--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Way back when I was working at the dump…" description: "\"Way back when I was working at the dump, I saw that, even when living among the trash, that some people would decide to choose joy in their lives.\" — L..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/luis-alberto-urrea-7854_joy_way-back-when-i-was-working-at-the-dump_1366135.jpg" --- # Way back when I was working at the dump, I saw that, even… ![“Way back when I was working at the dump, I saw that, even when living among the trash, that some people would decide to choose joy in their lives.” quote by Luis Alberto Urrea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/luis-alberto-urrea-7854_joy_way-back-when-i-was-working-at-the-dump_1366135.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/luis-alberto-urrea-7854_joy_way-back-when-i-was-working-at-the-dump_1366135.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d0/luis-alberto-urrea-7854_joy_way-back-when-i-was-working-at-the-dump_1366135.jpg) > “Way back when I was working at the dump, I saw that, even when living among the trash, that some people would decide to choose joy in their lives.” [Luis Alberto Urrea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-alberto-urrea/) ## 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 harsh environments, people can choose happiness, showing resilience and agency. **In simple terms:** People can find joy despite difficult surroundings. Key Takeaway Choose joy, no matter where you are. Themes resilience choice optimism Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - poverty - workplace - daily life - adversity Key Concepts psychology human spirit Questions to Reflect On - What helps you stay joyful in tough times? - Can joy be a form of resistance? A Different Perspective Joy may be temporary if conditions stay terrible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choose Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-joy/) [Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-decide/) [Trash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trash/) [Trash People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trash-people-413496/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Working Dump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-dump-4690857/) ## Related quotes > [To all the white trash people, the grouch called he would like his trash can back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-all-the-white-trash-people-the-grouch-called-he-would-like-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't think you should go around talking trash about people because I think that's how you get your hat handed to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ll-cool-j/i-don-t-think-you-should-go-around-talking-trash-about-people-because/) [LL Cool J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ll-cool-j/) > [I talk trash, but the thing is, I talk trash about people I'm actually going to fight, who are actually in my weight class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinton-jackson/i-talk-trash-but-the-thing-is-i-talk-trash-about-people-i-m-actually/) [Quinton Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinton-jackson/) > [Sometimes I'm asking myself if should I trust or should I trash people?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seiki-rowins-bie/sometimes-i-m-asking-myself-if-should-i-trust-or-should-i-trash-people/) [Seiki Rowins Bie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seiki-rowins-bie/) > [People talk so much trash about me. 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To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [Nothing is more private than a woman's body; it is her physical, emotional, and moral citadel. 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