia-or/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I love writing dialogue - it's when I really lose myself in my work. I love reading it, too, when it's good and rings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-love-writing-dialogue-it-s-when-i-really-lose-myself-in-my-work-i/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I think I'm too scatty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-think-i-m-too-scatty/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [When you are in the midst of writing a book, I think it is important to touch base every day. If I wasn't writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/when-you-are-in-the-midst-of-writing-a-book-i-think-it-is-important/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) [Explore all 46 Emma Healey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) ## More Remember Old quotes > [Remember when old ones died and new were born and life was changed, disassembled, rearranged?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/remember-when-old-ones-died-and-new-were-born-and-life-was-changed/) [Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/) > [“It is a mind-wandering time Remember the old times when illusions were distinct Remember the old times when a friendly chat was all we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rixa-white/it-is-a-mind-wandering-time-remember-the-old-times-when-illusions/) [Rixa White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rixa-white/) > [“It was tough to think in new ways and equally tough to remember the old.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-jonasson/it-was-tough-to-think-in-new-ways-and-equally-tough-to-remember-the/) [Jonas Jonasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-jonasson/) > [“I was there. I remember. It’s old and ratty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-there-i-remember-it-s-old-and-ratty/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I will remember what I was, I am sick of rope and chains - I will remember my old strength and all my forest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/i-will-remember-what-i-was-i-am-sick-of-rope-and-chains-i-will/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [If we think.we are is sad situation.so we should try to remember old best memory of your life or we should try to happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romey-thakur/if-we-think-we-are-is-sad-situation-so-we-should-try-to-remember-old/) Romey Thakur > [I remember old Elvis when he forgot to remember to forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-strait/i-remember-old-elvis-when-he-forgot-to-remember-to-forget/) [George Strait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-strait/) > [Remember me? I'm back to my old self again. No responsibilities, no attachments, no encumbrances. I don't want to own anything, love anyone, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-steel/remember-me-i-m-back-to-my-old-self-again-no-responsibilities-no/) [Danielle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-steel/) > [Remember that the old lady who's taking forever in line is someone's grandma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stonestreet/remember-that-the-old-lady-who-s-taking-forever-in-line-is-someone-s/) [Eric Stonestreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stonestreet/) > [WWE Network isn't like what it used to be I remember the old WWF days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wwe-network-isn-t-like-what-it-used-to-be-i-remember-the-old-wwf-days/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I remember the old Times Square from when I was younger, and there was a seedy thrill to it. Some of that is gone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-remember-the-old-times-square-from-when-i-was-younger-and-there-was/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [I can't remember how old I was, maybe 13, 14, and to see these fellows and hear their stories and to see life come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/i-can-t-remember-how-old-i-was-maybe-13-14-and-to-see-these-fellows/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [“that instead of living life by time and dates, to live them by moments. And instead of trying to remember how old I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mclean/that-instead-of-living-life-by-time-and-dates-to-live-them-by-moments/) [Jay McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mclean/) > [The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him your friend but remember an old one will never become your friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/the-best-way-to-destroy-an-enemy-is-to-make-him-your-friend-but/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“When the war heats up and we doubt that we will ever change, we must remember that our old person, filled with self-deceiving desires,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elyse-m-fitzpatrick/when-the-war-heats-up-and-we-doubt-that-we-will-ever-change-we-must/) [Elyse M. Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elyse-m-fitzpatrick/) Browse all 29 Remember Old quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I feel rather drab and shy for a few minutes. But then I remember that I am old and nobody is looking at me.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emma Healey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-feel-rather-drab-and-shy-for-a-few-minutes-but-then-i-remember-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Remember Old" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-feel-rather-drab-and-shy-for-a-few-minutes-but-then-i-remember-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c85/emma-healey-14595_quote_i-feel-rather-drab-and-shy-for-a-few-min_1118870.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c85/emma-healey-14595_quote_i-feel-rather-drab-and-shy-for-a-few-min_1118870.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c85/emma-healey-14595_quote_i-feel-rather-drab-and-shy-for-a-few-min_1118870.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I feel rather drab and shy for a few minutes. But then I remember that I am old and nobody is looking at me.” — Emma Healey", "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": "Emma Healey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I feel rather drab and shy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-feel-rather-drab-and-shy-for-a-few-minutes-but-then-i-remember-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-feel-rather-drab-and-shy-for-a-few-minutes-but-then-i-remember-that/#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 } } ] } ```