--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is what it is. I can't change what's…" description: "\"It is what it is. I can't change what's happened to me.\" — Giles Duley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/giles-duley-24456_can-t-change_it-is-what-it-is-i-can-t-change-what-s-h_2827088.jpg" --- # It is what it is. I can't change what's happened to me. ![“It is what it is. I can't change what's happened to me.” quote by Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/giles-duley-24456_can-t-change_it-is-what-it-is-i-can-t-change-what-s-h_2827088.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/giles-duley-24456_can-t-change_it-is-what-it-is-i-can-t-change-what-s-h_2827088.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/giles-duley-24456_can-t-change_it-is-what-it-is-i-can-t-change-what-s-h_2827088.jpg) > “It is what it is. I can't change what's happened to me.” [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acceptance of past events as unchangeable. **In simple terms:** Accept what cannot change. Key Takeaway Focus on present actions. Themes acceptance resilience impermanence Mood calm reflective Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - stress management - personal growth - mindfulness Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What can you change now? - How does acceptance help you move forward? A Different Perspective Denial may hinder learning from past. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Can't change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-t-change/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ## Related quotes > [You can't change what happened. Just like you can't change the future by worrying about it. You just have to keep moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/you-can-t-change-what-happened-just-like-you-can-t-change-the-future/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [You can't change what happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-momsen/you-can-t-change-what-happened/) [Taylor Momsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-momsen/) > [You can't change what happened. But you can still change what will happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-vettel/you-can-t-change-what-happened-but-you-can-still-change-what-will/) [Sebastian Vettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-vettel/) > [I'm living with every step. I can't live with regret. The past is the past. I'm not worried about it. I can't change it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-sheckler/i-m-living-with-every-step-i-can-t-live-with-regret-the-past-is-the/) [Ryan Sheckler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-sheckler/) > [One good thing about the past is that you can't change it. So there's no reason to go back. It's there. It is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/one-good-thing-about-the-past-is-that-you-can-t-change-it-so-there-s/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [A change had to happened whereby it had to change within ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/a-change-had-to-happened-whereby-it-had-to-change-within-ourselves/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [“While you can't change what happened, you can change your perception or memory of what occurred.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/while-you-can-t-change-what-happened-you-can-change-your-perception/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [Do not give any time to your past, you cant change what happened 5 minutes ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/do-not-give-any-time-to-your-past-you-cant-change-what-happened-5/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You simply cannot change what has happened in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-lovren/you-simply-cannot-change-what-has-happened-in-the-past/) [Dejan Lovren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-lovren/) > [I don't think I would go back and change anything that's happened in my career, because maybe those things were steppingstones to where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/i-don-t-think-i-would-go-back-and-change-anything-that-s-happened-in/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [The past is the past you cant change anything that has already happened! all you can do is make sure it doesn't happen again!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-past-is-the-past-you-cant-change-anything-that-has-already/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [There are things we regret but we cannot simply change what happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-things-we-regret-but-we-cannot-simply-change-what-happened/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's human nature for everyone to say 'what if,' but I try to snap out of it as quickly as I can because I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/it-s-human-nature-for-everyone-to-say-what-if-but-i-try-to-snap-out/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [“Just when you thought change had happened, that acceptance and equal rights were the norm, a throwaway comment, or unguarded phrase revealed the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-hartley/just-when-you-thought-change-had-happened-that-acceptance-and-equal/) Lisa Hartley > [You can't change what has happened, but you can choose how you're going to deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/you-can-t-change-what-has-happened-but-you-can-choose-how-you-re/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) ## More by Giles Duley > [I am a big believer in love. Love for me is what got me through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/i-am-a-big-believer-in-love-love-for-me-is-what-got-me-through/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [When I worked as a music and fashion photographer, I always had the nagging feeling that there was something missing, that I wasn't using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/when-i-worked-as-a-music-and-fashion-photographer-i-always-had-the/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [A lot of great creativity comes from restrictions,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/a-lot-of-great-creativity-comes-from-restrictions/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [I really love the Olympics: Daley Thompson's back-flip, Derek Redmond's father helping him finish the 400m after his hamstring snapped at the 1992 Games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/i-really-love-the-olympics-daley-thompson-s-back-flip-derek-redmond-s/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [For those looking at me, meeting me for the first time, it is the body they see. I am labelled as disabled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/for-those-looking-at-me-meeting-me-for-the-first-time-it-is-the-body/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [My friends love this idea of me as half man, half camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/my-friends-love-this-idea-of-me-as-half-man-half-camera/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [For most Olympic athletes, their training is their hardest challenge and where they push themselves to the limit. For Paralympians, training and competition is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/for-most-olympic-athletes-their-training-is-their-hardest-challenge/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [I don't see many people as heroes and, though I love sport, I believe athletes rarely deserve that praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/i-don-t-see-many-people-as-heroes-and-though-i-love-sport-i-believe/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [I was obsessed from the moment I took my first photograph. I wanted to make photography my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/i-was-obsessed-from-the-moment-i-took-my-first-photograph-i-wanted-to/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [When you are doing portraits, you have that intimacy with someone for a few minutes. For a really good portrait, you don't take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/when-you-are-doing-portraits-you-have-that-intimacy-with-someone-for/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [I don't see myself as being injured by a landmine or the Taliban; I was injured by ignorance and hatred. When people do these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/i-don-t-see-myself-as-being-injured-by-a-landmine-or-the-taliban-i/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [I had been a fashion photographer for over ten years, but I'd always been dissatisfied with what I was doing. It was all about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/i-had-been-a-fashion-photographer-for-over-ten-years-but-i-d-always/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [People who look at Greek statues never say it's a shame because they're not complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/people-who-look-at-greek-statues-never-say-it-s-a-shame-because-they/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [I'm not a war photographer. I've always dealt with the consequences of conflict,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/i-m-not-a-war-photographer-i-ve-always-dealt-with-the-consequences-of/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [If you focus on the things you can't do, you'll destroy yourself. Just remember everything you can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/if-you-focus-on-the-things-you-can-t-do-you-ll-destroy-yourself-just/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) [Explore all 24 Giles Duley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) ## More Can't change quotes > [Donʹt worry now about what you canʹt change. Rest when you can so youʹll be ready for tomorrowʹs battles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/don-t-worry-now-about-what-you-can-t-change-rest-when-you-can-so-you/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [You can't change your life. This mode in literature goes against the more middle-brown mode, which is about shaping your destiny, changing it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-mccarthy/you-can-t-change-your-life-this-mode-in-literature-goes-against-the/) Tommy McCarthy > [You can't change a man, no-ways. By the time his mummy turns him loose and he takes up with some innocent woman and marries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-kinnan-rawlings/you-can-t-change-a-man-no-ways-by-the-time-his-mummy-turns-him-loose/) [Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-kinnan-rawlings/) > [I don't worry about the things I can't change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/i-don-t-worry-about-the-things-i-can-t-change/) [Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/) > [Congress decides who becomes a citizen and how. To automatically say the 14th Amendment grants birthright citizenship, no, we can't change that. Amending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/congress-decides-who-becomes-a-citizen-and-how-to-automatically-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Though I can't change what happened, I can choose how to react. And I don't want to spend the rest of my life being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/though-i-can-t-change-what-happened-i-can-choose-how-to-react-and-i/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [When a poem is really finished, you can't change anything. You can't move words around. You can't say, 'In other words, you mean.' No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-merwin/when-a-poem-is-really-finished-you-can-t-change-anything-you-can-t/) [W. S. Merwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-merwin/) > [The only thing one can usually change in one's situation is oneself. And yet one can't change that either-only ask Our Lord to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-only-thing-one-can-usually-change-in-one-s-situation-is-oneself/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I can't change my gender, and I refuse to stop making movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-bigelow/i-can-t-change-my-gender-and-i-refuse-to-stop-making-movies/) [Kathryn Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-bigelow/) > [But I think it's more that when you're young, you're invincible, you're immortal - or at least you think you are. The possibilities are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/but-i-think-it-s-more-that-when-you-re-young-you-re-invincible-you-re/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [You can't change t he wor ld f rom t he rear view mir ror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/you-can-t-change-t-he-wor-ld-f-rom-t-he-rear-view-mir-ror/) [Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/) > [You can't change your attitude because you're the champion. I've always kept my feet on the ground and never wanted to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renan-barao/you-can-t-change-your-attitude-because-you-re-the-champion-i-ve/) Renan Barao > [By the time you're 30, you know who you are inside. You learn to laugh at things you can't change; you learn to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajol/by-the-time-you-re-30-you-know-who-you-are-inside-you-learn-to-laugh/) [Kajol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajol/) > [Those that can't change even their toothbrush and pyjamas are trying to change the world! Let us be serious!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/those-that-can-t-change-even-their-toothbrush-and-pyjamas-are-trying/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The message I'm sending to myself - I can't change the world until I change myself first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/the-message-i-m-sending-to-myself-i-can-t-change-the-world-until-i/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) [Browse all 311 Can't change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-t-change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is what it is. 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