--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I know now is that even after the…" description: "\"“What I know now is that even after the divorce I should simply have been grateful for what I had. I should have celebrated my life as it was, imperfec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/gilly-macmillan-23580_gratitude_what-i-know-now-is-that-even-after-the-d_1063668.jpg" --- # What I know now is that even after the divorce I should… ![“What I know now is that even after the divorce I should simply have been grateful for what I had. I should have celebrated my life as it was, imperfections, sadness, and all, and not forensically examined its faults. Those faults were largely in the eyes of a critical and sharp-edged society…” quote by Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/gilly-macmillan-23580_gratitude_what-i-know-now-is-that-even-after-the-d_1063668.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/gilly-macmillan-23580_gratitude_what-i-know-now-is-that-even-after-the-d_1063668.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/gilly-macmillan-23580_gratitude_what-i-know-now-is-that-even-after-the-d_1063668.jpg) > ““What I know now is that even after the divorce I should simply have been grateful for what I had. I should have celebrated my life as it was, imperfections, sadness, and all, and not forensically examined its faults. Those faults were largely in the eyes of a critical and sharp-edged society anyhow, and I had learned to recognize them by osmosis, by following the herd.”” [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. After divorce, gratitude for life’s imperfections is healthier than societal criticism. **In simple terms:** Appreciate life despite flaws and external judgment. Key Takeaway Practice gratitude and self‑acceptance. Themes gratitude self‑acceptance social pressure Mood reflective empathetic Type inspirational self‑help When to use this quote - relationship healing - personal growth - career transitions - mental health - community involvement Key Concepts psychology well‑being philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can you shift focus from faults to blessings? - What steps help you resist herd mentality? A Different Perspective Societal expectations can still cause lingering self‑criticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) ## Related quotes > [“I should have celebrated my life as it was, imperfections, sadness, and all, and not forensically examined its faults.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/i-should-have-celebrated-my-life-as-it-was-imperfections-sadness-and/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) > [“I should have celebrated my life as it was, imperfections, sadness and all, and not forensically examined its faults. Those faults were largely in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/i-should-have-celebrated-my-life-as-it-was-imperfections-sadness-and-2/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) > [You know why divorce costs so much? Because it is worth it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-o-brien/you-know-why-divorce-costs-so-much-because-it-is-worth-it/) [Dan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-o-brien/) > [“I don't know why divorce happens, but it does. Embracing it means stepping into the unknown future with a known God and trusting that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-grice/i-don-t-know-why-divorce-happens-but-it-does-embracing-it-means/) Jen Grice > [Oprah deserves the best. I am not the best when it comes to divorce. What do I know about divorce? Nothing at that time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/oprah-deserves-the-best-i-am-not-the-best-when-it-comes-to-divorce/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [Do you know why divorce is so expensive? Because it's worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-know-why-divorce-is-so-expensive-because-it-s-worth-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That was when I still had a mother who taught me to read and write; who handled books with care, saying they were marvels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agustina-bazterrica/that-was-when-i-still-had-a-mother-who-taught-me-to-read-and-write/) Agustina Bazterrica > [“They didn’t live anymore in a world where life was to be colorful and celebrated. Life had become something you clung to, that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-crouch/they-didn-t-live-anymore-in-a-world-where-life-was-to-be-colorful-and/) [Blake Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-crouch/) > [It would be flattering to be thought of as someone who celebrated life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjork/it-would-be-flattering-to-be-thought-of-as-someone-who-celebrated-life/) [Bjork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjork/) > [“Looking beyond life’s imperfections allows one to be able to find happiness. Life is not perfect, ever. For me, remembering that life is flawed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/looking-beyond-life-s-imperfections-allows-one-to-be-able-to-find/) [Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/) > [Your ability to grow to your highest potential is directly related to your willingness to act in the face of imperfection. You will come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/your-ability-to-grow-to-your-highest-potential-is-directly-related-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“In japanese culture, there's a belief that only imperfect objects, like a cracked teacup, can truly be beautiful. This is called wabi sabi. Try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blinkist/in-japanese-culture-there-s-a-belief-that-only-imperfect-objects-like/) Blinkist > [Being happy doen't mean that everything is perfect. Its means you're decided to see life beyond the imperfections. Don't say you're happy because everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-happy-doen-t-mean-that-everything-is-perfect-its-means-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of our major flaws, and causes of unhappiness, is that we find it hard to take note of appreciate and be grateful for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/one-of-our-major-flaws-and-causes-of-unhappiness-is-that-we-find-it/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant ## More by Gilly Macmillan > [“Really, I’ve never understood why we haven’t thought of an English word for Schadenfreude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/really-i-ve-never-understood-why-we-haven-t-thought-of-an-english/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) > [“The way she said his name, the tenderness in those two words, the loss, told me that it was Charlie who she mourned above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/the-way-she-said-his-name-the-tenderness-in-those-two-words-the-loss/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) > [“I should have celebrated my life as it was, imperfections, sadness, and all, and not forensically examined its faults.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/i-should-have-celebrated-my-life-as-it-was-imperfections-sadness-and/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) > [“the only life is a shadowy turbulence at the periphery of my vision, a fox perhaps,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/the-only-life-is-a-shadowy-turbulence-at-the-periphery-of-my-vision-a/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) > [“long odds don’t always make any difference at all. Somebody always makes up that small percentage of people to whom unlikely or desperate things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/long-odds-don-t-always-make-any-difference-at-all-somebody-always/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) > [“Outside, I take in the fact that the night is deeply dusky and warm, and that feels like a balm after the cold air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/outside-i-take-in-the-fact-that-the-night-is-deeply-dusky-and-warm/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) > [“it’s to do with not being able to let go of what Richard and I had, the perfect idea of us, even though our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/it-s-to-do-with-not-being-able-to-let-go-of-what-richard-and-i-had/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) > [“I should have celebrated my life as it was, imperfections, sadness and all, and not forensically examined its faults. Those faults were largely in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/i-should-have-celebrated-my-life-as-it-was-imperfections-sadness-and-2/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) > [“At home, in the empty flat, I wish more than anything that I had somebody who would come home to me tonight, somebody I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/at-home-in-the-empty-flat-i-wish-more-than-anything-that-i-had/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) > [“limit my answer because my trust in others has been eroded by what happened; of course it has. Within many of my relationships doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/limit-my-answer-because-my-trust-in-others-has-been-eroded-by-what/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) > [“Our friendship didn’t survive. Some things are too big for other people to bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/our-friendship-didn-t-survive-some-things-are-too-big-for-other/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) > [“Instead, I count my blessings every day for my blemished, damaged family, which is full of love, and that is fine, and that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/instead-i-count-my-blessings-every-day-for-my-blemished-damaged/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) > [“laugh. How is it that manners are so strong that they pervade all situations?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/laugh-how-is-it-that-manners-are-so-strong-that-they-pervade-all/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) > [“Sometimes it's hard not to let other people's misery seep into your own bones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/sometimes-it-s-hard-not-to-let-other-people-s-misery-seep-into-your/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) > [“I’m tempted to walk away from this city and this life and this relationship that’s brought me the greatest feelings of joy but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilly-macmillan/i-m-tempted-to-walk-away-from-this-city-and-this-life-and-this/) [Gilly Macmillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) [Explore all 25 Gilly Macmillan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilly-macmillan/) ## More Grateful quotes > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [Dear God, I trust that no matter what happens in my life, it is for my highest good. And no matter what happens in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/dear-god-i-trust-that-no-matter-what-happens-in-my-life-it-is-for-my/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Kenny G, I have to be grateful to him for proving that the instrument can be played all different kinds of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/kenny-g-i-have-to-be-grateful-to-him-for-proving-that-the-instrument/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Our nation's promise to have veterans' backs must extend to their families, who for their own service and sacrifices, deserve the full support of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/our-nation-s-promise-to-have-veterans-backs-must-extend-to-their/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [“I'm grateful you entrusted me with them. But the day will come when someone will knock the sails out of you. She'll shatter every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senayda-pierre/i-m-grateful-you-entrusted-me-with-them-but-the-day-will-come-when/) [Senayda Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senayda-pierre/) > [Cooking brings me so much joy. I love everything, down to the execution of the plate to picking out fresh ingredients at the market.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-budig/cooking-brings-me-so-much-joy-i-love-everything-down-to-the-execution/) [Kathryn Budig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-budig/) > [I'm just grateful to people who are willing to admit how bad things feel for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-m-just-grateful-to-people-who-are-willing-to-admit-how-bad-things/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [Together, we must prioritize the wellbeing of those who have selflessly served our nation. This is the least that a grateful nation can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-n-green/together-we-must-prioritize-the-wellbeing-of-those-who-have/) [Al N. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-n-green/) > [I am persuaded that there is no affection of the human heart more exquisitely pure, than that which is felt by a grateful son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/i-am-persuaded-that-there-is-no-affection-of-the-human-heart-more/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [Often I'm told I'm an inspiration to people which I will forever be grateful for. But the reality is that I'm only able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/often-i-m-told-i-m-an-inspiration-to-people-which-i-will-forever-be/) [Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/) > [Love your family. Love your country. Never stop learning... And always look back and be grateful to where you came from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gokongwei/love-your-family-love-your-country-never-stop-learning-and-always/) [John Gokongwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gokongwei/) > [I'm grateful to Kroger for investing in our community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/i-m-grateful-to-kroger-for-investing-in-our-community/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) [Browse all 4,100 Grateful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What I know now is that even after the divorce I should simply have been grateful for what I had. I should have celebrated my life as it was, imperfections, sadness, and all, and not forensically examined its faults. 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