--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not looking for pity, I'm really not…" description: "\"I'm not looking for pity, I'm really not, but I'm constantly uneasy and every day it is pretty much like getting up and going to war. Once I shift into..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/marian-keyes-1999_alive_i-m-not-looking-for-pity-i-m-really-not_78197.png" --- # I'm not looking for pity, I'm really not, but I'm… ![“I'm not looking for pity, I'm really not, but I'm constantly uneasy and every day it is pretty much like getting up and going to war. Once I shift into the mindset of 'Yeah, you're alive. It's tough. Let's do what we can today,' it's easier.” quote by Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/marian-keyes-1999_alive_i-m-not-looking-for-pity-i-m-really-not_78197.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/marian-keyes-1999_alive_i-m-not-looking-for-pity-i-m-really-not_78197.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/marian-keyes-1999_alive_i-m-not-looking-for-pity-i-m-really-not_78197.png) > “I'm not looking for pity, I'm really not, but I'm constantly uneasy and every day it is pretty much like getting up and going to war. Once I shift into the mindset of 'Yeah, you're alive. It's tough. Let's do what we can today,' it's easier.” [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes daily life as a battle, emphasizing resilience over seeking sympathy, and finds strength in a pragmatic, present‑focused mindset. **In simple terms:** Resilience in adversity Key Takeaway Adopt a pragmatic mindset Themes Resilience Mental health Self‑compassion Perspective Motivation Mood Determined Hopeful Steady Type Motivational Reflective When to use this quote - Facing chronic illness - Dealing with grief - Managing high‑stress jobs - Living with disability Key Concepts Coping strategies Mindset shift Practical Applications - Therapeutic journaling - Coaching sessions Questions to Reflect On - How can you reframe daily challenges as opportunities? - What small actions reinforce a resilient mindset? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Mindset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindset/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [In my career, there have been roles I haven't taken because someone involved with the project gave me a bad vibe. I don't care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/in-my-career-there-have-been-roles-i-haven-t-taken-because-someone/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [Poetry today is easier to write but harder to remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kunitz/poetry-today-is-easier-to-write-but-harder-to-remember/) [Stanley Kunitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kunitz/) > [With an economy that is going strong and a belief that tomorrow will be better than today, it may be easier to just shrug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-soltis-anderson/with-an-economy-that-is-going-strong-and-a-belief-that-tomorrow-will/) [Kristen Soltis Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-soltis-anderson/) > [“The more, and the louder, we come out today, the easier it will be for those who can't do so until tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-silverman/the-more-and-the-louder-we-come-out-today-the-easier-it-will-be-for/) [David Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-silverman/) > [I always tell people what I did 50 years ago as a teenager is now 4,000 times easier to do today than when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/i-always-tell-people-what-i-did-50-years-ago-as-a-teenager-is-now-4/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) > [“Today it is easier than it ever has been to start a business; quicker than it has ever been to grow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-young-of-graffham/today-it-is-easier-than-it-ever-has-been-to-start-a-business-quicker/) Lord Young of Graffham > [When I'm gigging, there's an uneasy shift when I pull a puppet out. People look at me aghast and I feel I have about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-conti/when-i-m-gigging-there-s-an-uneasy-shift-when-i-pull-a-puppet-out/) [Nina Conti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-conti/) > [When I was 16 I was fortunate enough to get Cosby and move to New York and shift my whole life. that had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-bonet/when-i-was-16-i-was-fortunate-enough-to-get-cosby-and-move-to-new/) [Lisa Bonet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-bonet/) > [It's always uncomfortable for me when I take off my shirt. No one else is taking their shift off. Why is everyone else in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-lautner/it-s-always-uncomfortable-for-me-when-i-take-off-my-shirt-no-one-else/) [Taylor Lautner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-lautner/) > [I had worked my way up at Fox. I started in 2007, working the overnight shift on the weekends. I would do one-minute news-of-the-day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-earhardt/i-had-worked-my-way-up-at-fox-i-started-in-2007-working-the-overnight/) [Ainsley Earhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-earhardt/) > [I started in TV movies and then had success in my move to features with 'Night Shift' and 'Splash'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-grazer/i-started-in-tv-movies-and-then-had-success-in-my-move-to-features/) [Brian Grazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-grazer/) > [There is no one-size-fits-all process. It differs from character to character and priority to priority. Every project has a different priority, and you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-massey/there-is-no-one-size-fits-all-process-it-differs-from-character-to/) [Vikrant Massey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-massey/) > [It could just be a shift on the axis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cassidy/it-could-just-be-a-shift-on-the-axis/) [Bill Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cassidy/) > [Twenty years of schooling and they put you on the day shift - look out out kid, they keep it all hid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/twenty-years-of-schooling-and-they-put-you-on-the-day-shift-look-out/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“A shift was taking place in my life - the beach house, Kyle, Tristan; the tides were changing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriane-leigh/a-shift-was-taking-place-in-my-life-the-beach-house-kyle-tristan-the/) [Adriane Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriane-leigh/) ## More by Marian Keyes > [“As they say in New York, Get over it and, if you can't get over it, Get over talking about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/as-they-say-in-new-york-get-over-it-and-if-you-can-t-get-over-it-get/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [I rang my mother to thank her for giving birth to me and she said, "What choice had I? You were in there, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-rang-my-mother-to-thank-her-for-giving-birth-to-me-and-she-said/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“I should have learned mindfulness, and it’s too late now because it’s no good learning it when you’re already in crisis: you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-should-have-learned-mindfulness-and-it-s-too-late-now-because-it-s/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“The last time I’d been unwell, suicidally depressed, whatever you want to call it, the reactions of my friends and family had fallen into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/the-last-time-i-d-been-unwell-suicidally-depressed-whatever-you-want/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [Some think love can be measured by the amount of butterflies in their tummy. Others think love can be measured in bunches of flowers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/some-think-love-can-be-measured-by-the-amount-of-butterflies-in-their/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“Guilt is a self-indulgence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/guilt-is-a-self-indulgence/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“I awake. I don’t mean to but clearly I have not appeased the Sleep Gods with enough offerings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-awake-i-don-t-mean-to-but-clearly-i-have-not-appeased-the-sleep/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [It was only when the salt water of my tears ran into my cuts and made them sting that I discovered I was crying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/it-was-only-when-the-salt-water-of-my-tears-ran-into-my-cuts-and-made/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [I wished there was some kind of switch on my brain. That I could turn it off in the same way that I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-wished-there-was-some-kind-of-switch-on-my-brain-that-i-could-turn/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“I click to buy it and I’m furious to discover that it’s not available in Ireland and they won’t post it from abroad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-click-to-buy-it-and-i-m-furious-to-discover-that-it-s-not-available/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [I've never made a secret of the fact that I'd have loved to have children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-ve-never-made-a-secret-of-the-fact-that-i-d-have-loved-to-have/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“As if, within their high-pitched cries and songs, there are coded threats.     ‘Sometimes you get what you want and sometimes you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/as-if-within-their-high-pitched-cries-and-songs-there-are-coded/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“If it don't come back, it was never yours. If it comes back, it's yours to keep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/if-it-don-t-come-back-it-was-never-yours-if-it-comes-back-it-s-yours/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [Failed relationships can be described as so much wasted makeup. Forget the laughs, forget the fights, forget the sex, forget the jealousy. But take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/failed-relationships-can-be-described-as-so-much-wasted-makeup-forget/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [I couldn’t be with people and I didn’t want to be alone. Suddenly my perspective whooshed and I was far out in space, watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-couldn-t-be-with-people-and-i-didn-t-want-to-be-alone-suddenly-my/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) [Explore all 190 Marian Keyes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not looking for pity, I'm really not, but I'm constantly uneasy and every day it is pretty much like getting up and going to war. Once I shift into the mindset of 'Yeah, you're alive. It's tough. 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