--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I cleaned up some 17 odd years ago…" description: "\"When I cleaned up some 17 odd years ago, I felt terrible for about six months. The only thing that gave me any real relief was strenuous physical activ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57d/james-taylor-2045_activity_when-i-cleaned-up-some-17-odd-years-ago_970416.jpg" --- # When I cleaned up some 17 odd years ago, I felt terrible… ![“When I cleaned up some 17 odd years ago, I felt terrible for about six months. The only thing that gave me any real relief was strenuous physical activity.” quote by James Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57d/james-taylor-2045_activity_when-i-cleaned-up-some-17-odd-years-ago_970416.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57d/james-taylor-2045_activity_when-i-cleaned-up-some-17-odd-years-ago_970416.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57d/james-taylor-2045_activity_when-i-cleaned-up-some-17-odd-years-ago_970416.jpg) > “When I cleaned up some 17 odd years ago, I felt terrible for about six months. The only thing that gave me any real relief was strenuous physical activity.” [James Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-taylor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Physical exertion provided the only meaningful relief after a long period of emotional distress. **In simple terms:** Exercise helped relieve lingering sadness. Key Takeaway Use vigorous activity to cope with lingering grief. Themes grief healing exercise Mood introspective hopeful Type self‑help motivational When to use this quote - post‑breakup recovery - job loss coping - post‑trauma therapy - long‑term sadness Key Concepts psychology stress relief Questions to Reflect On - What activities help you process grief? - Can movement replace talking about pain? A Different Perspective Exercise may not address underlying causes of sorrow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Physical activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-activity/) [Relief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relief/) ## Related quotes > [By eliminating the CFPB, and thereby easing the overarching financial restraints set in place by Dodd-Frank, we can limit the scope and power of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-donalds/by-eliminating-the-cfpb-and-thereby-easing-the-overarching-financial/) [Byron Donalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-donalds/) > [Erasing medical debt is a practical, commonsense way that we can deliver real relief for folks all across Pennsylvania.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-shapiro/erasing-medical-debt-is-a-practical-commonsense-way-that-we-can/) [Josh Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-shapiro/) > [I guess I'm up to about 70% of normal, which is a real relief. 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Our bodies knew each other so well we didn’t have to think about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-mclain/in-some-ways-it-was-as-if-nothing-had-changed-our-bodies-knew-each/) [Paula McLain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-mclain/) > [I felt terrible when I went to Roma because I hadn't fulfilled the expectations of the Florentines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-batistuta/i-felt-terrible-when-i-went-to-roma-because-i-hadn-t-fulfilled-the/) [Gabriel Batistuta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-batistuta/) > [“... I tried to glare at him but I felt terrible and I’m sure I didn’t pull it off. He was handsome, which irked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-crane/i-tried-to-glare-at-him-but-i-felt-terrible-and-i-m-sure-i-didn-t/) [Shelly Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-crane/) > [I mean, I felt terrible. And in the beginning, I mean, I was completely devastated. 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People used to ask me why, and the main reason is that having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-gonzalez/i-shaved-my-head-a-week-or-two-before-senior-year-people-used-to-ask/) [Emma Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-gonzalez/) ## More by James Taylor > [Something I do love about social media is how you can expand your idea. You can make an extension of your art as opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-taylor/something-i-do-love-about-social-media-is-how-you-can-expand-your/) [James Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-taylor/) > [I don't build no heathen temples, where the Lord has done laid a hand. There's a well on the hill, let it be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-taylor/i-don-t-build-no-heathen-temples-where-the-lord-has-done-laid-a-hand/) [James Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-taylor/) > [O, it's enough to be on your way. It's enough just to cover ground. It's enough to be moving on. 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It's boring and painful, filling your system with something that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-taylor/if-you-re-an-addict-it-controls-your-life-and-your-life-becomes/) [James Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-taylor/) > [I'm often surprised by classical music and musicians. I've met a large number of them because my wife works for the Boston Symphony, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-taylor/i-m-often-surprised-by-classical-music-and-musicians-i-ve-met-a-large/) [James Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-taylor/) > [That's the motivation of an artist - to seek attention of some kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-taylor/that-s-the-motivation-of-an-artist-to-seek-attention-of-some-kind/) [James Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-taylor/) [Explore all 190 James Taylor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-taylor/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) Gero Miesenbock > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I cleaned up some 17 odd years ago, I felt terrible for about six months. 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