--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I'd done what I could to warm the…" description: "\"“But I'd done what I could to warm the place up. I'd started with a welcome mat. It had a happy face on it and was bright and colorful. It didn't say \"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/michelle-rowen-10235_front-door_but-i-d-done-what-i-could-to-warm-the-pl_3028851.jpg" --- # But I'd done what I could to warm the place up. I'd… ![“But I'd done what I could to warm the place up. I'd started with a welcome mat. It had a happy face on it and was bright and colorful. It didn't say "Welcome." It said "!!!WELCOME!!!" I knew he wouldn't like it. I considered it more of an amusing test to see how open he was to change. He'd let me…” quote by Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/michelle-rowen-10235_front-door_but-i-d-done-what-i-could-to-warm-the-pl_3028851.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/michelle-rowen-10235_front-door_but-i-d-done-what-i-could-to-warm-the-pl_3028851.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f95/michelle-rowen-10235_front-door_but-i-d-done-what-i-could-to-warm-the-pl_3028851.jpg) > ““But I'd done what I could to warm the place up. I'd started with a welcome mat. It had a happy face on it and was bright and colorful. It didn't say "Welcome." It said "!!!WELCOME!!!" I knew he wouldn't like it. I considered it more of an amusing test to see how open he was to change. He'd let me move in with him, but how flexible was he really willing to be? It disappeared the day after I placed it by the front door. It was just--poof!--gone. When I imagined the shocked look on his face when he would have first seen it, a spot of wacky and whimsical color in his otherwise monochromatic world, I started to laugh hysterically.”” [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She used an exaggerated welcome mat to test a roommate’s openness to change, leading to a humorous, chaotic reaction. **In simple terms:** She tried a bold, colorful welcome mat to see if her roommate would accept change. Key Takeaway Test boundaries with humor, but expect unpredictable outcomes. Themes humor testing limits personal space change Mood playful reflective Type personal experimental When to use this quote - moving in with a roommate - decorating shared spaces - introducing change - handling rejection Key Concepts Social dynamics boundary setting creative expression Questions to Reflect On - What does a bold gesture reveal about your relationship? - When is humor an appropriate test? A Different Perspective Humor may not be effective if the other person feels pressured. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Front door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/front-door/) [Happy face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-face/) [Mat Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mat-happy-4937706/) [Said Welcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-welcome-1974270/) [Started Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-laugh-903316/) [Started Welcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-welcome-4937707/) [Welcome Mat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welcome-mat-273377/) ## Related quotes > [“I'm protecting what's mine." ... "I'm not yours," I said. "You're welcome to think that but it doesn't change the fact that you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/i-m-protecting-what-s-mine-i-m-not-yours-i-said-you-re-welcome-to/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“Thank you," he said. "Welcome. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-troy-castro/i-kicked-shouted-an-obscene-word-got-another-faceful-of-goo-for-my/) [Adam-Troy Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-troy-castro/) > [Many, many years ago, I stood on the stage and told bad jokes and did Sophie Tucker as an impersonation, and nobody looked up;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/many-many-years-ago-i-stood-on-the-stage-and-told-bad-jokes-and-did/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“It’s us we need to worry about.” “What do you mean?” “Well, I don’t know how to break this to you,” said Ron, “but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/it-s-us-we-need-to-worry-about-what-do-you-mean-well-i-don-t-know-how/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [Eleanor,” he said, just because he liked saying it, “why do you like me?” “I don’t like you.” He waited. And waited… Then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/eleanor-he-said-just-because-he-liked-saying-it-why-do-you-like-me-i/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [James started to laugh. His chin hurt where she'd smacked him twice, his foot throbbed where she'd stepped on it, and his entire body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/james-started-to-laugh-his-chin-hurt-where-she-d-smacked-him-twice/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [If we had a hard time, my mother would sit me down and we would talk about it, and she kept talking and kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-minnelli/if-we-had-a-hard-time-my-mother-would-sit-me-down-and-we-would-talk/) [Liza Minnelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-minnelli/) > [“I was giddy with relief and I started to giggle again. "If you're sorry, then I'm sorry." "Why would you be sorry? You were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireille-chester/i-was-giddy-with-relief-and-i-started-to-giggle-again-if-you-re-sorry/) [Mireille Chester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireille-chester/) > [“Did that punk ass leprechaun steal your car?” She covered her mouth as Hugo and Younger started to laugh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-g-alexander/did-that-punk-ass-leprechaun-steal-your-car-she-covered-her-mouth-as/) [R.G. Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-g-alexander/) ## More by Michelle Rowen > [“I'd never been a big fan of disappointment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/i-d-never-been-a-big-fan-of-disappointment/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) > [“You're our honorary sixth member with mysterious abilities and visions of the future. The Snow White to our motley group of dwarfs. 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"Spoken like a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/bishop-s-brows-went-up-okay-fine-yes-i-followed-you-here-better-yes/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) > [A sob caught in my chest. I didn't even know what a gray was, other than a drab color. All I knew was that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/a-sob-caught-in-my-chest-i-didn-t-even-know-what-a-gray-was-other/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) > [“Come on, Eden, don't be naive. Demonic children are a dime a dozen in Netherworld. Need I mention Children of the Corn? Damien? Justine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/come-on-eden-don-t-be-naive-demonic-children-are-a-dime-a-dozen-in/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) > [“My eyes widened as I looked at him. 'Then you bit me, you weirdo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/my-eyes-widened-as-i-looked-at-him-then-you-bit-me-you-weirdo/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) > [“I took it back: he didn't just hate himself down deep. He'd made plenty of room in there for me, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/i-took-it-back-he-didn-t-just-hate-himself-down-deep-he-d-made-plenty/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) > [“You can be a lousy vampire. You can be a lousy human. What you are doesn't mean anything. It's what you do with what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/you-can-be-a-lousy-vampire-you-can-be-a-lousy-human-what-you-are/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) > [“Sorry," I said. "Don't be sorry." She sent a sneer in the direction of Colin who'd rejoined his friends on the other side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/sorry-i-said-don-t-be-sorry-she-sent-a-sneer-in-the-direction-of/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) > [“Come on Eden. Turn that frown upside down. There's no reason for bad moods. It's a beautiful new day full of possibilities." "maybe for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/come-on-eden-turn-that-frown-upside-down-there-s-no-reason-for-bad/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) > [“Good. I wouldn't want you to fall madly in love with me. That would make things very complicated when it comes to your beloved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/good-i-wouldn-t-want-you-to-fall-madly-in-love-with-me-that-would/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) > [“Well...unfortunately there's a little problem," he said. "What?" He pointed up. "That." I looked up to see the mistletoe dangling from the ceiling where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/well-unfortunately-there-s-a-little-problem-he-said-what-he-pointed/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) > [“Owen’s gaze flicked to me again. “Maybe you’re right. And what a wonderful change it is. Tell me, Sarah, how on earth do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/owen-s-gaze-flicked-to-me-again-maybe-you-re-right-and-what-a/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) [Explore all 66 Michelle Rowen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) ## More Front door quotes > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Ethan! What on earth are you doing?" "Excuse us,please.It is very warm in here and my wife has begun to feel a little faint."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-martin/ethan-what-on-earth-are-you-doing-excuse-us-please-it-is-very-warm-in/) [Kat Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-martin/) > [“A loud, purposeful knock on the front door froze him in place with his fist over the fabric. “Hey, dude, it’s me. I brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-kincaid/a-loud-purposeful-knock-on-the-front-door-froze-him-in-place-with-his/) [Kimberly Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-kincaid/) > [“The headache from this emotional roller coaster known as Marcus DeLuca seemed to get worse. Seriously, it was so bad I could actually hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/the-headache-from-this-emotional-roller-coaster-known-as-marcus/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [I don't think it's a very Christian thing to come in by the back door rather than the front door,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/i-don-t-think-it-s-a-very-christian-thing-to-come-in-by-the-back-door/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [“So you’re going to ask Ress and Brullo to just leave a back door open so you can sneak in?” “Don’t be so simpleminded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/so-you-re-going-to-ask-ress-and-brullo-to-just-leave-a-back-door-open/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“People had always amazed him, he began. But they amazed him more since the sickness. For as long as the two of them had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/people-had-always-amazed-him-he-began-but-they-amazed-him-more-since/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [“But the disastrous walk reminded me that I had reached an age where only careful planning and a steady eye would keep me safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-darling/but-the-disastrous-walk-reminded-me-that-i-had-reached-an-age-where/) [Lynn Darling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-darling/) > [“There was no doorman outside Harrison Kinuye's house, just a Phillite senior leaning into a huge stone urn. He extricated himself as I reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/there-was-no-doorman-outside-harrison-kinuye-s-house-just-a-phillite/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [“He strolled to the front door and stood watching, letting the picture of Felicity grave itself so deeply on his mind that when with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/he-strolled-to-the-front-door-and-stood-watching-letting-the-picture/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [“I lay there in the bath not thinking, not doing anything. 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Its gables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-jo-wright/cavernous-windows-opened-in-a-silent-scream-on-the-face-of-the-gothic/) [Jaime Jo Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-jo-wright/) > [“Alma is in a painting phase, and the people she paints are all the color of mold, look like they've just been dredged from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/alma-is-in-a-painting-phase-and-the-people-she-paints-are-all-the/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Browse all 763 Front door quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/front-door/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But I'd done what I could to warm the place up. I'd started with a welcome mat. It had a happy face on it and was bright and colorful. It didn't say \"Welcome.\" It said \"!!!WELCOME!!!\" I knew he wouldn't like it. I considered it more of an amusing test to see how open he was to change. 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