--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If one thing was perfectly, crystalline…" description: "\"“If one thing was perfectly, crystalline clear, it was that I could take care of myself. I just kept coming and coming and coming. I was what I was.”\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/jennifer-lynn-barnes-2448_health_if-one-thing-was-perfectly-crystalline-c_574489.jpg" --- # If one thing was perfectly, crystalline clear, it was that… ![“If one thing was perfectly, crystalline clear, it was that I could take care of myself. I just kept coming and coming and coming. I was what I was.” quote by Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/jennifer-lynn-barnes-2448_health_if-one-thing-was-perfectly-crystalline-c_574489.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/jennifer-lynn-barnes-2448_health_if-one-thing-was-perfectly-crystalline-c_574489.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/jennifer-lynn-barnes-2448_health_if-one-thing-was-perfectly-crystalline-c_574489.jpg) > ““If one thing was perfectly, crystalline clear, it was that I could take care of myself. I just kept coming and coming and coming. I was what I was.”” [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator emphasizes self‑reliance and relentless perseverance, despite uncertainty, shaping identity through continual effort. **In simple terms:** Self‑reliance drives identity. Key Takeaway Keep moving forward despite doubt. Themes perseverance self‑reliance identity formation Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career challenges - personal setbacks - skill development Key Concepts psychology determination self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - What supports can you seek while staying self‑reliant? - How does persistence shape your sense of self? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on self‑reliance may ignore needed support networks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Ya-urban-fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ya-urban-fantasy/) [Young-adult-urban-fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-adult-urban-fantasy/) ## Related quotes > [“I did a quick injury check on my organs and bones. The routine was familiar, one I paced my way through every other morning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/i-did-a-quick-injury-check-on-my-organs-and-bones-the-routine-was/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“I wasn't built for running away from monsters. I wanted desperately to run toward them--track them down, kill them. Luckily, I was used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/i-wasn-t-built-for-running-away-from-monsters-i-wanted-desperately-to/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“You're a very pretty girl...Did you know? Once upon a time, I had a pretty, pretty boy.' She reached forward and touched my cheek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/you-re-a-very-pretty-girl-did-you-know-once-upon-a-time-i-had-a/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“The werewolf Senate hadn't been happy with the idea of a human alpha, and there wasn't a day that went by that I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/the-werewolf-senate-hadn-t-been-happy-with-the-idea-of-a-human-alpha/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“This is why you don't call the police. Or Preternatural Control. No matter what. Ever. If I'd doubted that rule--and I was fairly sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/this-is-why-you-don-t-call-the-police-or-preternatural-control-no/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“My dad was a different person when he lectured: his eyes sparkled, his lips turned upward… 'Think what it must have been like for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/my-dad-was-a-different-person-when-he-lectured-his-eyes-sparkled-his/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“The problem was that there was no treatment. No cure. There was nothing that...any medical professional could do. If I'd been fully human, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/the-problem-was-that-there-was-no-treatment-no-cure-there-was-nothing/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“I heard the telltale sound of scales scraping against metal--a light swoosh, a tongue flickering out to taste the stale and humid air. Whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/i-heard-the-telltale-sound-of-scales-scraping-against-metal-a-light/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“It figured--the almost invincible girl gets hurt, and they call a vet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/it-figured-the-almost-invincible-girl-gets-hurt-and-they-call-a-vet/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“She'd let me in, and for the first time, I actually wanted to do the same, to tell someone the truth. That I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/she-d-let-me-in-and-for-the-first-time-i-actually-wanted-to-do-the/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“I had no weapons. No plan. Nothing but my blood and my hands. They were coming, and there were more of them than I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/i-had-no-weapons-no-plan-nothing-but-my-blood-and-my-hands-they-were/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“Right. You're Kali. Of course you're planning a rescue mission. Stupid self-sacrifice is kind of your thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/right-you-re-kali-of-course-you-re-planning-a-rescue-mission-stupid/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“I had my knife in hand before I realized I'd reached for it and had kicked open the...front door before it ever occurred to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/i-had-my-knife-in-hand-before-i-realized-i-d-reached-for-it-and-had/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“I sunk into velvety nothingness. It caressed my skin, lapped at my temples, the nape of my neck. It circled me like smoke, its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/i-sunk-into-velvety-nothingness-it-caressed-my-skin-lapped-at-my/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“Blend in. don't make waves. Don't look up.' That was the mantra I lived by. But not today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/blend-in-don-t-make-waves-don-t-look-up-that-was-the-mantra-i-lived/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) ## More by Jennifer Lynn Barnes > [“Hierarchy was like breathing: the only time you thought about it was when something went wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/hierarchy-was-like-breathing-the-only-time-you-thought-about-it-was/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“Consider me an open book" dev said. "Mi casa es su casa." Dev crinkled his nose and smelled the air. "Err, mi nose es…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/consider-me-an-open-book-dev-said-mi-casa-es-su-casa-dev-crinkled-his/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“Casey was in the bed with Ali. And that was where I drew the line. Because eww.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/casey-was-in-the-bed-with-ali-and-that-was-where-i-drew-the-line/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“There's an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer that I've been thinking about a lot while writing this essay. In it, Buffy sacrifices her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/there-s-an-episode-of-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-that-i-ve-been/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“Nothing. You know what that feels like. Reach for it. Grab it. Make it yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/nothing-you-know-what-that-feels-like-reach-for-it-grab-it-make-it/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“Someone tried to kill me, and I’m going swimming. I’m going swimming, because it doesn’t matter. I’m going swimming, because I don’t matter. I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/someone-tried-to-kill-me-and-i-m-going-swimming-i-m-going-swimming/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“If I had a nickel for every time I almost died, I would have been driving to school in a Ferrari and flying off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/if-i-had-a-nickel-for-every-time-i-almost-died-i-would-have-been/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“I did a quick injury check on my organs and bones. The routine was familiar, one I paced my way through every other morning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/i-did-a-quick-injury-check-on-my-organs-and-bones-the-routine-was/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“I wondered and I prayed and I Googled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/i-wondered-and-i-prayed-and-i-googled/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“I had to protect him. And me. So I took everything I felt for the pack. I saw the bond, and instead of closing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/i-had-to-protect-him-and-me-so-i-took-everything-i-felt-for-the-pack/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“You look like someone who's about to do something highly inadvisable. And God knows, if there's something inadvisable going on, I want in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/you-look-like-someone-who-s-about-to-do-something-highly-inadvisable/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“Nobody liked my plan. "You want us to split up?" Chase asked, his brow wrinkling in obvious bewilderment. Lake echoed the sentiment, her voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/nobody-liked-my-plan-you-want-us-to-split-up-chase-asked-his-brow/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“Lake, could you please stop sweet-talking the weapons? It's kind of freaking me out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/lake-could-you-please-stop-sweet-talking-the-weapons-it-s-kind-of/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“I sunk into velvety nothingness. It caressed my skin, lapped at my temples, the nape of my neck. It circled me like smoke, its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/i-sunk-into-velvety-nothingness-it-caressed-my-skin-lapped-at-my/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [“For a moment, there was silnece, and then at Brooke's nod, the rest of the Squad, minus me, chimed in. "Yes, sir." I said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/for-a-moment-there-was-silnece-and-then-at-brooke-s-nod-the-rest-of/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) [Explore all 166 Jennifer Lynn Barnes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) ## More Health quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Water is life, and clean water means health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/water-is-life-and-clean-water-means-health/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [I listen to my body, I give it things it wants and I eliminate things it doesn't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-ekland/i-listen-to-my-body-i-give-it-things-it-wants-and-i-eliminate-things/) [Britt Ekland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-ekland/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Mental health is an issue close to my heart - an issue, indeed, I've covered repeatedly for Channel 4 News.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-newman/mental-health-is-an-issue-close-to-my-heart-an-issue-indeed-i-ve/) [Cathy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-newman/) > [If you’re going to die on screen, you’ve got to be strong and in good health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-garbo/if-you-re-going-to-die-on-screen-you-ve-got-to-be-strong-and-in-good/) [Greta Garbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-garbo/) > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [Not only is a healthy America a strong America - it's vital to our national defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/not-only-is-a-healthy-america-a-strong-america-it-s-vital-to-our/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) [Browse all 17,127 Health quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If one thing was perfectly, crystalline clear, it was that I could take care of myself. I just kept coming and coming and coming. I was what I was.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jennifer Lynn Barnes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/if-one-thing-was-perfectly-crystalline-clear-it-was-that-i-could-take/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Health" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/if-one-thing-was-perfectly-crystalline-clear-it-was-that-i-could-take/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/jennifer-lynn-barnes-2448_health_if-one-thing-was-perfectly-crystalline-c_574489.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/jennifer-lynn-barnes-2448_health_if-one-thing-was-perfectly-crystalline-c_574489.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a2/jennifer-lynn-barnes-2448_health_if-one-thing-was-perfectly-crystalline-c_574489.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If one thing was perfectly, crystalline clear, it was that I could take care of myself. I just kept coming…” — Jennifer Lynn Barnes", "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": "Jennifer Lynn Barnes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If one thing was perfectly, crystalline...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/if-one-thing-was-perfectly-crystalline-clear-it-was-that-i-could-take/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/if-one-thing-was-perfectly-crystalline-clear-it-was-that-i-could-take/#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 } } ] } ```