--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's easy to look back and think how we…" description: "\"“It's easy to look back and think how we could make only the good things happen to us,' counseled Catherine, still swishing her mop to and fro, spreadi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/kate-jacobs-18115_big-decisions_it-s-easy-to-look-back-and-think-how-we_2577030.jpg" --- # It's easy to look back and think how we could make only… ![“It's easy to look back and think how we could make only the good things happen to us,' counseled Catherine, still swishing her mop to and fro, spreading dirty water instead of soaking it up. 'But that's not how we become ourselves. You are mad who you are by the bad stuff, the little things, as…” quote by Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/kate-jacobs-18115_big-decisions_it-s-easy-to-look-back-and-think-how-we_2577030.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/kate-jacobs-18115_big-decisions_it-s-easy-to-look-back-and-think-how-we_2577030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/536/kate-jacobs-18115_big-decisions_it-s-easy-to-look-back-and-think-how-we_2577030.jpg) > ““It's easy to look back and think how we could make only the good things happen to us,' counseled Catherine, still swishing her mop to and fro, spreading dirty water instead of soaking it up. 'But that's not how we become ourselves. You are mad who you are by the bad stuff, the little things, as much as the great triumphs and big decisions.”” [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal growth arises from both successes and failures; embracing imperfections shapes identity. **In simple terms:** Both good and bad experiences shape us. Key Takeaway Accept flaws as part of growth. Themes self‑development identity adversity Mood reflective encouraging Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal journaling - coaching - creative writing - team building Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What “bad” moments taught you most? - How can you balance pride and humility? A Different Perspective Focusing only on positives can hinder self‑awareness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-decisions/) [Catherine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catherine/) [Catherine Swishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catherine-swishing-1743744/) [Counseled Catherine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counseled-catherine-1743742/) [Dirty water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirty-water/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Little things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) [Soaking Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soaking-mad-1743743/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) ## Related quotes > [“He looks about the room at the few sticks of furniture, at the dirty bed sheets and the wash basin with the dirty water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/he-looks-about-the-room-at-the-few-sticks-of-furniture-at-the-dirty/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [“A puddle repeats infinity, and is full of light; nevertheless, if analyzed objectively, a puddle is a piece of dirty water spread very thin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/a-puddle-repeats-infinity-and-is-full-of-light-nevertheless-if/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“Another time I was working in the laundry, and the Sister opposite, while washing handkerchiefs, repeatedly splashed me with dirty water. My first impulse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-r-se-de-lisieux/another-time-i-was-working-in-the-laundry-and-the-sister-opposite/) [Thérèse de Lisieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-r-se-de-lisieux/) > [I was just was tired of bending down, putting my hands in dirty water, ringing out a mop. So, I said, 'There's gotta be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-mangano/i-was-just-was-tired-of-bending-down-putting-my-hands-in-dirty-water/) [Joy Mangano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-mangano/) > [“We go back to our silent fishing, but I'm smiling the whole time. The tension has dimmed. 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Plenty of food, but one billion people go hungry. Lavish lifestyles for a few, but poverty for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/our-world-is-one-of-terrible-contradictions-plenty-of-food-but-one/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Where does rain come from? It comes from all the dirty water that evaporates from the earth, like urine and the water you throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/where-does-rain-come-from-it-comes-from-all-the-dirty-water-that/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [We have to learn how to come out of unclean situations cleaner than we were, and even how to wash ourselves with dirty water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/we-have-to-learn-how-to-come-out-of-unclean-situations-cleaner-than/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [To pursue truth with such astonishing lack of consideration for other people's feelings, to rend the think veils of civilisation so wantonly, so brutally,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/to-pursue-truth-with-such-astonishing-lack-of-consideration-for-other/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“He wanted to be better than what he was made of. In Mumbai's dirty water, he wanted to be ice...He wanted to be recognized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-boo/he-wanted-to-be-better-than-what-he-was-made-of-in-mumbai-s-dirty/) [Katherine Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-boo/) > [“I'm tired of drinking dirty water.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-t-hincks/i-m-tired-of-drinking-dirty-water/) [Anthony T. Hincks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-t-hincks/) > [Humans needed water or they would die, but dirty water killed as surely as thirst. You had to boil it before you drank it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/humans-needed-water-or-they-would-die-but-dirty-water-killed-as/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## More by Kate Jacobs > [The Friday Night Knitting Club](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/the-friday-night-knitting-club/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [“There's money, and then there's class.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/there-s-money-and-then-there-s-class/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [It gave her a feeling of her own power, to make something practical and beautiful just by using her own skill and creativity. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/it-gave-her-a-feeling-of-her-own-power-to-make-something-practical/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [Cat, I'll let you in on a little secret. We don't all love our jobs every day. And doing something you have passion for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/cat-i-ll-let-you-in-on-a-little-secret-we-don-t-all-love-our-jobs/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [A great measure of a man is how he reacts to a midnight awakening when there's no fire or burglar in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/a-great-measure-of-a-man-is-how-he-reacts-to-a-midnight-awakening/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [“Stress is not about the situation, my dear, it's about the person. There's some who can handle it and there's some who can't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/stress-is-not-about-the-situation-my-dear-it-s-about-the-person-there/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [Things work out better when you're straight up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/things-work-out-better-when-you-re-straight-up/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [And there's always a better time than right now and there always will be. But right now is what we've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/and-there-s-always-a-better-time-than-right-now-and-there-always-will/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [So this was it. You take a wrong step and you end up wearing yesterday's underwear, sitting on the carpet trying to teach yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/so-this-was-it-you-take-a-wrong-step-and-you-end-up-wearing-yesterday/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [Sometimes suffering is just suffering,” she told Gus. “It doesn't make you stronger. It doesn't build character. It only hurts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/sometimes-suffering-is-just-suffering-she-told-gus-it-doesn-t-make/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [“...you are the kind of person that sears into the soul. I have never been able to get you out of my mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/you-are-the-kind-of-person-that-sears-into-the-soul-i-have-never-been/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [There's money, and then there's class. The two are often separated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/there-s-money-and-then-there-s-class-the-two-are-often-separated/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [“All you have to do is forgive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/all-you-have-to-do-is-forgive/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [Whether a person is physically in front of you or not, the love remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/whether-a-person-is-physically-in-front-of-you-or-not-the-love-remains/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [“...An honest conversation with anyone is a form of praying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/an-honest-conversation-with-anyone-is-a-form-of-praying/) [kate jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) [Explore all 33 Kate Jacobs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) ## More Big decisions quotes > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. 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The first rule of leadership is to save yourself for the big decision.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/i-refuse-to-make-a-decision-that-somebody-else-can-make-the-first/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [“You get only two or three important choices in life. What job you do, whom you marry. Those are big decisions. If you’re right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bauman/you-get-only-two-or-three-important-choices-in-life-what-job-you-do/) [Jeff Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bauman/) > [“The right thing to do is so easy to see when you're seventeen years old and don't have to make any big decisions. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huntley-fitzpatrick/the-right-thing-to-do-is-so-easy-to-see-when-you-re-seventeen-years/) [Huntley Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huntley-fitzpatrick/) > [“How about we hold off on the big decisions until after breakfast? This sort of talk sits better on a full stomach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberta-trahan/how-about-we-hold-off-on-the-big-decisions-until-after-breakfast-this/) [Roberta Trahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberta-trahan/) > [“by blitzing students with information and making the application process as simple as dropping a résumé into a box, by following up relentlessly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-roose/by-blitzing-students-with-information-and-making-the-application/) [Kevin Roose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-roose/) > [“Even if you aren’t writing books, you are the author of your own life. Your life is filled with these small and big decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-k-sampson/even-if-you-aren-t-writing-books-you-are-the-author-of-your-own-life/) [Rebecca K. Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-k-sampson/) > [I wrestle my fears with every big decision I make. Ultimately, maybe all that wrestling does is make you sick of your own thoughts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/i-wrestle-my-fears-with-every-big-decision-i-make-ultimately-maybe/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [When you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-schuller/when-you-are-in-your-worst-moods-wait-be-patient-the-storm-will-pass/) [Robert H. Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-schuller/) > [Imagine you're a forty-year-old, Richard," Hamilton said to me around this time, while working as a salesman at a Radio Shack in Lynn Valley,"and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/imagine-you-re-a-forty-year-old-richard-hamilton-said-to-me-around/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“I've written things about that, about how life's really big decisions aren't right or wrong, it's just that one lives different lives. 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