--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Really, when I look back on it, I did…" description: "\"“Really, when I look back on it, I did exactly what I had set out to do. I changed my life. I woke myself up. I rediscovered passions of every variety...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/katherine-center-10439_changed-life_really-when-i-look-back-on-it-i-did-exac_2785667.jpg" --- # Really, when I look back on it, I did exactly what I had… ![“Really, when I look back on it, I did exactly what I had set out to do. I changed my life. I woke myself up. I rediscovered passions of every variety. I forced myself to take a little time. I found a way to bring some of who I used to be into who I was.” quote by Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/katherine-center-10439_changed-life_really-when-i-look-back-on-it-i-did-exac_2785667.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/katherine-center-10439_changed-life_really-when-i-look-back-on-it-i-did-exac_2785667.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/katherine-center-10439_changed-life_really-when-i-look-back-on-it-i-did-exac_2785667.jpg) > ““Really, when I look back on it, I did exactly what I had set out to do. I changed my life. I woke myself up. I rediscovered passions of every variety. I forced myself to take a little time. I found a way to bring some of who I used to be into who I was.”” [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. I achieved my goals, rediscovered passions, and integrated my past self into who I am now. **In simple terms:** Achieved goals and reclaimed past self. Key Takeaway Integrate past passions into present life. Themes self‑development goal setting identity Mood inspired hopeful Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - career planning - creative projects - well‑being routines Key Concepts personal transformation lifelong learning Questions to Reflect On - What past passions can you revive? - How does integrating past self aid growth? A Different Perspective May overlook setbacks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Little time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-time/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I 've got this weird day that changed my life. I woke up one Wednesday, and my wife's a lawyer, she was off to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/i-ve-got-this-weird-day-that-changed-my-life-i-woke-up-one-wednesday/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [You were given this life because you're strong enough to live it, so never have any regrets because at some point everything you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/you-were-given-this-life-because-you-re-strong-enough-to-live-it-so/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“spurn her, not even giving her the time of day. You did exactly what she”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-k-leigh/spurn-her-not-even-giving-her-the-time-of-day-you-did-exactly-what-she/) [T.K. Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-k-leigh/) > [I walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. I looked with a grimace at the questionable meal Lois had placed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-griffin/i-walked-into-the-kitchen-and-sat-down-at-the-table-i-looked-with-a/) [Peter Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-griffin/) > [At the end of the day, all of the people that were rooting for me to fail, they gotta wake up tomorrow and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/at-the-end-of-the-day-all-of-the-people-that-were-rooting-for-me-to/) [Lebron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [“Did you ever get exactly what you want and find out it's not what you wanted at all?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-reed/did-you-ever-get-exactly-what-you-want-and-find-out-it-s-not-what-you/) [Kit Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-reed/) > [Everyone I looked at, their whole lives, did exactly what they were supposed to do without even questioning it, without even wondering if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-gilbert-murdock/everyone-i-looked-at-their-whole-lives-did-exactly-what-they-were/) [Catherine Gilbert Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-gilbert-murdock/) > [Every show I've done, I've just wanted to understand something of this weird life that I woke up in. I've never woken up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-loeb/every-show-i-ve-done-i-ve-just-wanted-to-understand-something-of-this/) [Damian Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-loeb/) > [My mom had not worked a day in her life, and then she woke up when I was 15 and found herself with four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/my-mom-had-not-worked-a-day-in-her-life-and-then-she-woke-up-when-i/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [Well, the good Lord and good luck must have been with me because I did exactly what I said I was going to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-ruth/well-the-good-lord-and-good-luck-must-have-been-with-me-because-i-did/) [Babe Ruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-ruth/) > [I am a ninja. No you're not. Did you see me do that? Do what? Exactly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-a-ninja-no-you-re-not-did-you-see-me-do-that-do-what-exactly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All the people that were rooting on me to fail, at the end of the day, they have to wake up tomorrow and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/all-the-people-that-were-rooting-on-me-to-fail-at-the-end-of-the-day/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [“Midway along the journey of our life I woke to find myself in a dark wood, for I had wandered off from the straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/midway-along-the-journey-of-our-life-i-woke-to-find-myself-in-a-dark/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“I did exactly as you said, Pa.. I held my head up high.. Even before we got to ten.. I was aiming for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/i-did-exactly-as-you-said-pa-i-held-my-head-up-high-even-before-we/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [When I was 14 I told my we would see better days, and sure enough we did exactly what I said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/when-i-was-14-i-told-my-we-would-see-better-days-and-sure-enough-we/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) ## More by Katherine Center > [“And the way I loved her was like nothing else. This, I decided, was the love all other loves were measured against. They say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/and-the-way-i-loved-her-was-like-nothing-else-this-i-decided-was-the/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [All my main characters are people I'd love to sit around having coffee with. They are people who will tell you honestly about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/all-my-main-characters-are-people-i-d-love-to-sit-around-having/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [What matters most is how you respond to your heartbreaks and your disappointments and your fears. What matters most is who you become in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/what-matters-most-is-how-you-respond-to-your-heartbreaks-and-your/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [“But I wasn't like most of humanity. I didn't like being helped.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/but-i-wasn-t-like-most-of-humanity-i-didn-t-like-being-helped/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [Beauty comes from tenderness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/beauty-comes-from-tenderness/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [In fiction, you can be as true as you want. Real life is a different story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/in-fiction-you-can-be-as-true-as-you-want-real-life-is-a-different/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [My goal is to try to be as happy as I can - going through every day just as it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/my-goal-is-to-try-to-be-as-happy-as-i-can-going-through-every-day/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [Sometimes there is no way to hold your life together. Sometimes things just have to fall apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/sometimes-there-is-no-way-to-hold-your-life-together-sometimes-things/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [“And in the end, do you ever truly know for sure if you’re lovable? What a question. You don’t. You can’t. Of course not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/and-in-the-end-do-you-ever-truly-know-for-sure-if-you-re-lovable-what/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [I believe women are too hard on themselves. I believe that when you love someone, she becomes beautiful to you. I believe the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/i-believe-women-are-too-hard-on-themselves-i-believe-that-when-you/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [The eyes see everything through the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/the-eyes-see-everything-through-the-heart/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [I guess that's the upside of not being young anymore... You know from experience that the struggle always leads, in some way, to something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/i-guess-that-s-the-upside-of-not-being-young-anymore-you-know-from/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [There is no question that the objects that surround us impact our experience of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/there-is-no-question-that-the-objects-that-surround-us-impact-our/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [You don't have to be perfect to be awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/you-don-t-have-to-be-perfect-to-be-awesome/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [“It had not occured to me to mourn losing those things until now. I had done each of those things, somewhere along the way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/it-had-not-occured-to-me-to-mourn-losing-those-things-until-now-i-had/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) [Explore all 65 Katherine Center quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) ## More Changed life quotes > [Working with Rihanna has changed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bibi-bourelly/working-with-rihanna-has-changed-my-life/) [Bibi Bourelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bibi-bourelly/) > [I began with small roles in successful movies like 'No Country For Old Men' by the Coen brothers; but it was 'The Last Exorcism'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-landry-jones/i-began-with-small-roles-in-successful-movies-like-no-country-for-old/) [Caleb Landry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-landry-jones/) > [One day I was running around playing with my son Connor when afterwards I was sweating, tired and out of breath. I was embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/one-day-i-was-running-around-playing-with-my-son-connor-when/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [I'd say Bridgerton' has definitely changed my life. But not only in the things that have come from the job, but also just the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-dynevor/i-d-say-bridgerton-has-definitely-changed-my-life-but-not-only-in-the/) [Phoebe Dynevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-dynevor/) > ['Moonlight' has changed my life externally but also internally... spiritually as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-sanders/moonlight-has-changed-my-life-externally-but-also-internally/) [Ashton Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-sanders/) > [A rice cooker has changed my life. The overnight-oatmeal deal is a big win at the Olyphant house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/a-rice-cooker-has-changed-my-life-the-overnight-oatmeal-deal-is-a-big/) [Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/) > [God's salvation does not come in response to a changed life. A changed life comes in response to the salvation, offered as a free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/god-s-salvation-does-not-come-in-response-to-a-changed-life-a-changed/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [When I saw 'Hamilton,' it changed my life. It's one of the most beautiful things I saw on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-segarra/when-i-saw-hamilton-it-changed-my-life-it-s-one-of-the-most-beautiful/) [Josh Segarra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-segarra/) > [Meditation has changed my life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/meditation-has-changed-my-life/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [Giving birth to my daughter was certainly memorable, like a slap in the face. I arrived at the hospital in total denial, having not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-scanlon/giving-birth-to-my-daughter-was-certainly-memorable-like-a-slap-in/) [Angela Scanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-scanlon/) > [Yogi Bear changed my life in ways that I can't explain because it's not a full feature on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-miller/yogi-bear-changed-my-life-in-ways-that-i-can-t-explain-because-it-s/) [T. J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-miller/) > [The first time that I stepped onto a stage, it was life-changing. For once, I felt comfortable and in a place where I belonged.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shanice-williams/the-first-time-that-i-stepped-onto-a-stage-it-was-life-changing-for/) [Shanice Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shanice-williams/) > [The Cardi co-sign changed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rubi-rose/the-cardi-co-sign-changed-my-life/) [Rubi Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rubi-rose/) > [Being a dad is the best thing that ever happened to me. It changed my life entirely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-busey/being-a-dad-is-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me-it-changed-my/) [Jake Busey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-busey/) > [Because too many times in life there's just one person that I met, just one thing that I heard, one movie that I saw,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-singletary/because-too-many-times-in-life-there-s-just-one-person-that-i-met/) [Mike Singletary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-singletary/) Browse all 487 Changed life quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Really, when I look back on it, I did exactly what I had set out to do. I changed my life. I woke myself up. I rediscovered passions of every variety. I forced myself to take a little time. 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