---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember something my mama used to say…"
description: "\"“I remember something my mama used to say on dark days: If you can talk, you can sing. If you can walk, you can dance. Ganwar, I whisper, what if she n..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/katherine-applegate-3304_dark-days_i-remember-something-my-mama-used-to-say_2767386.jpg"
---

#  I remember something my mama used to say on dark days: If…

![“I remember something my mama used to say on dark days: If you can talk, you can sing. If you can walk, you can dance. Ganwar, I whisper, what if she never comes?” quote by Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/katherine-applegate-3304_dark-days_i-remember-something-my-mama-used-to-say_2767386.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/katherine-applegate-3304_dark-days_i-remember-something-my-mama-used-to-say_2767386.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/katherine-applegate-3304_dark-days_i-remember-something-my-mama-used-to-say_2767386.jpg)

> ““I remember something my mama used to say on dark days: If you can talk, you can sing. If you can walk, you can dance. Ganwar, I whisper, what if she never comes?””

[Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Even in darkness, basic abilities remind us we can find joy and movement.

**In simple terms:** Simple actions bring light in tough times.

Key Takeaway

Use small abilities to lift mood.

Themes

resilience creativity joy survival

Mood

hopeful reflective

Type

inspirational practical

When to use this quote

- personal crisis
- mental health challenges
- creative expression

Key Concepts

Coping mechanisms mindful presence

Questions to Reflect On

- What small act can lift your spirits?
- How do you turn limitation into expression?

A Different Perspective

Physical ability is not always possible; emotional support may be needed.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dark days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-days/)

## Related quotes

> [As the idealized mother, I might choose Irene Dunne as the mother in 'I Remember Mama' who strives and not just cooks and scrubs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-corliss/as-the-idealized-mother-i-might-choose-irene-dunne-as-the-mother-in-i/)

[Richard Corliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-corliss/)

> [I think the Mama people remember is from 'Mama's Family.' She really turned into a pretty cool character. The sketches from the 'Burnett' show,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-lawrence/i-think-the-mama-people-remember-is-from-mama-s-family-she-really/)

[Vicki Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-lawrence/)

> [“you got a sad story, ruth,' mimba said. 'but not sad-sad. you here with me and cato and all us together now. you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diamant/you-got-a-sad-story-ruth-mimba-said-but-not-sad-sad-you-here-with-me/)

[Anita Diamant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diamant/)

> [“Young men,” he said “you do not talk like sons of the King. Though it is dark just here, remember it is light somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/young-men-he-said-you-do-not-talk-like-sons-of-the-king-though-it-is/)

[Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/)

> [I always tell people that my creativity lies in the belly of the beast and that's exactly what it is. A lot of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jlin/i-always-tell-people-that-my-creativity-lies-in-the-belly-of-the/)

[Jlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jlin/)

> [Throw away the light, the definitions, and say what you see in the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/throw-away-the-light-the-definitions-and-say-what-you-see-in-the-dark/)

[Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/)

> [I like a person who knows how to say something dark at a very dark moment. The darker the moment and the darker the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/i-like-a-person-who-knows-how-to-say-something-dark-at-a-very-dark/)

[Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/)

> [So - here I am in the dark alone, There's nobody here to see; I think to myself, I play to myself, And nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-here-i-am-in-the-dark-alone-there-s-nobody-here-to-see-i-think-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Some say I'm too dark, some say I'm to tall, some say I'm nuthing at all, but it doesnt matter what you say it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-porter/some-say-i-m-too-dark-some-say-i-m-to-tall-some-say-i-m-nuthing-at/)

Immanuel Porter

> [“Say! In the dark? Here in the dark! Would you, could you, in the dark?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/say-in-the-dark-here-in-the-dark-would-you-could-you-in-the-dark/)

[Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/)

> [There are places you go, and they say, 'Take off your dark glasses so we can see your beautiful blue eyes.' And you just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/there-are-places-you-go-and-they-say-take-off-your-dark-glasses-so-we/)

[Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/)

> [I've had my share of dark days of the soul. I try not to focus on it too much so it doesn't get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/i-ve-had-my-share-of-dark-days-of-the-soul-i-try-not-to-focus-on-it/)

[Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/)

> [In terms of humor, it's a really powerful coping mechanism, and it gets you through really dark days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-victor/in-terms-of-humor-it-s-a-really-powerful-coping-mechanism-and-it-gets/)

[Eva Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-victor/)

> [How like a winter hath my absence been. From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezings have I felt, what dark days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-like-a-winter-hath-my-absence-been-from-thee-the-pleasure-of-the/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Dark days have an end but we wait so long to see the end we just give up. Why give up so much that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destiny-hope/dark-days-have-an-end-but-we-wait-so-long-to-see-the-end-we-just-give/)

Destiny Hope

## More by Katherine Applegate

> [It's hard to put into words. Gorillas are not complainers. We're dreamers, poets, philosophers, nap takers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/it-s-hard-to-put-into-words-gorillas-are-not-complainers-we-re/)

[Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

> [“Pleasure fades, gets old, gets thrown out with last year's fad. Fear, guilt, all that stuff stays fresh. Maybe that's why people get so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/pleasure-fades-gets-old-gets-thrown-out-with-last-year-s-fad-fear/)

[Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

> [“Humans. Violent but peace-loving. Passionate but cerebral. Humane but cruel. Impulsive but calculating. Generous but selfish. Humans. Altogether a contradictory and deeply flawed species.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/humans-violent-but-peace-loving-passionate-but-cerebral-humane-but/)

[katherine applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

> [“She got up and went to her tiny kitchen. On the way she turned on her radio. "You want something to eat?" she called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/she-got-up-and-went-to-her-tiny-kitchen-on-the-way-she-turned-on-her/)

[Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

> [A good zoo," Stella said, "is a large domain. A wild cage. A safe place to be. It has room to roam and humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/a-good-zoo-stella-said-is-a-large-domain-a-wild-cage-a-safe-place-to/)

[Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

> [“In dreams you lose normal cause and effect. You jump around in time. This is reality. Jalil”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/in-dreams-you-lose-normal-cause-and-effect-you-jump-around-in-time/)

[Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

> [“It's an alien toilet!" -Cassie”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/it-s-an-alien-toilet-cassie/)

[Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

> [“Trees can’t tell jokes. But we can certainly tell stories. And if all you hear is the whisper of leaves, don’t worry. Most trees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/trees-can-t-tell-jokes-but-we-can-certainly-tell-stories-and-if-all/)

[Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

> [Her eyes hold the pale moon in them, the way a still pond holds stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/her-eyes-hold-the-pale-moon-in-them-the-way-a-still-pond-holds-stars/)

[Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

> [Memories are precious ... they help tell us who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/memories-are-precious-they-help-tell-us-who-we-are/)

[Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

> [“She batted her eyelashes at me to show she was kidding. I love it when she does that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/she-batted-her-eyelashes-at-me-to-show-she-was-kidding-i-love-it-when/)

[Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

> [Anger is precious. A silverback uses anger to maintain order and warn his troops of danger. When my father beat his chest, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/anger-is-precious-a-silverback-uses-anger-to-maintain-order-and-warn/)

[Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

> [“But even I have enough sense to know the words “we have to win” are the first four steps on the road to hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/but-even-i-have-enough-sense-to-know-the-words-we-have-to-win-are-the/)

[Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

> [“Ax swiveled his stalk eyes toward me. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/ax-swiveled-his-stalk-eyes-toward-me/)

[Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

> [“I’d broken the rule because I wanted something. I wanted to matter. I wanted to do something meaningful before I died.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/i-d-broken-the-rule-because-i-wanted-something-i-wanted-to-matter-i/)

[Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

[Explore all 130 Katherine Applegate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/)

## More Dark days quotes

> [Dark days have an end but we wait so long to see the end we just give up. Why give up so much that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destiny-hope/dark-days-have-an-end-but-we-wait-so-long-to-see-the-end-we-just-give/)

Destiny Hope

> [In terms of humor, it's a really powerful coping mechanism, and it gets you through really dark days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-victor/in-terms-of-humor-it-s-a-really-powerful-coping-mechanism-and-it-gets/)

[Eva Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-victor/)

> [How like a winter hath my absence been. From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezings have I felt, what dark days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-like-a-winter-hath-my-absence-been-from-thee-the-pleasure-of-the/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [I've had my share of dark days of the soul. I try not to focus on it too much so it doesn't get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/i-ve-had-my-share-of-dark-days-of-the-soul-i-try-not-to-focus-on-it/)

[Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/)

> [“Faith isn't grounded on emotions. It's grounded on the will. It's grounded in the act of taking up your cross and following the Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-morgan/faith-isn-t-grounded-on-emotions-it-s-grounded-on-the-will-it-s/)

[Kathleen Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-morgan/)

> [Joe was being called a liar and a traitor; I'm being accused of nepotism, of being a glorified secretary. The stresses that that places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/joe-was-being-called-a-liar-and-a-traitor-i-m-being-accused-of/)

[Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/)

> [“We live in hope that the good we do here on earth will be rewarded in heaven. We also hope to win the war.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-willis/we-live-in-hope-that-the-good-we-do-here-on-earth-will-be-rewarded-in/)

[Connie Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-willis/)

> [“Something writhed inside me and for a moment I was back in those long dark days when my world was so small I couldn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-taylor/something-writhed-inside-me-and-for-a-moment-i-was-back-in-those-long/)

[Jodi Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-taylor/)

> [One day when I was working on a movie, I stayed at the beach a little too long, and they said, “You are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/one-day-when-i-was-working-on-a-movie-i-stayed-at-the-beach-a-little/)

[George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/)

> [I have lived and worked in Britain all my life. Not even in the dark days of penal Labour taxation in the Seventies did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lloyd-webber/i-have-lived-and-worked-in-britain-all-my-life-not-even-in-the-dark/)

[Andrew Lloyd Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lloyd-webber/)

> [“In stormy dark days, people need sunny thoughts to stand still firmly!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/in-stormy-dark-days-people-need-sunny-thoughts-to-stand-still-firmly/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [ On a good day, I view the job \[of president\] as directing an orchestra. On the dark days, it is more like that of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/on-a-good-day-i-view-the-job-of-president-as-directing-an-orchestra/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is handing you an opportunity to come full circle, to shine your light on the dark days of your break-up and to exorcise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/life-is-handing-you-an-opportunity-to-come-full-circle-to-shine-your/)

Kemmy Nola Http://wwwamoreloveforlifecom

> [“My son, you are just an infant now, but on that day when the world disrobes of its alluring cloak, it is then that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakieb-orgunwall/my-son-you-are-just-an-infant-now-but-on-that-day-when-the-world/)

[Shakieb Orgunwall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakieb-orgunwall/)

> [Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/happiness-lies-not-in-the-mere-possession-of-money-it-lies-in-the-joy/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

[Browse all 121 Dark days quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-days/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I remember something my mama used to say on dark days: If you can talk, you can sing. If you can walk, you can dance. Ganwar, I whisper, what if she never comes?”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Katherine Applegate"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/i-remember-something-my-mama-used-to-say-on-dark-days-if-you-can-talk/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dark days"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/i-remember-something-my-mama-used-to-say-on-dark-days-if-you-can-talk/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/katherine-applegate-3304_dark-days_i-remember-something-my-mama-used-to-say_2767386.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/katherine-applegate-3304_dark-days_i-remember-something-my-mama-used-to-say_2767386.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/katherine-applegate-3304_dark-days_i-remember-something-my-mama-used-to-say_2767386.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I remember something my mama used to say on dark days: If you can talk, you can sing. If you can walk, you…” — Katherine Applegate",
                "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": "Katherine Applegate",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I remember something my mama used...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/i-remember-something-my-mama-used-to-say-on-dark-days-if-you-can-talk/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/i-remember-something-my-mama-used-to-say-on-dark-days-if-you-can-talk/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
