--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've worked since I was 11 years old…" description: "\"I've worked since I was 11 years old, playing music and following the dream, and shaking and moving and doing it. And then, you have cancer and it was ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/melissa-etheridge-2952_bigs_i-ve-worked-since-i-was-11-years-old-pla_623811.jpg" --- # I've worked since I was 11 years old, playing music and… ![“I've worked since I was 11 years old, playing music and following the dream, and shaking and moving and doing it. And then, you have cancer and it was like 'Ooooohh.' It was like a big eraser. It was the only thing in my life that had ever made me just stop.” quote by Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/melissa-etheridge-2952_bigs_i-ve-worked-since-i-was-11-years-old-pla_623811.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/melissa-etheridge-2952_bigs_i-ve-worked-since-i-was-11-years-old-pla_623811.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/melissa-etheridge-2952_bigs_i-ve-worked-since-i-was-11-years-old-pla_623811.jpg) > “I've worked since I was 11 years old, playing music and following the dream, and shaking and moving and doing it. And then, you have cancer and it was like 'Ooooohh.' It was like a big eraser. It was the only thing in my life that had ever made me just stop.” [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cancer halted her musical drive, highlighting how illness can abruptly stop lifelong passions. **In simple terms:** Illness can pause a lifelong dream. Key Takeaway Recognize and cherish creative drive. Themes health music personal struggle Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational cautionary When to use this quote - career planning - health advocacy - mental health support Key Concepts cancer career interruption creative resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep creative fire alive after setbacks? - What support helps artists facing health crises? A Different Perspective Recovery may not restore previous momentum. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Cancer Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer-like-268812/) [Doing Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-cancer-1267351/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dream Shaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream-shaking-5041937/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Following](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following/) [Following Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following-dream-799647/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Playing music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-music/) [Shaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaking/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [But today in the United States, and this shows you where fascism REALLY exists, Any doctor in the United States who cures cancer using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-null/but-today-in-the-united-states-and-this-shows-you-where-fascism/) [Gary Null](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-null/) > [For people who are afraid to talk about cancer, for people who are afraid to communicate with their loved ones about it, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/for-people-who-are-afraid-to-talk-about-cancer-for-people-who-are/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [Cancer's like the ultimate excuse. Who's gonna say, 'Oh, no, you have to show up for this one?' 'Hey, I got cancer. I can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/cancer-s-like-the-ultimate-excuse-who-s-gonna-say-oh-no-you-have-to/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [I took on cancer like I take on everything - like a mission and a job to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-wood/i-took-on-cancer-like-i-take-on-everything-like-a-mission-and-a-job/) [Sam Taylor-Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-wood/) > [One of the pitfalls about writing about illness is that it is very easy to imagine people with cancer as either these wise-beyond-their-years creatures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/one-of-the-pitfalls-about-writing-about-illness-is-that-it-is-very/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Be big enough to offer the truth to people and if it short circuits them I think that's tragic. I think that's sad but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/be-big-enough-to-offer-the-truth-to-people-and-if-it-short-circuits/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [You hear about people your whole life, 'So-and-so has cancer,' and you're like, 'Wow, that's too bad,' and then most people tend to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/you-hear-about-people-your-whole-life-so-and-so-has-cancer-and-you-re/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [I know what cancer was. How is it like humankind?" Sek Hardeen's perfectly modulated, softly accented tones showed a hint of agitation. "We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/i-know-what-cancer-was-how-is-it-like-humankind-sek-hardeen-s/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [The Bucket List is a movie about two old codgers who are nothing like people, both suffering from cancer that is nothing like cancer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/the-bucket-list-is-a-movie-about-two-old-codgers-who-are-nothing-like/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Cancer is like the common cold; there are so many different types. In the future we'll still have cancer, but we'll detect it very,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/cancer-is-like-the-common-cold-there-are-so-many-different-types-in/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [Breast cancer, whether I like it or not, is part of my family's story. That's why I am so passionate about raising awareness, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deangelo-williams/breast-cancer-whether-i-like-it-or-not-is-part-of-my-family-s-story/) [DeAngelo Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deangelo-williams/) > [“Cancer will be like that, I tell Marla. There will be mistakes, and maybe the point is not to forget the rest of yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/cancer-will-be-like-that-i-tell-marla-there-will-be-mistakes-and/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [One of the pitfalls of writing about illness is that it is very easy to imagine people with cancer as either these wise, beyond-their-years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/one-of-the-pitfalls-of-writing-about-illness-is-that-it-is-very-easy/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Oh, I don't know. I might grow on you." She furrowed her pretty eyebrows. "Like a cancer?" "Like a favorite vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/oh-i-don-t-know-i-might-grow-on-you-she-furrowed-her-pretty-eyebrows/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“Instantly, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. I didn't know exactly what I was feeling, but my buddy JD - my best man, whom I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-bishop/instantly-i-was-overwhelmed-with-gratitude-i-didn-t-know-exactly-what/) [Bryan Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-bishop/) ## More by Melissa Etheridge > [Once I overcame breast cancer, I wasn't afraid of anything anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/once-i-overcame-breast-cancer-i-wasn-t-afraid-of-anything-anymore/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [My friends have always told me that rock stardom was wasted on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/my-friends-have-always-told-me-that-rock-stardom-was-wasted-on-me/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [The sign says do not enter, no trespassing allowed. With visions of redemption I walk against the crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/the-sign-says-do-not-enter-no-trespassing-allowed-with-visions-of/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Our society, where we are right now, our minds are junkyards. We watch TV and sit on the computer all day and barely have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/our-society-where-we-are-right-now-our-minds-are-junkyards-we-watch/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [I wanted to be out so I could relax and be me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/i-wanted-to-be-out-so-i-could-relax-and-be-me/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Your own personal health is your own personal choice, all the way down the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/your-own-personal-health-is-your-own-personal-choice-all-the-way-down/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Don't let people who live in fear and hate govern how you live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/don-t-let-people-who-live-in-fear-and-hate-govern-how-you-live/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [I know your friend you told her about me. She filled you with fear some kind of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/i-know-your-friend-you-told-her-about-me-she-filled-you-with-fear/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Empty and cold, but it keep me alive. I gave it my soul, so that I could survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/empty-and-cold-but-it-keep-me-alive-i-gave-it-my-soul-so-that-i-could/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [I am what I am and I am what I am afraid of. Oh what am I afraid of I need a fearless love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/i-am-what-i-am-and-i-am-what-i-am-afraid-of-oh-what-am-i-afraid-of-i/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [I don't have a bucket list because it is my dedication to live every day of my life there. I don't have a bucket…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/i-don-t-have-a-bucket-list-because-it-is-my-dedication-to-live-every/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [“Bruce has always been so nice to me, which is crazy, because he's one of my heroes. I'll never forget being at a Rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/bruce-has-always-been-so-nice-to-me-which-is-crazy-because-he-s-one/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Pursuing all my happiness I want a fearless love I won't settle for anything less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/pursuing-all-my-happiness-i-want-a-fearless-love-i-won-t-settle-for/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Nothing fills the blackness that has seeped into my chest. I need you in my blood I am forsaking all the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/nothing-fills-the-blackness-that-has-seeped-into-my-chest-i-need-you/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Can I survive all the implications? Even if I tried could you be less than an addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/can-i-survive-all-the-implications-even-if-i-tried-could-you-be-less/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) [Explore all 144 Melissa Etheridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) ## More Bigs quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) [Browse all 15,539 Bigs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've worked since I was 11 years old, playing music and following the dream, and shaking and moving and doing it. 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