--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try to take the approach that everyone…" description: "\"I try to take the approach that everyone really is an athlete at some level. I mean, we were all on the playground in the beginning. Some of us just st..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/gunnar-peterson-12199_beginning_i-try-to-take-the-approach-that-everyone_1898098.jpg" --- # I try to take the approach that everyone really is an… ![“I try to take the approach that everyone really is an athlete at some level. I mean, we were all on the playground in the beginning. Some of us just stayed there.” quote by Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/gunnar-peterson-12199_beginning_i-try-to-take-the-approach-that-everyone_1898098.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/gunnar-peterson-12199_beginning_i-try-to-take-the-approach-that-everyone_1898098.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/gunnar-peterson-12199_beginning_i-try-to-take-the-approach-that-everyone_1898098.jpg) > “I try to take the approach that everyone really is an athlete at some level. I mean, we were all on the playground in the beginning. Some of us just stayed there.” [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates seeing everyone as having innate athletic potential, rooted in early play. **In simple terms:** Everyone has an inner athlete from childhood. Key Takeaway Encourage movement in daily life. Themes athletics potential play Mood enthusiastic optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - School PE - office wellness programs - rehabilitation Key Concepts Motor skill development lifelong fitness psychology of sport Questions to Reflect On - What activities make you feel athletic? - How can you nurture that in others? A Different Perspective Not all enjoy formal sports. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach-really-628225/) [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Athlete Level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete-level-1996025/) [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Playground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playground/) [Playground Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playground-beginning-2783516/) [Really Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-athlete-1791525/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) ## Related quotes > [I would have - I didn't really have to be an athlete. I could have been, you know - worked in fast food, been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-oher/i-would-have-i-didn-t-really-have-to-be-an-athlete-i-could-have-been/) [Michael Oher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-oher/) > [My plant-based diet has opened up more doors to being an athlete. It's a whole other level that I'm elevating to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-teter/my-plant-based-diet-has-opened-up-more-doors-to-being-an-athlete-it-s/) [Hannah Teter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-teter/) > [If a person says they're an athlete but they don't compete in sports, then you wonder if they're really an athlete. It's the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-lancie/if-a-person-says-they-re-an-athlete-but-they-don-t-compete-in-sports/) [John de Lancie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-lancie/) > [People still think I'm a bit of a buffoon - not really an athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-the-eagle/people-still-think-i-m-a-bit-of-a-buffoon-not-really-an-athlete/) [Eddie the Eagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-the-eagle/) > [I get nervous around girls for the first time. Once I'm in, I can take the reins and go. It's just the initial approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jensen-ackles/i-get-nervous-around-girls-for-the-first-time-once-i-m-in-i-can-take/) [Jensen Ackles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jensen-ackles/) > [I believe that, by taking an extreme approach, you really get the public to actively engage with a cause or a research ,and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-ben-hayoun/i-believe-that-by-taking-an-extreme-approach-you-really-get-the/) [Nelly Ben Hayoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-ben-hayoun/) > ['Letter to the Trap' is a real approach on how I really feel. It's like when you're in that culture and you're living that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-gotti/letter-to-the-trap-is-a-real-approach-on-how-i-really-feel-it-s-like/) [Yo Gotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-gotti/) > [You can increase the odds of spotting the weak points in your approach if you really think about the end-to-end business model you plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-d-anthony/you-can-increase-the-odds-of-spotting-the-weak-points-in-your/) [Scott D. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-d-anthony/) > [Any time someone doesn't like one on the first run, I hope they will give it another shot. At least we'll get another chance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-anderson/any-time-someone-doesn-t-like-one-on-the-first-run-i-hope-they-will/) [Wes Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-anderson/) > [At AZ the approach is really like it was when I was young - we train religiously and for long hours, over and over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jozy-altidore/at-az-the-approach-is-really-like-it-was-when-i-was-young-we-train/) [Jozy Altidore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jozy-altidore/) > [I try to emulate his approach of really get the most out of people by allowing them to experiment and certainly allowing people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-henson/i-try-to-emulate-his-approach-of-really-get-the-most-out-of-people-by/) [Brian Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-henson/) > [People should find what approach really speaks to them, and then do it. Obviously, better with a good teacher, who can help you on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/people-should-find-what-approach-really-speaks-to-them-and-then-do-it/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [As far as my mental approach, I really think it's just knowing that the past is really irrelevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-arrieta/as-far-as-my-mental-approach-i-really-think-it-s-just-knowing-that/) [Jake Arrieta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-arrieta/) > [Make your race a playground, not a proving ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-fleshman/make-your-race-a-playground-not-a-proving-ground/) [Lauren Fleshman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-fleshman/) > [“Near home I ran through our park, where I had aired my children on weekends and late-summer afternoons. I stopped at the northeast playground,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-paley/near-home-i-ran-through-our-park-where-i-had-aired-my-children-on/) [Grace Paley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-paley/) ## More by Gunnar Peterson > [I really like battle ropes. They're so versatile; you can get a terrific workout doing a ton of different exercises with them. My clients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/i-really-like-battle-ropes-they-re-so-versatile-you-can-get-a/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [I try to do the right thing. If you do what you know is right, and you're a good person, you might not win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/i-try-to-do-the-right-thing-if-you-do-what-you-know-is-right-and-you/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [You need to lift weights and do more resistance training. Get more sleep. I'm the first one who's guilty of not doing that, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/you-need-to-lift-weights-and-do-more-resistance-training-get-more/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [Even if you can't do a full real push-up, I'd rather have you do them with a limited range of motion and work up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/even-if-you-can-t-do-a-full-real-push-up-i-d-rather-have-you-do-them/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [There are 800 some muscles, 200 some bones. Your body works in three planes of motion: arms, legs - pentadactyl limbs. That's what we're working with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/there-are-800-some-muscles-200-some-bones-your-body-works-in-three/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [When I opened my gym, I got rid of the scales! Stepping on a scale empowers an inanimate object - every time you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/when-i-opened-my-gym-i-got-rid-of-the-scales-stepping-on-a-scale/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [My mom - when I complained about my weight, she asked me if I wanted to keep complaining or do something about it. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/my-mom-when-i-complained-about-my-weight-she-asked-me-if-i-wanted-to/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [Try not to make every eating transgression at once. When I go out, I won't ever do both dessert and drinks. Just pick one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/try-not-to-make-every-eating-transgression-at-once-when-i-go-out-i/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [Kellan Gillis was the first celebrity that I worked with - that didn't hurt. Working out after that with Jennifer Lopez was huge in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/kellan-gillis-was-the-first-celebrity-that-i-worked-with-that-didn-t/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [Don't show up late. Don't try to slide out early. Don't cheat your rep counts. And definitely, don't hold back. Leave it all in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/don-t-show-up-late-don-t-try-to-slide-out-early-don-t-cheat-your-rep/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [Not to sound corny, but if life is a sport, if you're moving to dive on a fumble or pick up a basketball in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/not-to-sound-corny-but-if-life-is-a-sport-if-you-re-moving-to-dive-on/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [If you think you're going to do 100 crunches and a plank and burn away belly fat, you're not. Yes, you're going to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/if-you-think-you-re-going-to-do-100-crunches-and-a-plank-and-burn/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [If you were inactive due to an injury or a surgery, then common sense rules the day when inching closer to the area that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/if-you-were-inactive-due-to-an-injury-or-a-surgery-then-common-sense/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [There's so much you can do with bodyweight alone. The basics always come up for a reason: sit-ups, planks, push-ups. They'll always give you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/there-s-so-much-you-can-do-with-bodyweight-alone-the-basics-always/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [Constant deprivation is no way to live. Don't always skip the delicious stuff for raw carrots and brown rice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/constant-deprivation-is-no-way-to-live-don-t-always-skip-the/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) [Explore all 56 Gunnar Peterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) ## More Athlete quotes > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [I don't want to say names, but there are certain companies I won't work with because of previous people they've worked with. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-don-t-want-to-say-names-but-there-are-certain-companies-i-won-t/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [We are like highly trained athletes, who never run a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/we-are-like-highly-trained-athletes-who-never-run-a-race/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [Treat yourself like an overweight, out of shape person and that's what you will be. Why not train and treat yourself like an athlete?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalene-johnson/treat-yourself-like-an-overweight-out-of-shape-person-and-that-s-what/) [Chalene Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalene-johnson/) [Browse all 2,455 Athlete quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I try to take the approach that everyone really is an athlete at some level. I mean, we were all on the playground in the beginning. 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