--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you've been in that state - call it…" description: "\"When you've been in that state - call it a no man's land, because a future can't be seen. People say, 'Why don't you snap out of it?' The answer is, I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/jay-blades-5811_alive_when-you-ve-been-in-that-state-call-it-a_443367.jpg" --- # When you've been in that state - call it a no man's land… ![“When you've been in that state - call it a no man's land, because a future can't be seen. People say, 'Why don't you snap out of it?' The answer is, I didn't even know most of the time that I was alive, never mind being able to talk about it.” quote by Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/jay-blades-5811_alive_when-you-ve-been-in-that-state-call-it-a_443367.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/jay-blades-5811_alive_when-you-ve-been-in-that-state-call-it-a_443367.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/jay-blades-5811_alive_when-you-ve-been-in-that-state-call-it-a_443367.jpg) > “When you've been in that state - call it a no man's land, because a future can't be seen. People say, 'Why don't you snap out of it?' The answer is, I didn't even know most of the time that I was alive, never mind being able to talk about it.” [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes feeling stuck in an undefined limbo, unaware of existence, highlighting dissociation and the need for awareness. **In simple terms:** Feeling lost and unaware of being alive. Key Takeaway Cultivate mindfulness to recognize and move beyond stagnation. Themes mental health awareness stagnation Mood somber hopeful Type therapeutic reflective When to use this quote - therapy - meditation - support groups Key Concepts dissociation self‑realization Questions to Reflect On - How can you become more present? - What steps break the no‑man’s‑land feeling? A Different Perspective Self‑awareness alone may not resolve deep trauma without external help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Land Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land-future-2148031/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Man Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-land-1469578/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [People say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-say/) [State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Whatever it will bring, it will be good to be there, in the Land of Future!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/whatever-it-will-bring-it-will-be-good-to-be-there-in-the-land-of/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The value of land must, in the future, be assessed on its yield of potable water. Those property-owners with a constant source of pure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mollison/the-value-of-land-must-in-the-future-be-assessed-on-its-yield-of/) [Bill Mollison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mollison/) > [America is therefore the land of the future, where, in the ages that lie before us, the burden of the World's History shall reveal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/america-is-therefore-the-land-of-the-future-where-in-the-ages-that/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [There are many people who live in what I call 'No-man's Land,' a place where you're not really happy, but you're not unhappy enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/there-are-many-people-who-live-in-what-i-call-no-man-s-land-a-place/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [I was always stuck in a musical no man's land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-blackmore/i-was-always-stuck-in-a-musical-no-man-s-land/) [Ritchie Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-blackmore/) > [We will not be caught in no man's land,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/we-will-not-be-caught-in-no-man-s-land/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [Basketball, man: it is a land of giants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amar-e-stoudemire/basketball-man-it-is-a-land-of-giants/) [Amar'e Stoudemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amar-e-stoudemire/) > [The reason why Absurdist plays take place in No Man's Land with only two characters is primarily financial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-adamov/the-reason-why-absurdist-plays-take-place-in-no-man-s-land-with-only/) [Arthur Adamov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-adamov/) > [The thing with 'No Man's Land' is not to see it, but how to make people to go to see it. The one negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danis-tanovic/the-thing-with-no-man-s-land-is-not-to-see-it-but-how-to-make-people/) [Danis Tanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danis-tanovic/) > [“We often exist in no man’s land; between the extremities of what we want to be and what we have become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapan-ghosh/we-often-exist-in-no-man-s-land-between-the-extremities-of-what-we/) [Tapan Ghosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapan-ghosh/) > [“I never had anything before this all started. I've lived in No-Man's-Land for thirty years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-millard/i-never-had-anything-before-this-all-started-i-ve-lived-in-no-man-s/) [Glenda Millard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-millard/) > [“can you think?, why neil amstrong the first man, land at the moon, while was three man, going there too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rio-ardhityo/can-you-think-why-neil-amstrong-the-first-man-land-at-the-moon-while/) [Rio ardhityo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rio-ardhityo/) > [“In no man's land, alien is the queen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/in-no-man-s-land-alien-is-the-queen/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [Quite often you hear people say, 'What about separation of church and state?' There is no such thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-severson/quite-often-you-hear-people-say-what-about-separation-of-church-and/) [Dan Severson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-severson/) > [“There's no need for a reason for people to fall in love. Even if people say there is a reason, that's just something they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuna-takagi/there-s-no-need-for-a-reason-for-people-to-fall-in-love-even-if/) [Yuna Takagi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuna-takagi/) ## More by Jay Blades > [If I'm not making something, it doesn't feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/if-i-m-not-making-something-it-doesn-t-feel-good/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [I went to a predominantly white secondary school and experienced a lot of hate and racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/i-went-to-a-predominantly-white-secondary-school-and-experienced-a/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [My mum moved to Luton and I lived up there with her for a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/my-mum-moved-to-luton-and-i-lived-up-there-with-her-for-a-bit/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [People find it amazing that somebody can't read. It's like not everybody is a David Beckham, not everybody can kick the ball and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/people-find-it-amazing-that-somebody-can-t-read-it-s-like-not/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [If you're not making something that can be repaired, why are you making it? It's just going to go to landfill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/if-you-re-not-making-something-that-can-be-repaired-why-are-you/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [I was the tough guy who never showed any emotion and dealt with nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/i-was-the-tough-guy-who-never-showed-any-emotion-and-dealt-with/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [One of the people I lived with was a bit naughty and would steal our food. You would see him with the cornflakes box…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/one-of-the-people-i-lived-with-was-a-bit-naughty-and-would-steal-our/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [People are embarrassed to admit they're dyslexic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/people-are-embarrassed-to-admit-they-re-dyslexic/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [I used to think of Hackney in a really good light, now it's too much linked to slavery, too much. And then you're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/i-used-to-think-of-hackney-in-a-really-good-light-now-it-s-too-much/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [It's wonderful to know nothing's so broken it can't be mended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/it-s-wonderful-to-know-nothing-s-so-broken-it-can-t-be-mended/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [No matter where you are in life, no matter what you think you can't achieve, there are people ready to support you - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/no-matter-where-you-are-in-life-no-matter-what-you-think-you-can-t/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [Dyslexia is a hidden disability. Not many people take it seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/dyslexia-is-a-hidden-disability-not-many-people-take-it-seriously/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [My reading skills are improving but I'm still using coping strategies. I can read signs and I can work things out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/my-reading-skills-are-improving-but-i-m-still-using-coping-strategies/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [I think I knew three couples that were together. I don't remember seeing too many men in my estate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/i-think-i-knew-three-couples-that-were-together-i-don-t-remember/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [I can't say what she did was bad, because she did the best she could, but Mum's input was more to do with survival…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/i-can-t-say-what-she-did-was-bad-because-she-did-the-best-she-could/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) [Explore all 100 Jay Blades quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you've been in that state - call it a no man's land, because a future can't be seen. People say, 'Why don't you snap out of it?' 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