--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I got heartbroken at 20, it just…" description: "\"When I got heartbroken at 20, it just felt like someone had spiraled a football right into my skull. At 40, it feels like someone had driven a 757 righ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/junot-diaz-531_driven_when-i-got-heartbroken-at-20-it-just-fel_1179133.jpg" --- # When I got heartbroken at 20, it just felt like someone… ![“When I got heartbroken at 20, it just felt like someone had spiraled a football right into my skull. At 40, it feels like someone had driven a 757 right through me.” quote by Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/junot-diaz-531_driven_when-i-got-heartbroken-at-20-it-just-fel_1179133.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/junot-diaz-531_driven_when-i-got-heartbroken-at-20-it-just-fel_1179133.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/junot-diaz-531_driven_when-i-got-heartbroken-at-20-it-just-fel_1179133.jpg) > “When I got heartbroken at 20, it just felt like someone had spiraled a football right into my skull. At 40, it feels like someone had driven a 757 right through me.” [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He compares heartbreak at different ages to increasingly violent impacts, illustrating growing pain. **In simple terms:** Heartbreak feels more intense as you age. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and heal emotional wounds. Themes love pain growth Mood empathetic introspective Type personal essay reflective When to use this quote - relationship counseling - personal therapy - creative writing Key Concepts psychology of loss aging resilience Questions to Reflect On - How does age change emotional processing? - What coping strategies help? A Different Perspective Pain intensity varies, not always linear. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [40 Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/40-feels-2497462/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Felt Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-like/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Heartbroken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heartbroken/) [Heartbroken 20](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heartbroken-20-3451580/) [Just Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-felt/) [Skulls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skulls/) ## Related quotes > [For me, 40 feels like a beginning. I'm in the middle of so much new - with this career, the kids, and I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/for-me-40-feels-like-a-beginning-i-m-in-the-middle-of-so-much-new/) [Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/) > [Being this side of 40 feels like what I should have felt being this side of 25: in my body, in my heart, happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-aniston/being-this-side-of-40-feels-like-what-i-should-have-felt-being-this/) [Jennifer Aniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-aniston/) > [I think it's the strange irony that we make all these life choices before we're 40, because really we shouldn't make any until we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-think-it-s-the-strange-irony-that-we-make-all-these-life-choices/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [“Just when I felt like everything was falling apart, I'm beginning to wonder if maybe they were finally falling into place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-bromberg/just-when-i-felt-like-everything-was-falling-apart-i-m-beginning-to/) [K. Bromberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-bromberg/) > [I just never felt so fantastically rocky in my entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-just-never-felt-so-fantastically-rocky-in-my-entire-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With 'HUMBLE.,' I knew that beat was going to capture a moment. It just felt real urgent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-will-made-it/with-humble-i-knew-that-beat-was-going-to-capture-a-moment-it-just/) [Mike Will Made It](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-will-made-it/) > [Energy wise, playing the drums was a lot of fun; I just felt like it was a natural fit for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-iii/energy-wise-playing-the-drums-was-a-lot-of-fun-i-just-felt-like-it/) [Hank Williams III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-iii/) > [“And the scratches you left on my back remind me just what it felt like to be deep inside you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriane-leigh/and-the-scratches-you-left-on-my-back-remind-me-just-what-it-felt/) [Adriane Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriane-leigh/) > [The story revolved around this universal identifiable fear that we must all have, at some point, when you commit yourself to being with another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-treadaway/the-story-revolved-around-this-universal-identifiable-fear-that-we/) [Harry Treadaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-treadaway/) > [I got to a point where I had no self-esteem and I just felt like I was drowning, and I had no way out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-anderson/i-got-to-a-point-where-i-had-no-self-esteem-and-i-just-felt-like-i/) [Megan Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-anderson/) > [Coming back, Utah just felt like home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-favors/coming-back-utah-just-felt-like-home/) [Derrick Favors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-favors/) > [I had just been in some repressive situations - the black middle-class college scene and the crazy United States Air Force - and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amiri-baraka/i-had-just-been-in-some-repressive-situations-the-black-middle-class/) [Amiri Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amiri-baraka/) > [I just felt that if I went into Speed 2, I just... wouldn't have come up out of the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-just-felt-that-if-i-went-into-speed-2-i-just-wouldn-t-have-come-up/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [After I got hurt, animals to me were a great comfort, because I went through a very long, dismal period where I just felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/after-i-got-hurt-animals-to-me-were-a-great-comfort-because-i-went/) [Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/) > [When I worked in Asia for a long time, I just felt like I needed a break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fala-chen/when-i-worked-in-asia-for-a-long-time-i-just-felt-like-i-needed-a/) [Fala Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fala-chen/) ## More by Junot Diaz > [It might interest you that just as the U.S. was ramping up its involvement in Vietnam, LBJ launched an illegal invasion of the Dominican…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/it-might-interest-you-that-just-as-the-u-s-was-ramping-up-its/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Tell her that you love her hair, that you love her skin, her lips, because, in truth, you love them more than you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/tell-her-that-you-love-her-hair-that-you-love-her-skin-her-lips/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [It took me sixteen years to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/it-took-me-sixteen-years-to-write/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [You ask everybody you know: How long does it usually take to get over it? There are many formulas. One year for every year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-ask-everybody-you-know-how-long-does-it-usually-take-to-get-over/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Instead of finding himself in nerd heaven—where every nerd gets fifty-eight virgins to role-play with—he woke up in Robert Wood Johnson with two broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/instead-of-finding-himself-in-nerd-heaven-where-every-nerd-gets-fifty/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [The one thing about being a dude and writing from a female perspective is that the baseline is, you suck. The baseline is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/the-one-thing-about-being-a-dude-and-writing-from-a-female/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“I used to think those were the barrio rules, Latinos and blacks in, whites out —a place we down cats weren’t supposed to go.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-used-to-think-those-were-the-barrio-rules-latinos-and-blacks-in/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“I put my hand on her knee. I just wish you'd say you love me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-put-my-hand-on-her-knee-i-just-wish-you-d-say-you-love-me/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [I've always thought that you don't love a country by turning a blind eye to its crimes and to a problem. The way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-ve-always-thought-that-you-don-t-love-a-country-by-turning-a-blind/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“Called her a whore and attacked her walls, tearing down her posters and throwing her books everywhere. I found out because some whitegirl ran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/called-her-a-whore-and-attacked-her-walls-tearing-down-her-posters/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [You're Dominican only if you do this, this, and that. And if you do this and that, you'll be accepted to a certain degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-re-dominican-only-if-you-do-this-this-and-that-and-if-you-do-this/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“Ramfis fled the country after Trujillo's death, lived dissolutely off his father's swag, and ended up dying in a car crash of his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/ramfis-fled-the-country-after-trujillo-s-death-lived-dissolutely-off/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [If you didn't grow up like I did then you don't know, and if you don't know it's probably better you don't judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/if-you-didn-t-grow-up-like-i-did-then-you-don-t-know-and-if-you-don-t/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“If you ask me I don't think there are any such things as curses. I think there is only life. That's enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/if-you-ask-me-i-don-t-think-there-are-any-such-things-as-curses-i/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [The only difference between a published and unpublished writer is a tolerance for imperfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/the-only-difference-between-a-published-and-unpublished-writer-is-a/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Explore all 486 Junot Diaz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) ## More Driven quotes > [From what I have seen, I am driven to the conclusion that religion is only good for good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/from-what-i-have-seen-i-am-driven-to-the-conclusion-that-religion-is/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [The bird with the thorn in its breast, it follows an immutable law; it is driven by it knows not what to impale itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/the-bird-with-the-thorn-in-its-breast-it-follows-an-immutable-law-it/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [ \[As in the case of\] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-branson/as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-illegality-has-driven-organized/) [Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-branson/) > [Good ideas and innovations must be driven into existence by courage and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyman-rickover/good-ideas-and-innovations-must-be-driven-into-existence-by-courage/) [Hyman Rickover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyman-rickover/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [I've always liked game shows - the competitive aspect and the character-driven personalities you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/i-ve-always-liked-game-shows-the-competitive-aspect-and-the-character/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [I've always believed that the desire must come from within, not as a result of being driven by coaches or parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-fraser/i-ve-always-believed-that-the-desire-must-come-from-within-not-as-a/) [Dawn Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-fraser/) > [When the enemy is driven back, we have failed, and when he is cut off, encircled and dispersed, we have succeeded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-suvorov/when-the-enemy-is-driven-back-we-have-failed-and-when-he-is-cut-off/) [Alexander Suvorov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-suvorov/) > [Darkness is only driven out with light, not more darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/darkness-is-only-driven-out-with-light-not-more-darkness/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Autonomy is impossible as long as one is driven by anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/autonomy-is-impossible-as-long-as-one-is-driven-by-anything/) [Gabor Mate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [Yelena, you've driven me crazy. You've caused me considerable trouble and I've contemplated ending your life twice since I've known you." Valek's warm breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/yelena-you-ve-driven-me-crazy-you-ve-caused-me-considerable-trouble/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [The P2 is the best car I have driven so far. Once you get your head round it, it's fun to drive, it's responsive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hoy/the-p2-is-the-best-car-i-have-driven-so-far-once-you-get-your-head/) [Chris Hoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hoy/) [Browse all 2,078 Driven quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I got heartbroken at 20, it just felt like someone had spiraled a football right into my skull. 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