--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought I was grounded. I thought from…" description: "\"I thought I was grounded. I thought from my kinda blue-collar outlook on life that I would call myself a grounded person. I was not. I was like a ballo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/john-prine-3521_born_i-thought-i-was-grounded-i-thought-from_1675956.jpg" --- # I thought I was grounded. I thought from my kinda… ![“I thought I was grounded. I thought from my kinda blue-collar outlook on life that I would call myself a grounded person. I was not. I was like a balloon flying around in the air. And as soon as our first child was born, boom - my feet came right down to the ground.” quote by John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/john-prine-3521_born_i-thought-i-was-grounded-i-thought-from_1675956.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/john-prine-3521_born_i-thought-i-was-grounded-i-thought-from_1675956.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/john-prine-3521_born_i-thought-i-was-grounded-i-thought-from_1675956.jpg) > “I thought I was grounded. I thought from my kinda blue-collar outlook on life that I would call myself a grounded person. I was not. I was like a balloon flying around in the air. And as soon as our first child was born, boom - my feet came right down to the ground.” [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He thought he was grounded, but felt aimless until parenthood anchored him, giving him purpose and stability. **In simple terms:** Parenthood grounded his drifting sense. Key Takeaway Find grounding through meaningful roles. Themes family identity grounding Mood reflective warm Type personal narrative inspirational When to use this quote - career uncertainty - personal crisis - becoming a parent Key Concepts purpose belonging transformation Questions to Reflect On - How does parenthood reshape personal identity? - What other anchors can provide stability? A Different Perspective Grounding can be temporary if identity relies solely on role. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feet/) [First child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-child/) [Grounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grounded/) [Grounded Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grounded-person-907717/) [Grounded Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grounded-thought-907718/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Grounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-grounded-907716/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Outlook on life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outlook-on-life/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Thought Grounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-grounded-907715/) ## Related quotes > [I have often thought that if a well-grounded affection be not really a part of virtue, it is something extremely akin to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/i-have-often-thought-that-if-a-well-grounded-affection-be-not-really/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [My goal is to communicate how powerful the breaking down of artistic barriers can be when grounded in thought, intention, and a true understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-sriram/my-goal-is-to-communicate-how-powerful-the-breaking-down-of-artistic/) [Sid Sriram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-sriram/) > [I'm a grounded person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-burke/i-m-a-grounded-person/) [Brooke Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-burke/) > [I never intended to be in show business; I intended to be an extremely grounded person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-lawrence/i-never-intended-to-be-in-show-business-i-intended-to-be-an-extremely/) [Vicki Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-lawrence/) > [I am a very grounded person conscious of everything I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pereira/i-am-a-very-grounded-person-conscious-of-everything-i-say/) [Alex Pereira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pereira/) > [The spiritual life is indeed a life of struggle; but it is also a life of well grounded hope. Hope is grounded in freedom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-s-brightman/the-spiritual-life-is-indeed-a-life-of-struggle-but-it-is-also-a-life/) [Edgar S. Brightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-s-brightman/) > [Family is paramount, I am the baby of the family, I get looked after, everyone spoils me and I couldn't live without them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/family-is-paramount-i-am-the-baby-of-the-family-i-get-looked-after/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [Our life is all grounded and rooted in love, and without love we may not live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-of-norwich/our-life-is-all-grounded-and-rooted-in-love-and-without-love-we-may/) [Julian of Norwich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-of-norwich/) > [Many of us are tempted to find the key in doing, but the answer is actually found in being. It is vital that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/many-of-us-are-tempted-to-find-the-key-in-doing-but-the-answer-is/) [Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/) > [I'm not looking to be a trophy. When not acting, I spend my time studying metaphysics and quantum mechanics to keep my life as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanit-phoenix/i-m-not-looking-to-be-a-trophy-when-not-acting-i-spend-my-time/) [Tanit Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanit-phoenix/) > [The more deeply connected you are with the people that you're working with, the better the work and the character, and then, I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-mathison/the-more-deeply-connected-you-are-with-the-people-that-you-re-working/) [Cameron Mathison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-mathison/) > [In work consists the true pride of life; grounded in active employment, though early ardor may abate, it never degenerates into indifference, and age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-hartley-grindon/in-work-consists-the-true-pride-of-life-grounded-in-active-employment/) [Leopold Hartley Grindon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-hartley-grindon/) > [“I love you, Robert Tate.” Bud fingered her ring. “I love you, too. I think I’m going to rest now. Promise you won’t go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-sala/i-love-you-robert-tate-bud-fingered-her-ring-i-love-you-too-i-think-i/) [Sharon Sala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-sala/) > [When I had my first child, I went back to Ireland to live with my mother. So, a typical day there was me being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roisin-murphy/when-i-had-my-first-child-i-went-back-to-ireland-to-live-with-my/) [Roisin Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roisin-murphy/) > [I knew from very early on that I wanted kids. I wasn't one of those women who goes, 'Well, if it happens, it happens.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-knew-from-very-early-on-that-i-wanted-kids-i-wasn-t-one-of-those/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) ## More by John Prine > [There's only two things. There's life, and there's death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/there-s-only-two-things-there-s-life-and-there-s-death/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [One time, I went to school, and they asked us all to find out where our roots were. It's goin' around the class, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/one-time-i-went-to-school-and-they-asked-us-all-to-find-out-where-our/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [When I turned 40, I invited Johnny Cash to my party, even though I knew there was gonna be 200 people roasting a pig…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/when-i-turned-40-i-invited-johnny-cash-to-my-party-even-though-i-knew/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [I always had an affinity for older people. I had a job delivering newspapers, and one place I had to go was an old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/i-always-had-an-affinity-for-older-people-i-had-a-job-delivering/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [It doesn't hit you until you pull up to the hospital, and you see 'cancer' in big letters, and you're the patient. Then it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/it-doesn-t-hit-you-until-you-pull-up-to-the-hospital-and-you-see/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [In high school, I was a poor student.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/in-high-school-i-was-a-poor-student/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [“I come home from work this evening there was a note in the frying pan said Fix Your Own Supper Babe I Run Off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/i-come-home-from-work-this-evening-there-was-a-note-in-the-frying-pan/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [Blow up your TV...throw away your paper...move to the country and build you a home. Plant a little garden...eat a lot of peaches...try and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/blow-up-your-tv-throw-away-your-paper-move-to-the-country-and-build/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [Howie Epstein was a kind, patient, and extremely talented musician. He took two years out of his life and dedicated his undivided attention to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/howie-epstein-was-a-kind-patient-and-extremely-talented-musician-he/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [The more producers I talked to, the more I got looked at like I was crazy for wanting to make a live-sounding album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/the-more-producers-i-talked-to-the-more-i-got-looked-at-like-i-was/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [I was kind of shy as a lad, and a lot of things that made me laugh, I found, did not make other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/i-was-kind-of-shy-as-a-lad-and-a-lot-of-things-that-made-me-laugh-i/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [To tell you the truth, the nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame totally surprised me. I had no idea that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/to-tell-you-the-truth-the-nomination-for-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [I could never teach a class on songwriting. I'd tell them to goof off and find a good hideout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/i-could-never-teach-a-class-on-songwriting-i-d-tell-them-to-goof-off/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [If somebody tells me to work or exercise, I go the other way. I'll come up with an excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/if-somebody-tells-me-to-work-or-exercise-i-go-the-other-way-i-ll-come/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [Ignorance is bliss as a writer, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/ignorance-is-bliss-as-a-writer-i-think/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) [Explore all 128 John Prine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) ## More Born quotes > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [The real world out there isn't nearly as nice as some people prefer it to be, so don't swallow everything your high-born teachers tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-world-out-there-isn-t-nearly-as-nice-as-some-people-prefer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anybody looking for a quiet life has picked the wrong century to born in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anybody-looking-for-a-quiet-life-has-picked-the-wrong-century-to-born/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [I know that in the rap game you've got a lot of people, that come from poverty, was born in poverty and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-connor/i-know-that-in-the-rap-game-you-ve-got-a-lot-of-people-that-come-from/) [Jon Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-connor/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [If you can believe it, Hollywood wanted to change my birthdate. I was born after Valentine's Day, so they wanted to change it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-romero/if-you-can-believe-it-hollywood-wanted-to-change-my-birthdate-i-was/) [Cesar Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-romero/) [Browse all 11,606 Born quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought I was grounded. I thought from my kinda blue-collar outlook on life that I would call myself a grounded person. I was not. I was like a balloon flying around in the air. And as soon as our first child was born, boom - my feet came right down to the ground.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Prine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/i-thought-i-was-grounded-i-thought-from-my-kinda-blue-collar-outlook/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Born" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/i-thought-i-was-grounded-i-thought-from-my-kinda-blue-collar-outlook/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/john-prine-3521_born_i-thought-i-was-grounded-i-thought-from_1675956.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/john-prine-3521_born_i-thought-i-was-grounded-i-thought-from_1675956.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f5/john-prine-3521_born_i-thought-i-was-grounded-i-thought-from_1675956.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I thought I was grounded. I thought from my kinda blue-collar outlook on life that I would call myself a…” — John Prine", "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": "John Prine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I thought I was grounded. I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/i-thought-i-was-grounded-i-thought-from-my-kinda-blue-collar-outlook/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/i-thought-i-was-grounded-i-thought-from-my-kinda-blue-collar-outlook/#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 } } ] } ```