---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I suppose I hit my lowest point in the…"
description: "\"I suppose I hit my lowest point in the early to mid-80s, which is when things really spun out of control for me.\" — Michael McDonald"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/michael-mcdonald-6275_control_i-suppose-i-hit-my-lowest-point-in-the-e_900492.jpg"
---

#  I suppose I hit my lowest point in the early to mid-80s…

![“I suppose I hit my lowest point in the early to mid-80s, which is when things really spun out of control for me.” quote by Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/michael-mcdonald-6275_control_i-suppose-i-hit-my-lowest-point-in-the-e_900492.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/michael-mcdonald-6275_control_i-suppose-i-hit-my-lowest-point-in-the-e_900492.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/michael-mcdonald-6275_control_i-suppose-i-hit-my-lowest-point-in-the-e_900492.jpg)

> “I suppose I hit my lowest point in the early to mid-80s, which is when things really spun out of control for me.”

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

His lowest point in the 80s marked a period of loss of control.

**In simple terms:** He hit a personal low in the 80s.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address personal crises.

Themes

addiction mental health recovery career

Mood

melancholic hopeful

Type

personal motivational

When to use this quote

- rehabilitation
- support networks
- career rebuilding
- public speaking

Key Concepts

self‑destruction redemption

Questions to Reflect On

- What triggered the downturn?
- How did you begin recovery?

A Different Perspective

Recovery may be non‑linear and painful.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Lowest point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lowest-point/)

## Related quotes

> [When we hit our lowest point, we are open to our greatest change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/when-we-hit-our-lowest-point-we-are-open-to-our-greatest-change/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [I read that yesterday, the Mexican peso hit its lowest point since March of 2009. In fact, things got so bad, it was seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/i-read-that-yesterday-the-mexican-peso-hit-its-lowest-point-since/)

[Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/)

> [“When you hit your lowest point, you have two choices: stay down and let the circumstances drown you, or find your footing and kick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-matayo/when-you-hit-your-lowest-point-you-have-two-choices-stay-down-and-let/)

[Amy Matayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-matayo/)

> [When we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aang/when-we-hit-our-lowest-point-we-are-open-to-the-greatest-change/)

Aang

> [When we hit our lowest point, we open up to our greatest change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-hit-our-lowest-point-we-open-up-to-our-greatest-change/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> ['The Simpsons' from the very beginning was based on our memories of brash '60s sitcoms - you had a main title theme that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/the-simpsons-from-the-very-beginning-was-based-on-our-memories-of/)

[Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/)

> [Modern man must descend the spiral of his own absurdity to the lowest point; only then can he look beyondit. It is obviously impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/modern-man-must-descend-the-spiral-of-his-own-absurdity-to-the-lowest/)

[Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/)

> [We cannot look at Syria, and the evil that has arisen from the ashes of indecision, and think this is not the lowest point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/we-cannot-look-at-syria-and-the-evil-that-has-arisen-from-the-ashes/)

[Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/)

> [Our Pavlovian response to movies has gotten to its lowest point ever. You look at a lot of movies that are successful and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/our-pavlovian-response-to-movies-has-gotten-to-its-lowest-point-ever/)

[David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/)

> [One of the lowest points in my life was when I was diagnosed and combated with severe ulcerative colitis which is severe ulcers in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-assaraf/one-of-the-lowest-points-in-my-life-was-when-i-was-diagnosed-and/)

[John Assaraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-assaraf/)

> [“Celebrate people and love them even at their lowest point”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/celebrate-people-and-love-them-even-at-their-lowest-point/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [Our lowest point may be our greatest moment, if we make it our turning point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rally-ikiebe/our-lowest-point-may-be-our-greatest-moment-if-we-make-it-our-turning/)

Rally Ikiebe

> [My lowest point in football? Probably leaving United.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-drinkwater/my-lowest-point-in-football-probably-leaving-united/)

[Danny Drinkwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-drinkwater/)

> [But, this dark place is not the end. Remember that the darkness of night precedes the dawn. And as long as your heart still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/but-this-dark-place-is-not-the-end-remember-that-the-darkness-of/)

[Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/)

> [An actor is most vulnerable at the lowest point of his career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nushrat-bharucha/an-actor-is-most-vulnerable-at-the-lowest-point-of-his-career/)

[Nushrat Bharucha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nushrat-bharucha/)

## More by Michael McDonald

> [Beck is obviously a consummate musician. He plays instruments, many instruments. He can make his own record without having a fleet of computer operators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/beck-is-obviously-a-consummate-musician-he-plays-instruments-many/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

> [I'd say that Ray Charles is definitely the biggest influence on my singing. Also Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-d-say-that-ray-charles-is-definitely-the-biggest-influence-on-my/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

> [Since the '60s, we've lived so much in an age of quick fixes that the culture itself has become a quick fix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/since-the-60s-we-ve-lived-so-much-in-an-age-of-quick-fixes-that-the/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

> [Hey, I'd love to have a hit single, but if that doesn't happen, I'm not going to complain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/hey-i-d-love-to-have-a-hit-single-but-if-that-doesn-t-happen-i-m-not/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

> [I truly cherish the time and experience with friends that I have been making music with for so many years, even decades now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-truly-cherish-the-time-and-experience-with-friends-that-i-have-been/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

> [While making any record, you look for the opportunity to bring someone who will help generate something special in the music environments you create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/while-making-any-record-you-look-for-the-opportunity-to-bring-someone/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

> [I do love the Nat King Cole stuff, the classic Christmas records. There's something about putting those records on and hearing his voice at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-do-love-the-nat-king-cole-stuff-the-classic-christmas-records-there/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

> [I've always written short stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-ve-always-written-short-stories/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

> [I've always felt like the Forrest Gump of the music business. I've been fortunate to work with a lot of great people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-ve-always-felt-like-the-forrest-gump-of-the-music-business-i-ve/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

> [Rap is like any other genre: There are the people who are very creative with it and do remarkable things... and then there's that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/rap-is-like-any-other-genre-there-are-the-people-who-are-very/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

> [I wish I wrote songs like Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, Don Henley, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, so many of the songwriters I admire. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-wish-i-wrote-songs-like-donald-fagen-walter-becker-don-henley/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

> [Most of my life is taken up with family. It takes me awhile to get a record together that I feel is worthy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/most-of-my-life-is-taken-up-with-family-it-takes-me-awhile-to-get-a/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

> ['Livin' on the Fault Line' was kind of a commercial disappointment for us, although it seemed to have a certain buzz with the smaller…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/livin-on-the-fault-line-was-kind-of-a-commercial-disappointment-for/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

> [We try to promote the Christmas season and remind people that it is a season of peace. That's what the season's real meaning is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/we-try-to-promote-the-christmas-season-and-remind-people-that-it-is-a/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

> [My wife is, by and large, the best thing that ever happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/my-wife-is-by-and-large-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me/)

[Michael McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

[Explore all 99 Michael McDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/)

## More Control quotes

> [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/)

[Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/)

> [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/)

[Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/)

> [“You can't control who loves you...you can't let someone love you anymore than you can make someone love you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/you-can-t-control-who-loves-you-you-can-t-let-someone-love-you/)

[Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/)

> [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/)

[Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/)

> [Don't think you can...know you can! You human body is the most impressive tool you'll ever own. Even if you can't control everything, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hardy/don-t-think-you-can-know-you-can-you-human-body-is-the-most/)

[Jeff Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hardy/)

> [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/)

[Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/)

> [“Without time management, you lose control of your life and do what other people tell you to do. You lose control and become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-miller/without-time-management-you-lose-control-of-your-life-and-do-what/)

Thomas Miller

> [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/)

[John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/)

> [Many of us rely on our own illusion of control. But when God makes it known to you that you're not the one steering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/many-of-us-rely-on-our-own-illusion-of-control-but-when-god-makes-it/)

[Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/)

> [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/)

[Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/)

> [“He who can destroy a thing has the real control of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/he-who-can-destroy-a-thing-has-the-real-control-of-it/)

[Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/)

> [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/)

[Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/)

> [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [Some nights I'm funny with the between-song commentary, some nights I'm not. I have no control over this. I pace the stage a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berman/some-nights-i-m-funny-with-the-between-song-commentary-some-nights-i/)

[David Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berman/)

> [“Control never be a means to any practical end. It can never be a means to anything but more control… Like punk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/control-never-be-a-means-to-any-practical-end-it-can-never-be-a-means/)

[William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/)

[Browse all 6,032 Control quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I suppose I hit my lowest point in the early to mid-80s, which is when things really spun out of control for me.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael McDonald"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-suppose-i-hit-my-lowest-point-in-the-early-to-mid-80s-which-is-when/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Control"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-suppose-i-hit-my-lowest-point-in-the-early-to-mid-80s-which-is-when/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/michael-mcdonald-6275_control_i-suppose-i-hit-my-lowest-point-in-the-e_900492.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/michael-mcdonald-6275_control_i-suppose-i-hit-my-lowest-point-in-the-e_900492.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb6/michael-mcdonald-6275_control_i-suppose-i-hit-my-lowest-point-in-the-e_900492.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I suppose I hit my lowest point in the early to mid-80s, which is when things really spun out of control for…” — Michael McDonald",
                "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 McDonald",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcdonald/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I suppose I hit my lowest...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-suppose-i-hit-my-lowest-point-in-the-early-to-mid-80s-which-is-when/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcdonald/i-suppose-i-hit-my-lowest-point-in-the-early-to-mid-80s-which-is-when/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
