--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Growing up I tried never to think that I…" description: "\"Growing up I tried never to think that I couldn't do anything just because of my size. I always tried to keep that out of my mind and just play the way..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/johnny-gaudreau-5438_life_growing-up-i-tried-never-to-think-that-i_724979.jpg" --- # Growing up I tried never to think that I couldn't do… ![“Growing up I tried never to think that I couldn't do anything just because of my size. I always tried to keep that out of my mind and just play the way I've played my whole life.” quote by Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/johnny-gaudreau-5438_life_growing-up-i-tried-never-to-think-that-i_724979.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/johnny-gaudreau-5438_life_growing-up-i-tried-never-to-think-that-i_724979.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/johnny-gaudreau-5438_life_growing-up-i-tried-never-to-think-that-i_724979.jpg) > “Growing up I tried never to think that I couldn't do anything just because of my size. I always tried to keep that out of my mind and just play the way I've played my whole life.” [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Believing in oneself despite physical limitations fuels confidence and performance. **In simple terms:** Self‑belief overcomes size doubts. Key Takeaway Embrace confidence regardless of stature. Themes self‑esteem confidence overcoming doubt athletics Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - team sports - personal challenges - training sessions Key Concepts growth mindset resilience mental toughness Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain confidence when faced with physical disadvantages? - What mental strategies help you focus on skill over size? A Different Perspective Physical size alone doesn’t determine ability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes, growing up, I tried to be very Latina; I would change my voice... experiment with my hair a lot, trying to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-raymund/sometimes-growing-up-i-tried-to-be-very-latina-i-would-change-my/) [Monica Raymund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-raymund/) > [All my good friends and kids who I have played with all my life are from South Jersey, so it would be sweet to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/all-my-good-friends-and-kids-who-i-have-played-with-all-my-life-are/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [“I thought I was better than you.” He felt too much, was tearing himself open with all this, but nine years deserved all his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-voinov/i-thought-i-was-better-than-you-he-felt-too-much-was-tearing-himself/) [Aleksandr Voinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-voinov/) > [I tried to get into the mind of my opponent and psyche him out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-tried-to-get-into-the-mind-of-my-opponent-and-psyche-him-out/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [“I have tried to get you off my mind for the entire summer. I know that we don’t really know each other. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-mcgee/i-have-tried-to-get-you-off-my-mind-for-the-entire-summer-i-know-that/) [J.B. McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-mcgee/) > [“He’d tried to keep himself occupied all evening, tried to keep his mind from tilting Kitty’s direction, but no matter how he employed his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-lynn-perry/he-d-tried-to-keep-himself-occupied-all-evening-tried-to-keep-his/) [Amber Lynn Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-lynn-perry/) > [“All the while, when Nazneen turned to her prayers and tried to empty her mind and accept each new thing with grace or indifference,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ali/all-the-while-when-nazneen-turned-to-her-prayers-and-tried-to-empty/) [Monica Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ali/) > [“Brutha tried to put it out of his mind, which was like trying to empty a bucket underwater.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/brutha-tried-to-put-it-out-of-his-mind-which-was-like-trying-to-empty/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Gul Badshah is one of the most exciting roles I have played in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukul-dev/gul-badshah-is-one-of-the-most-exciting-roles-i-have-played-in-my-life/) [Mukul Dev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mukul-dev/) > [When the pressure is on, you're going to default back to how you've played your whole life and how you'd normally pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-bauer/when-the-pressure-is-on-you-re-going-to-default-back-to-how-you-ve/) [Trevor Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-bauer/) > [I hate to see it go, I'll tell you that. I played here all my life. Eighteen years I played here and I'm sorry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-berra/i-hate-to-see-it-go-i-ll-tell-you-that-i-played-here-all-my-life/) [Yogi Berra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-berra/) > [Quarterback is not a position that you come in having not played it your whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-moon/quarterback-is-not-a-position-that-you-come-in-having-not-played-it/) [Warren Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-moon/) > [I could go fishing with Paul Gascoigne, I could go for a pint and a game of doms with Ian Durrant. There's no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-mccoist/i-could-go-fishing-with-paul-gascoigne-i-could-go-for-a-pint-and-a/) [Ally McCoist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-mccoist/) > [I'm a true running back at heart, to be honest. That's what I played my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavon-austin/i-m-a-true-running-back-at-heart-to-be-honest-that-s-what-i-played-my/) [Tavon Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavon-austin/) > [I think everything that played a part in my life growing up is in my music. Being homeless, living in shelters, dealing with over-aged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cupcakke/i-think-everything-that-played-a-part-in-my-life-growing-up-is-in-my/) [Cupcakke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cupcakke/) ## More by Johnny Gaudreau > [Whether it's basketball, football, baseball, you like meeting other athletes to see how their jobs work, and everything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/whether-it-s-basketball-football-baseball-you-like-meeting-other/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [I think whether you're eight, or 25, 30, when you score a goal it's just as exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/i-think-whether-you-re-eight-or-25-30-when-you-score-a-goal-it-s-just/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [I have a lot of special memories in Dubuque, including winning it all in 2011.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/i-have-a-lot-of-special-memories-in-dubuque-including-winning-it-all/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [It's hard to miss those empty nets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/it-s-hard-to-miss-those-empty-nets/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [At the end of the day, the time I've had in Calgary has been awesome. I've loved it there. I just love the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/at-the-end-of-the-day-the-time-i-ve-had-in-calgary-has-been-awesome-i/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [I get to play hockey for a living. So I don't ever take that for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/i-get-to-play-hockey-for-a-living-so-i-don-t-ever-take-that-for/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [There are some passionate fan bases in the NHL and Canada is a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/there-are-some-passionate-fan-bases-in-the-nhl-and-canada-is-a/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [I like taking pictures with fans and chatting with them when I'm around town. I don't mind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/i-like-taking-pictures-with-fans-and-chatting-with-them-when-i-m/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [Sports is awesome. It brings people together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/sports-is-awesome-it-brings-people-together/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [It's a game of bounces, and sometimes you get some good puck luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/it-s-a-game-of-bounces-and-sometimes-you-get-some-good-puck-luck/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [When you're playing in the NHL, every time you score a goal it's exciting. But I had a blast when I scored goals in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/when-you-re-playing-in-the-nhl-every-time-you-score-a-goal-it-s/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [I hate flying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/i-hate-flying/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [You gotta be good in your d-zone, gotta get pucks out. At the end of the day, you gotta make those plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/you-gotta-be-good-in-your-d-zone-gotta-get-pucks-out-at-the-end-of/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [My dad coached me for 10 years, and he calls me almost before every game, after every game and still likes to criticize me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/my-dad-coached-me-for-10-years-and-he-calls-me-almost-before-every/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [It's hard to play in the playoffs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/it-s-hard-to-play-in-the-playoffs/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) [Explore all 100 Johnny Gaudreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/) [Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/) > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) Deanna L. Lawlis > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Growing up I tried never to think that I couldn't do anything just because of my size. I always tried to keep that out of my mind and just play the way I've played my whole life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johnny Gaudreau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/growing-up-i-tried-never-to-think-that-i-couldn-t-do-anything-just/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/growing-up-i-tried-never-to-think-that-i-couldn-t-do-anything-just/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/johnny-gaudreau-5438_life_growing-up-i-tried-never-to-think-that-i_724979.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/johnny-gaudreau-5438_life_growing-up-i-tried-never-to-think-that-i_724979.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/johnny-gaudreau-5438_life_growing-up-i-tried-never-to-think-that-i_724979.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Growing up I tried never to think that I couldn't do anything just because of my size. I always tried to…” — Johnny Gaudreau", "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": "Johnny Gaudreau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Growing up I tried never to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/growing-up-i-tried-never-to-think-that-i-couldn-t-do-anything-just/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/growing-up-i-tried-never-to-think-that-i-couldn-t-do-anything-just/#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 } } ] } ```