--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Right when I was lying on the ground and…" description: "\"Right when I was lying on the ground and saw my legs, I didn't think first, 'I'm going to die.' I was thinking, 'I'm not going to run again. I can't pl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/jeff-bauman-12979_basketball_right-when-i-was-lying-on-the-ground-and_1545578.jpg" --- # Right when I was lying on the ground and saw my legs, I… ![“Right when I was lying on the ground and saw my legs, I didn't think first, 'I'm going to die.' I was thinking, 'I'm not going to run again. I can't play basketball. I'm not going to skate.'” quote by Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/jeff-bauman-12979_basketball_right-when-i-was-lying-on-the-ground-and_1545578.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/jeff-bauman-12979_basketball_right-when-i-was-lying-on-the-ground-and_1545578.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/jeff-bauman-12979_basketball_right-when-i-was-lying-on-the-ground-and_1545578.jpg) > “Right when I was lying on the ground and saw my legs, I didn't think first, 'I'm going to die.' I was thinking, 'I'm not going to run again. I can't play basketball. I'm not going to skate.'” [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. After a traumatic injury, the narrator fears loss of identity tied to physical activity, illustrating grief and fear of diminished purpose. **In simple terms:** Injury leads to fear of losing who you are. Key Takeaway Find purpose beyond physical abilities. Themes resilience identity trauma Mood hopeful somber Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - rehabilitation - sports - career change - mental health Key Concepts post‑traumatic growth self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - What new passions can replace lost activities? - How can community support rebuild identity? A Different Perspective Physical limits don’t define whole self. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I thought, I'm going to die. And, thinking that, I was determined to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-thought-i-m-going-to-die-and-thinking-that-i-was-determined-to-live/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Not only was I not a good dancer, I was one of the worst. I didn't have the long thin legs, and I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-phillips/not-only-was-i-not-a-good-dancer-i-was-one-of-the-worst-i-didn-t-have/) [Arlene Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-phillips/) > [...that left Francesca to slink into the chair opposite us. My feeling of superiority was short-lived, however, when she settled herself down and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/that-left-francesca-to-slink-into-the-chair-opposite-us-my-feeling-of/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [“As they walked out of the store, Ifemelu said, “I was waiting for her to ask ‘Was it the one with two eyes or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/as-they-walked-out-of-the-store-ifemelu-said-i-was-waiting-for-her-to/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [“I would like to die thinking that humanity has a bright future,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-vance/i-would-like-to-die-thinking-that-humanity-has-a-bright-future/) [Ashlee Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-vance/) > [We live thinking we will never die, We die thinking we have never lived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-becker/we-live-thinking-we-will-never-die-we-die-thinking-we-have-never-lived/) [Jason Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-becker/) > [The George Roop loss was a huge shock to me, and it really got me thinking about how I fight, and about life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-korean-zombie/the-george-roop-loss-was-a-huge-shock-to-me-and-it-really-got-me/) [The Korean Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-korean-zombie/) > [“My dream is to die thinking "Wow, that was fun! I'm tired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masami-tsuda/my-dream-is-to-die-thinking-wow-that-was-fun-i-m-tired/) Masami Tsuda > [“If the thing they were fighting for was important enough to die for then it was also important enough for them to be thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/if-the-thing-they-were-fighting-for-was-important-enough-to-die-for/) [Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/) > [“You are what you love. No? You are, completely and only, what you would die for without .. thinking twice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/you-are-what-you-love-no-you-are-completely-and-only-what-you-would-2/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“Thinking! Thinking! The process should no longer be merely this feeble flurry of hailstones that raises a little dust. It should be something quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-g-le-cl-zio/thinking-thinking-the-process-should-no-longer-be-merely-this-feeble/) [J.M.G. Le Clézio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-g-le-cl-zio/) > [Learn to change your fears into your beautiful smiles,Don't ever afraid of giving a start, Because most of the people die in thinking instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/learn-to-change-your-fears-into-your-beautiful-smiles-don-t-ever/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [In the movie, I deal with the loss of my legs and adjusting and trying to become a new person, essentially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/in-the-movie-i-deal-with-the-loss-of-my-legs-and-adjusting-and-trying/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [I really didn't think anything would come out of doing stand-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-widdicombe/i-really-didn-t-think-anything-would-come-out-of-doing-stand-up/) [Josh Widdicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-widdicombe/) > [I didn't think it was possible for Asians to be actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-didn-t-think-it-was-possible-for-asians-to-be-actors/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) ## More by Jeff Bauman > [In the movie, I deal with the loss of my legs and adjusting and trying to become a new person, essentially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/in-the-movie-i-deal-with-the-loss-of-my-legs-and-adjusting-and-trying/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [“But I know something else, too: bad people are rare. Good people are everywhere”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/but-i-know-something-else-too-bad-people-are-rare-good-people-are/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [“You get only two or three important choices in life. What job you do, whom you marry. Those are big decisions. If you’re right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/you-get-only-two-or-three-important-choices-in-life-what-job-you-do/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [Sometimes I think, 'Maybe I could have a drink or two.' But then I think about it, and I just don't want to. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/sometimes-i-think-maybe-i-could-have-a-drink-or-two-but-then-i-think/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [I'm scared. Seeing my life being told in a movie. That is nerve-wracking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/i-m-scared-seeing-my-life-being-told-in-a-movie-that-is-nerve-wracking/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [Everyone deals with loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/everyone-deals-with-loss/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [Sometimes I don't fully accept it. It's tough. I miss doing old things. I miss shooting hoops with my friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/sometimes-i-don-t-fully-accept-it-it-s-tough-i-miss-doing-old-things/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [Knowing that I might be encouraging others by facing my own difficulties is what helps me get out of bed in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/knowing-that-i-might-be-encouraging-others-by-facing-my-own/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [In my eyes, there's heroes I look up to. People who saved me - my caretakers, people at Boston Medical Center. My surgeon. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/in-my-eyes-there-s-heroes-i-look-up-to-people-who-saved-me-my/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [I just want to get to the places I can't get in the wheelchair, you know? I want to stand up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/i-just-want-to-get-to-the-places-i-can-t-get-in-the-wheelchair-you/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [I wish I wasn't the face of the victims - three lost near the finish line and hundreds injured - because then everyone would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/i-wish-i-wasn-t-the-face-of-the-victims-three-lost-near-the-finish/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [“It’s a picture of hope because the kid without his legs? The one burned and cut and deathly pale? He lived. And he’s going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/it-s-a-picture-of-hope-because-the-kid-without-his-legs-the-one/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [I really want to do something great. I want to be out there, I want to help people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/i-really-want-to-do-something-great-i-want-to-be-out-there-i-want-to/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [My nerves are always, you know, shooting off and it's just, you know, it's very different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/my-nerves-are-always-you-know-shooting-off-and-it-s-just-you-know-it/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [Isolation is huge when you go through something traumatizing. You tend to want to isolate and kind of hide in your hole and kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/isolation-is-huge-when-you-go-through-something-traumatizing-you-tend/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) [Explore all 52 Jeff Bauman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Right when I was lying on the ground and saw my legs, I didn't think first, 'I'm going to die.' I was thinking, 'I'm not going to run again. I can't play basketball. I'm not going to skate.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeff Bauman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/right-when-i-was-lying-on-the-ground-and-saw-my-legs-i-didn-t-think/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/right-when-i-was-lying-on-the-ground-and-saw-my-legs-i-didn-t-think/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/jeff-bauman-12979_basketball_right-when-i-was-lying-on-the-ground-and_1545578.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/jeff-bauman-12979_basketball_right-when-i-was-lying-on-the-ground-and_1545578.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/jeff-bauman-12979_basketball_right-when-i-was-lying-on-the-ground-and_1545578.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Right when I was lying on the ground and saw my legs, I didn't think first, 'I'm going to die.' I was…” — Jeff Bauman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jeff Bauman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Right when I was lying on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/right-when-i-was-lying-on-the-ground-and-saw-my-legs-i-didn-t-think/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/right-when-i-was-lying-on-the-ground-and-saw-my-legs-i-didn-t-think/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```