--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is something that happens to you…" description: "\"Life is something that happens to you while you're making other plans.\" — Margaret Millar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/margaret-millar-19531_happens_life-is-something-that-happens-to-you-wh_1598763.png" --- # Life is something that happens to you while you're making… ![“Life is something that happens to you while you're making other plans.” quote by Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/margaret-millar-19531_happens_life-is-something-that-happens-to-you-wh_1598763.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/margaret-millar-19531_happens_life-is-something-that-happens-to-you-wh_1598763.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/margaret-millar-19531_happens_life-is-something-that-happens-to-you-wh_1598763.png) > “Life is something that happens to you while you're making other plans.” [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life unfolds unexpectedly while we focus on other plans, highlighting the unpredictability of existence. **In simple terms:** Life happens while we plan other things. Key Takeaway Stay flexible and present. Themes uncertainty planning life adaptability Mood contemplative thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - Project management - personal goal setting - travel Key Concepts Chaos theory mindfulness existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance planning with spontaneity? - What unexpected events have reshaped your life? A Different Perspective May downplay the value of strategic planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Making Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-plans/) ## Related quotes > [Life's what happens when you're making other plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/life-s-what-happens-when-you-re-making-other-plans/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [“Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-what-happens-to-us-while-we-are-making-other-plans/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It reminds us that love isn’t something that happens to us — it’s something we’re making together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-len-catron/it-reminds-us-that-love-isn-t-something-that-happens-to-us-it-s/) [Mandy Len Catron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-len-catron/) > [But there is a process that happens when you're making something, be it a musical or a new play. That process takes time, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mantello/but-there-is-a-process-that-happens-when-you-re-making-something-be/) [Joe Mantello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mantello/) > [Life is what happens to you while youre busy making other plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/life-is-what-happens-to-you-while-youre-busy-making-other-plans/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [We're all trying to make it, why can't you understand. That life is what happens when you're making other plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jmsn/we-re-all-trying-to-make-it-why-can-t-you-understand-that-life-is/) [JMSN](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jmsn/) > [There is a time to let things happen, and a time to make things happen." "Life is what happens when you are making other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/there-is-a-time-to-let-things-happen-and-a-time-to-make-things-happen-3/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-force/life-is-what-happens-when-you-are-busy-making-other-plans/) [Marie Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-force/) > [Someone once said that life is what happens while we are making other plans. I now know what that means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-bell/someone-once-said-that-life-is-what-happens-while-we-are-making-other/) [Charlie Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-bell/) > [Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/life-is-what-happens-to-you-when-you-re-busy-making-other-plans/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [Life happens when your busy making other plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-happens-when-your-busy-making-other-plans/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/life-is-what-happens-while-you-are-busy-making-other-plans/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [“What about life? Life is what happens when you’re making other plans. 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Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/) > [Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-what-happens-to-you-while-you-re-busy-making-other-plans/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Margaret Millar > [You have what is known as a lot of character, meaning you can be wrong at the top of your lungs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/you-have-what-is-known-as-a-lot-of-character-meaning-you-can-be-wrong/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [Shrews are made, not born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/shrews-are-made-not-born/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [Civilization has imposed countless restrictions and conventions on each of us, with the result that the subconscious in the majority of us has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/civilization-has-imposed-countless-restrictions-and-conventions-on/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [The day will probably come when you can tell everything about a person from his dreams except his age and weight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/the-day-will-probably-come-when-you-can-tell-everything-about-a/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [the smell of lilacs crept poignantly into the room like a remembered spring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/the-smell-of-lilacs-crept-poignantly-into-the-room-like-a-remembered/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [the emotions at death, as at birth, are instinctive and primitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/the-emotions-at-death-as-at-birth-are-instinctive-and-primitive/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [Private problems don't constitute an excuse for bad manners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/private-problems-don-t-constitute-an-excuse-for-bad-manners/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [Don't borrow trouble. The interest is too high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/don-t-borrow-trouble-the-interest-is-too-high/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [I wish people would quit telling me to think. I think. Thinking's easy. 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I myself prefer the spark of genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/common-sense-is-a-vastly-overrated-virtue-i-myself-prefer-the-spark/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [I didn't mind giving up carnality, jewelry and red meat in return for comradeship and an afterlife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/i-didn-t-mind-giving-up-carnality-jewelry-and-red-meat-in-return-for/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [You can't drown your troubles ... because troubles can swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/you-can-t-drown-your-troubles-because-troubles-can-swim/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) > [The world of maps is nice and flat and simple. It has areas for people and areas for monsters. What a shock it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-millar/the-world-of-maps-is-nice-and-flat-and-simple-it-has-areas-for-people/) [Margaret Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) [Explore all 32 Margaret Millar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-millar/) ## More Happens quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. 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Not your works. Just simple faith. How much faith? The faith of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/faith-is-the-avenue-to-salvation-not-intellectual-understanding-not/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [The amazing thing is that we live our lives with the hope that things will go right, that things will happen. And all along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-nakadate/the-amazing-thing-is-that-we-live-our-lives-with-the-hope-that-things/) [Laurel Nakadate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-nakadate/) > [I had sort of had a 21st birthday when I was 17, 18 years old living in Japan. I had all of that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wright/i-had-sort-of-had-a-21st-birthday-when-i-was-17-18-years-old-living/) [Sarah Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wright/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [This mind is a prison. It cannot find any freedom anywhere. It must die before freedom comes to you. 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