--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was hurtling towards 40, and I'd always…" description: "\"I was hurtling towards 40, and I'd always wanted to write. It does focus your mind, heading towards that big birthday. If there is anything you think y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/gail-honeyman-2909_big_i-was-hurtling-towards-40-and-i-d-always_539924.jpg" --- # I was hurtling towards 40, and I'd always wanted to write… ![“I was hurtling towards 40, and I'd always wanted to write. It does focus your mind, heading towards that big birthday. If there is anything you think you want to do, you think, 'I probably should have a go now!'” quote by Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/gail-honeyman-2909_big_i-was-hurtling-towards-40-and-i-d-always_539924.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/gail-honeyman-2909_big_i-was-hurtling-towards-40-and-i-d-always_539924.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/gail-honeyman-2909_big_i-was-hurtling-towards-40-and-i-d-always_539924.jpg) > “I was hurtling towards 40, and I'd always wanted to write. It does focus your mind, heading towards that big birthday. If there is anything you think you want to do, you think, 'I probably should have a go now!'” [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Approaching a milestone age can spark motivation to pursue long‑deferred passions, turning contemplation into action. **In simple terms:** Big birthdays can trigger you to act on dreams. Key Takeaway Use birthdays as catalysts for new projects. Themes motivation milestones creativity Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - career change - personal writing projects - learning new skills Key Concepts goal‑setting self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What project will you start this year? - How can you sustain momentum after the birthday? A Different Perspective Motivation may fade without concrete planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) [Birthday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birthday/) [Birthday Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birthday-think-2289922/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Focus Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus-mind-382374/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Think Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-want-258269/) [Want Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-think-236788/) [Wanted Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-write-260983/) ## Related quotes > [What do I want for my birthday? I think I finally know. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/for-my-21st-birthday-i-think-my-mother-wanted-to-give-me-a-watch-or/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [“I was wondering,” he began, murmuring the words into my cheek as I rolled over. “Seeing as it’s my birthday, do you think we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/i-was-wondering-he-began-murmuring-the-words-into-my-cheek-as-i/) [Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/) > [I don't go out and play football and stuff - that's not me. I want to think, I want to build, I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-don-t-go-out-and-play-football-and-stuff-that-s-not-me-i-want-to/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Lord, may I think what you want me to think. May I desire what you want me to desire. May I speak as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-poveda-castroverde/lord-may-i-think-what-you-want-me-to-think-may-i-desire-what-you-want/) [Pedro Poveda Castroverde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-poveda-castroverde/) > [You can think what you want to think; you don't have to think whatever just falls into your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/you-can-think-what-you-want-to-think-you-don-t-have-to-think-whatever/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“if you get very clear on what you truly want (rather than what you think you should want), believe that it’s available to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-sincero/if-you-get-very-clear-on-what-you-truly-want-rather-than-what-you/) [Jen Sincero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-sincero/) > [“Everything. He is just everything I want... I don’t think he’s everything you want; I think he’s everything you need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/everything-he-is-just-everything-i-want-i-don-t-think-he-s-everything/) [Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/) > [“I want you to keep this on, always. And think of me. i want to always be on your mind," he says tenderly. "As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-l-jennings/i-want-you-to-keep-this-on-always-and-think-of-me-i-want-to-always-be/) [S.L. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-l-jennings/) > [I think that people are going to think of me however they want to think of me, whether it's female or gay or cancer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-think-that-people-are-going-to-think-of-me-however-they-want-to/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [We do not want to think. We do not want to hear. We do not care about anything. Only give us a good dinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/we-do-not-want-to-think-we-do-not-want-to-hear-we-do-not-care-about/) [Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/) > [We must learn what customers really want, not what they say they want or what we think they should want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/we-must-learn-what-customers-really-want-not-what-they-say-they-want/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [“And when I say “think,” I want you to think about the subject, the location, the perspective, the lighting, the timing, the weather, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-northrup/and-when-i-say-think-i-want-you-to-think-about-the-subject-the/) [Tony Northrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-northrup/) ## More by Gail Honeyman > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“I go over most Sundays,' he went on. 'She doesn't get out much - I'm sure she'd love to see a new face.' 'Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/i-go-over-most-sundays-he-went-on-she-doesn-t-get-out-much-i-m-sure/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“Men like Raymond, pedestrial dullards, would always be distracted by women who looked like her, having neither the wit nor the sophistication to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/men-like-raymond-pedestrial-dullards-would-always-be-distracted-by/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“nebulous and milky, like light from an old, old star.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/nebulous-and-milky-like-light-from-an-old-old-star/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“I allowed my mind to wander. 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There are so many books in the world--how do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/i-have-always-enjoyed-reading-but-i-ve-never-been-sure-how-to-select/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“A human hand was exactly the right weight, exactly the right temperature for touching another person, I realized.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/a-human-hand-was-exactly-the-right-weight-exactly-the-right/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I know some writers are meticulous planners, but I'm not one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/i-know-some-writers-are-meticulous-planners-but-i-m-not-one-of-them/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“I do exist, don’t I? It often feels as if I’m not here, that I’m a figment of my own imagination. There are days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/i-do-exist-don-t-i-it-often-feels-as-if-i-m-not-here-that-i-m-a/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I wanted to show platonic friendship between men and women, because I think it is underutilised in fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/i-wanted-to-show-platonic-friendship-between-men-and-women-because-i/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“When you're struggling hard to manage your own emotions, it becomes unbearable to have to witness other people's, to have to try and manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/when-you-re-struggling-hard-to-manage-your-own-emotions-it-becomes/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“It wasn't that you could take them for granted, as such - heaven knows, nothing can be taken for granted in this life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/it-wasn-t-that-you-could-take-them-for-granted-as-such-heaven-knows/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“I'm responsible. I chose to put myself in a situation where I'm responsible, wanting to look after her, a small, dependent, vulnerable creature. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/i-m-responsible-i-chose-to-put-myself-in-a-situation-where-i-m/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) [Explore all 143 Gail Honeyman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) ## More Big quotes > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. 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But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I always want to do a big finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-yuh-nelson/i-always-want-to-do-a-big-finale/) [Jennifer Yuh Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-yuh-nelson/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. 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