--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you wake up and everybody says, \"How…" description: "\"When you wake up and everybody says, \"How do you feel, Mike?\" I say, \"I'm alive.\" As long as I'm alive I can deal with anything that's out there.\" — Mi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/michael-e-thornton-48551_alive_when-you-wake-up-and-everybody-says-how_2633693.jpg" --- # When you wake up and everybody says, "How do you feel… ![“When you wake up and everybody says, "How do you feel, Mike?" I say, "I'm alive." As long as I'm alive I can deal with anything that's out there.” quote by Michael E. Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/michael-e-thornton-48551_alive_when-you-wake-up-and-everybody-says-how_2633693.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/michael-e-thornton-48551_alive_when-you-wake-up-and-everybody-says-how_2633693.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/michael-e-thornton-48551_alive_when-you-wake-up-and-everybody-says-how_2633693.jpg) > “When you wake up and everybody says, "How do you feel, Mike?" I say, "I'm alive." As long as I'm alive I can deal with anything that's out there.” [Michael E. Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-thornton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being alive is enough to face any challenge; existence itself is empowerment. **In simple terms:** Life itself gives strength to handle anything. Key Takeaway Embrace existence as a source of resilience. Themes resilience existence mindset Mood determined optimistic Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - morning routines - stressful days - health setbacks - career pressures - personal loss Key Concepts self‑affirmation mental health Questions to Reflect On - What does being alive mean to you? - How do you turn existence into action? A Different Perspective Ignoring health issues can limit this mindset. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Wake up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up/) ## Related quotes > [“Sometimes we crossed paths with beautiful people. Sometimes we forgot them. Other times we remembered what made them beautiful. It had nothing to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milana-jacks/sometimes-we-crossed-paths-with-beautiful-people-sometimes-we-forgot/) [Milana Jacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milana-jacks/) > [“To live every day as if it had been stolen from death...to separate oneself from the burden, the angst, the anguish that we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-live-every-day-as-if-it-had-been-stolen-from-death-to-separate/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When people ask what I do, I say: “I’m a teacher.” or: “I proofread legal documents.” or: “I hand out jalapeño humus dip at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gordon/when-people-ask-what-i-do-i-say-i-m-a-teacher-or-i-proofread-legal/) [David Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gordon/) > [“To live every day as if it had been stolen from death, that is how I want to live. To feel the joy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-stein/to-live-every-day-as-if-it-had-been-stolen-from-death-that-is-how-i-3/) [Garth Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-stein/) > [“There are so many ways to live and die, so many ways to tell that same story, over and over, but everyone keeps trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/there-are-so-many-ways-to-live-and-die-so-many-ways-to-tell-that-same/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [“Few living do." "Then, have I...I mean, am I-" "Oh, no, child! You are still very much alive! Though I may say, not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-w-schmidt/few-living-do-then-have-i-i-mean-am-i-oh-no-child-you-are-still-very/) R.W. Schmidt > [“While I am so afraid to fail so I won't even try, Well how can I say I'm alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/while-i-am-so-afraid-to-fail-so-i-won-t-even-try-well-how-can-i-say-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To separate oneself from the burden, the angst, the anguish that we all encounter every day. To say I am alive, I am wonderful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-stein/to-separate-oneself-from-the-burden-the-angst-the-anguish-that-we-all-2/) [Garth Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-stein/) > [History, as they say, is alive and well and living in London.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-hanff/history-as-they-say-is-alive-and-well-and-living-in-london/) [Helene Hanff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-hanff/) > [U can't say you are alive with out you living...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-tshepo-matsemela/u-can-t-say-you-are-alive-with-out-you-living/) Samuel Tshepo Matsemela > [Old people come up to me and say, 'Are you still alive? I used to watch you on 'To Tell The Truth' when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/old-people-come-up-to-me-and-say-are-you-still-alive-i-used-to-watch/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [Don't be sadness to walk to your main road one day you will be reach in your point and you gona say I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indra/don-t-be-sadness-to-walk-to-your-main-road-one-day-you-will-be-reach/) [Indra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indra/) > [It's safe to say you're never alive. A big part of you has died and by the way, I hope you're satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/godsmack/it-s-safe-to-say-you-re-never-alive-a-big-part-of-you-has-died-and-by/) [Godsmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/godsmack/) > [I've always been with God, even in my darkest hour. That is why I say I am alive. I mean, I should have died…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/i-ve-always-been-with-god-even-in-my-darkest-hour-that-is-why-i-say-i/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [Part of me was saying if you say that she's alive, what would everybody think? What are you gonna tell everybody who follow you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manti-te-o/part-of-me-was-saying-if-you-say-that-she-s-alive-what-would-2/) [Manti Te'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manti-te-o/) ## More by Michael E. Thornton > [War stinks! There's nothing good about it. But you know the whole thing, it's you or them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-thornton/war-stinks-there-s-nothing-good-about-it-but-you-know-the-whole-thing/) [Michael E. Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-thornton/) > [I was never afraid to step out and make a decision. It might have been the wrong decision. I'm not afraid to tell somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-thornton/i-was-never-afraid-to-step-out-and-make-a-decision-it-might-have-been/) [Michael E. Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-thornton/) > [Medal of Honor belongs to every man and woman who gives us the freedom today to be able to hold our flag and hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-thornton/medal-of-honor-belongs-to-every-man-and-woman-who-gives-us-the/) [Michael E. Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-thornton/) > [I'll always have the memories of guys I lost in Vietnam. And I've lost friends since the war, but I'll always have the memories.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-thornton/i-ll-always-have-the-memories-of-guys-i-lost-in-vietnam-and-i-ve-lost/) [Michael E. Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-thornton/) > [Just be happy with life itself, period. I mean, I live every day to the fullest, you know. Yeah, set your goals out there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-thornton/just-be-happy-with-life-itself-period-i-mean-i-live-every-day-to-the/) [Michael E. Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-thornton/) > [This Medal of Honor does not belong to me. This medal belongs to every man and woman who has ever served their country. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-thornton/this-medal-of-honor-does-not-belong-to-me-this-medal-belongs-to-every/) [Michael E. Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-thornton/) > [It wasn't the Medal of Honor that changed my life. It was being in Vietnam itself. The close situations changed my whole way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-thornton/it-wasn-t-the-medal-of-honor-that-changed-my-life-it-was-being-in/) [Michael E. Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-thornton/) [Explore all 8 Michael E. Thornton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-thornton/) ## 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": "When you wake up and everybody says, \"How do you feel, Mike?\" I say, \"I'm alive.\" As long as I'm alive I can deal with anything that's out there.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael E. Thornton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-thornton/when-you-wake-up-and-everybody-says-how-do-you-feel-mike-i-say-i-m/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-thornton/when-you-wake-up-and-everybody-says-how-do-you-feel-mike-i-say-i-m/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/michael-e-thornton-48551_alive_when-you-wake-up-and-everybody-says-how_2633693.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/michael-e-thornton-48551_alive_when-you-wake-up-and-everybody-says-how_2633693.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/michael-e-thornton-48551_alive_when-you-wake-up-and-everybody-says-how_2633693.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you wake up and everybody says, \"How do you feel, Mike?\" I say, \"I'm alive.\" As long as I'm alive I can…” — Michael E. Thornton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael E. Thornton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-thornton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you wake up and everybody...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-thornton/when-you-wake-up-and-everybody-says-how-do-you-feel-mike-i-say-i-m/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-thornton/when-you-wake-up-and-everybody-says-how-do-you-feel-mike-i-say-i-m/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```