--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I realized that this is what it’s like to…" description: "\"“I realized that this is what it’s like to be an adult, learning to pick from a lot of bad choices and do the best you can with that dreadful compromis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/917/jennifer-ryan-31153_bad-choices_i-realized-that-this-is-what-it-s-like-t_1482205.jpg" --- # I realized that this is what it’s like to be an adult… ![“I realized that this is what it’s like to be an adult, learning to pick from a lot of bad choices and do the best you can with that dreadful compromise. Learning to smile, to put your best foot forward, when the world around you seems to have collapsed in its entirety, become a place of isolation…” quote by Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/917/jennifer-ryan-31153_bad-choices_i-realized-that-this-is-what-it-s-like-t_1482205.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/917/jennifer-ryan-31153_bad-choices_i-realized-that-this-is-what-it-s-like-t_1482205.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/917/jennifer-ryan-31153_bad-choices_i-realized-that-this-is-what-it-s-like-t_1482205.jpg) > ““I realized that this is what it’s like to be an adult, learning to pick from a lot of bad choices and do the best you can with that dreadful compromise. Learning to smile, to put your best foot forward, when the world around you seems to have collapsed in its entirety, become a place of isolation, a sepia photograph of its former illusion. I”” [Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An adult confronts many poor options, choosing the best possible path amid collapse and isolation, learning to keep moving forward despite hardship. **In simple terms:** Adults face bad choices and must keep moving forward despite Key Takeaway Keep moving forward despite hardship. Themes adulthood resilience choice isolation optimism Mood reflective determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career setbacks - relationship difficulties - health crises - financial strain - personal loss Key Concepts existential compromise personal growth cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide which compromise is acceptable? - What small actions can restore hope in a collapsed environment? A Different Perspective Progress may be limited by systemic constraints and mental health challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-choices/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ## Related quotes > [I'm just learning how to smile, and that's not easy to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-just-learning-how-to-smile-and-that-s-not-easy-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm learning to smile at the faces of jealousy. It keeps me motivated to succeed more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhainnin/i-m-learning-to-smile-at-the-faces-of-jealousy-it-keeps-me-motivated-2/) Rhainnin > [Learning to smile is very important for us, the children of God. For with it, we speak all languages of the world and touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kang/learning-to-smile-is-very-important-for-us-the-children-of-god-for/) [Albert Kang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kang/) > [I'm learning to smile at the faces of jealousy. It keeps me motivated to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhainnin/i-m-learning-to-smile-at-the-faces-of-jealousy-it-keeps-me-motivated/) Rhainnin > [I've always cared about the world. That's never been an issue. But with learning how to smile, it's been learning how to feel comfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-alexakis/i-ve-always-cared-about-the-world-that-s-never-been-an-issue-but-with/) [Art Alexakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-alexakis/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [Your life is like credit. If you make bad choices and decisions its gonna effect everything in your life as well as yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-life-is-like-credit-if-you-make-bad-choices-and-decisions-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Britney and I wore matching denim outfits \[to the 2001 American Music Awards\]. Yeah, another bad choice. I’d probably pay good money to get… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-timberlake/britney-and-i-wore-matching-denim-outfits-to-the-2001-american-music/) [Justin Timberlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-timberlake/) > [In Lullabies, I wanted to capture what I remembered of the drunken babbling of unfortunate twelve-year-olds: their illusions, their ludicrously bad choices, their lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-o-neill/in-lullabies-i-wanted-to-capture-what-i-remembered-of-the-drunken/) [Heather O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-o-neill/) > [ Loneliness is something we \[all people\] go through. We go through mourning and longing. We make some bad choices sometimes because we're desperate for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lee/loneliness-is-something-we-all-people-go-through-we-go-through/) [Jennifer Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lee/) > [“What would you think if I told you that, yes, your bad choices and decisions have had a part in your ending up under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-andrews/what-would-you-think-if-i-told-you-that-yes-your-bad-choices-and/) [Andy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-andrews/) > [Everyone makes mistakes in life, but that doesnt mean they have to pay for them the rest of their life sometimes good people make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vvn/everyone-makes-mistakes-in-life-but-that-doesnt-mean-they-have-to-pay/) VVN > [Sometimes, good people make bad choices. It doesn't mean they're bad…it means they're human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-good-people-make-bad-choices-it-doesn-t-mean-they-re-bad-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Do More. Be More. You were made for more! Take all the chances and leaps. Every single step of the journey is a maze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinonye-j-chidolue/do-more-be-more-you-were-made-for-more-take-all-the-chances-and-leaps/) [Chinonye J. Chidolue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinonye-j-chidolue/) > [“I love painting. I love drawing. I’m never let down, even when the picture isn’t exactly what I want. I can keep working on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayla-cagan/i-love-painting-i-love-drawing-i-m-never-let-down-even-when-the/) Kayla Cagan ## More by Jennifer Ryan > [“Perhaps there is something good that had come from this war: everything has been turned around, all the unfairness made grimly plain. It has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ryan/perhaps-there-is-something-good-that-had-come-from-this-war/) [Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) > [“hall and into Marti’s bathroom. “What”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ryan/hall-and-into-marti-s-bathroom-what/) [Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) > [“Sometimes the magic of life is beyond thought. It's the sparkle of intuition, of bringing your own personal energy into your music.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ryan/sometimes-the-magic-of-life-is-beyond-thought-it-s-the-sparkle-of/) [Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) > [“And isn't love between two people better than hatred, in this world of violence and mourning? There seemed to me a fragile kindness in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ryan/and-isn-t-love-between-two-people-better-than-hatred-in-this-world-of/) [Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) > [“Stand up and make myself heard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ryan/stand-up-and-make-myself-heard/) [Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) > [“loss is the same wherever you go: overwhelming, inexorable, deafening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ryan/loss-is-the-same-wherever-you-go-overwhelming-inexorable-deafening/) [Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) > [“You need to find where you fit in this world, where you are happiest, where you can make a difference. And don’t be afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ryan/you-need-to-find-where-you-fit-in-this-world-where-you-are-happiest/) [Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) > [“eye. “Let’s get one thing straight, Mia. You’re safe with me. No matter what. Whether you change your mind about this at the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ryan/eye-let-s-get-one-thing-straight-mia-you-re-safe-with-me-no-matter/) [Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) > [“more range of motion today. Working it out while I mix up batter for the baked goods helps.” “Good.” “So, how”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ryan/more-range-of-motion-today-working-it-out-while-i-mix-up-batter-for/) [Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) > [“you had sex with a viper,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ryan/you-had-sex-with-a-viper/) [Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) > [“loss is the same wherever you go: overwhelming, inexorable, deafening. How resilient human beings are that we can learn slowly to carry on when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ryan/loss-is-the-same-wherever-you-go-overwhelming-inexorable-deafening-2/) [Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) > [ “...we spoke about dying. \[Prim\] told me how she'd nearly died of malaria. She said that she didn't mind the thought of death. That… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ryan/we-spoke-about-dying-prim-told-me-how-she-d-nearly-died-of-malaria/) [Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) > [“Music takes us out of ourselves, away from our worries and tragedies, helps us look into a different world, a bigger picture. All those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ryan/music-takes-us-out-of-ourselves-away-from-our-worries-and-tragedies/) [Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) > [“We have prayer enough to light up the whole universe, like a thousand stars breathing life into our deepest fears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ryan/we-have-prayer-enough-to-light-up-the-whole-universe-like-a-thousand/) [Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) > [“quick kiss on the side of the head, stepped beside her, and grabbed the tongs to put the steaks on the grill. They sizzled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ryan/quick-kiss-on-the-side-of-the-head-stepped-beside-her-and-grabbed-the/) [Jennifer Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) [Explore all 16 Jennifer Ryan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ryan/) ## More Adult quotes > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [I am a big outliner. 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Chang > [Adults look upon a child as something empty that is to be filled through their own efforts, as something inert and helpless for which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/adults-look-upon-a-child-as-something-empty-that-is-to-be-filled/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“English: "Being an adult doesn't mean killing the child we once were; it means being able to protect him." Česky: „Být dospělým neznamená zabít…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebasti-n-wortys/english-being-an-adult-doesn-t-mean-killing-the-child-we-once-were-it/) [Sebastián Wortys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebasti-n-wortys/) > [You know, children philosophize more than adults - and they are critical of adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/you-know-children-philosophize-more-than-adults-and-they-are-critical/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [“There's such an intimate kind of beauty in the act of listening to music being created right in front of your eyes, watching the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-frank/there-s-such-an-intimate-kind-of-beauty-in-the-act-of-listening-to/) [M.C. 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Jodie Foster was the exception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lester/child-actors-going-on-to-become-adult-actors-never-really-works-apart/) Mark Lester > [Being an adult is the ability to postpone a want for the sake of a family need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hogan/being-an-adult-is-the-ability-to-postpone-a-want-for-the-sake-of-a/) [Chris Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hogan/) > [“Oh, I don’t mean to infer that you’re not a great guy. I’m sure you’re the exception to the rule.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaye-frances/oh-i-don-t-mean-to-infer-that-you-re-not-a-great-guy-i-m-sure-you-re/) Jaye Frances Browse all 1,153 Adult quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I realized that this is what it’s like to be an adult, learning to pick from a lot of bad choices and do the best you can with that dreadful compromise. 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