--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When negative experiences such as having…" description: "\"“When negative experiences such as having one's house shot at occur in my dad's life he tends to come alive. His confusion lifts. Pieces of life's puzz..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/miriam-toews-3632_bulletin-board_when-negative-experiences-such-as-having_682252.png" --- # When negative experiences such as having one's house shot… ![“When negative experiences such as having one's house shot at occur in my dad's life he tends to come alive. His confusion lifts. Pieces of life's puzzle fuse into meaning like the continents before that colossal rift. It's entirely logical to him that his house has been shot at and when he's able…” quote by Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/miriam-toews-3632_bulletin-board_when-negative-experiences-such-as-having_682252.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/miriam-toews-3632_bulletin-board_when-negative-experiences-such-as-having_682252.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/miriam-toews-3632_bulletin-board_when-negative-experiences-such-as-having_682252.png) > ““When negative experiences such as having one's house shot at occur in my dad's life he tends to come alive. His confusion lifts. Pieces of life's puzzle fuse into meaning like the continents before that colossal rift. It's entirely logical to him that his house has been shot at and when he's able to spend a minute or two in a world that makes sense he appears almost happy. And when he gets happy he does decisive things like this time he went over to the bulletin board in the kitchen and took down the city bus schedule that we've had up there since Tash left and before the bus depot itself closed down. He put it in the garbage can under the sink. Phew. Done. Goodbye past. But then I imagined him on a day when shitty things weren't happening and he'd be feeling his usual mystified self and go to the dump and there he would see that little piece of paper with the schedule on it and it would bring him to his knees. Just destroy him for a minute or two and he'd probably pick it up and wipe whatever seagull crap there was on it and straighten it out with the side of his hand and bring it back to the kitchen bulletin board and ARRANGE it on there so you'd know it was the centerpiece of his life.”” [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Crisis can sharpen focus, turning chaos into meaning and prompting decisive action. **In simple terms:** Hardships can clarify purpose and drive action. Key Takeaway Use crisis moments to find clarity. Themes crisis clarity action Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - family conflict - personal loss - decision making - creative projects Key Concepts existentialism meaning‑making Questions to Reflect On - What routine can provide meaning without crisis? - How can you sustain clarity after the event? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on crisis may cause instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bulletin board](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bulletin-board/) [Dad Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad-life-248034/) [Experiences Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiences-having-3856734/) [Having House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-house-1151612/) [House Shot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house-shot-5395577/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Occur Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occur-dad-5395578/) ## Related quotes > [Lots of children have had dark experiences, and if they're not having direct dark experiences, they are thinking about things and learning that life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/lots-of-children-have-had-dark-experiences-and-if-they-re-not-having/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [I never just want to talk about the good things that happen to me, or just about the bad things. I want to talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bea-miller/i-never-just-want-to-talk-about-the-good-things-that-happen-to-me-or/) [Bea Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bea-miller/) > [“Live and love the experiences you’re having when you’re having them, and for as long as they last, and rest assured you can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-kline/live-and-love-the-experiences-you-re-having-when-you-re-having-them/) [D. L. Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-kline/) > [Having a house with seven-and-a-half acres of land and a swimming pool wasn't really on my agenda when in my old job and while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-cross/having-a-house-with-seven-and-a-half-acres-of-land-and-a-swimming/) [Rob Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-cross/) > [It's incredibly important that if you have the dream of having your own house, you don't pretend to be something you're not. Ultimately, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/it-s-incredibly-important-that-if-you-have-the-dream-of-having-your/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I feel way more comfortable each year I play in the NBA. As a person, I'm just growing up. I do everything by myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/i-feel-way-more-comfortable-each-year-i-play-in-the-nba-as-a-person-i/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [It'll be kids next. I like the grown-up stuff. I like having a house. I've got dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/it-ll-be-kids-next-i-like-the-grown-up-stuff-i-like-having-a-house-i/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [I often need a limited space. It's like having a house to roam around in and reinvent and have things to happen in, kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/i-often-need-a-limited-space-it-s-like-having-a-house-to-roam-around/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [There's the conforming 9-to-5-lifestyle thing. Then there's, like, settling down, trying to find a balance in a relationship sense, or having a dog and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-segall/there-s-the-conforming-9-to-5-lifestyle-thing-then-there-s-like/) [Ty Segall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-segall/) > [I dream about having a house by the water and not doing anything, not feeling ambitious, nor having the need to make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-dream-about-having-a-house-by-the-water-and-not-doing-anything-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Having your house fill up with the people you love is comforting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/having-your-house-fill-up-with-the-people-you-love-is-comforting/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [“College: getting in or not getting in. Trouble: getting in or not getting in. School: getting A's or getting D's. Career: having or not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/college-getting-in-or-not-getting-in-trouble-getting-in-or-not/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [The idea of having a house, a kid, a husband, and a dog... I love that. I also really want to open a coffee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-smith/the-idea-of-having-a-house-a-kid-a-husband-and-a-dog-i-love-that-i/) [Sam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-smith/) > [With the money thing it is mad. As a young kid earning so much, having a house and driving a nice car it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-iwobi/with-the-money-thing-it-is-mad-as-a-young-kid-earning-so-much-having/) [Alex Iwobi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-iwobi/) > [I haven't become an American! Having a house in LA is just where the house is. It's just a convenience thing living there. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-jones/i-haven-t-become-an-american-having-a-house-in-la-is-just-where-the/) [Tom Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-jones/) ## More by Miriam Toews > [Her faith in a loving and forgiving God is strong, but she worships laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/her-faith-in-a-loving-and-forgiving-god-is-strong-but-she-worships/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [“I heard Tash say: Nomi, you’re sad man. Get a grip. Walk away. What have I taught you? And I thought: You taught me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/i-heard-tash-say-nomi-you-re-sad-man-get-a-grip-walk-away-what-have-i/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [“Where are they going to get a camera? I asked. I don't know, said Noehmi. They'll probably get sidetracked along the way. 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But there's nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/nomi-he-said-you-just-need-to-wake-up-to-the-fact-that-other-people/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [I would never want to deny my Mennonite background and culture; I'll always feel like and be identified as a Mennonite and therefore possess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/i-would-never-want-to-deny-my-mennonite-background-and-culture-i-ll/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [“When I opened up the bottle of wine, Thebes said whoa, you yanked that cork out of there like you were saving it from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/when-i-opened-up-the-bottle-of-wine-thebes-said-whoa-you-yanked-that/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [The writing life is one long, never-ending search for narrative. Well, it's not even a conscious searching. It happens even while you're busy buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/the-writing-life-is-one-long-never-ending-search-for-narrative-well/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [“I think Ray might have wanted a son. One night when I was seven or eight I announced to my family that I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/i-think-ray-might-have-wanted-a-son-one-night-when-i-was-seven-or/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [The theme of sisters - of missing sisters, of needing sisters, the special love that sisters share or the antagonism sisters share - is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/the-theme-of-sisters-of-missing-sisters-of-needing-sisters-the/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [“..I followed her out the door and watched her walk down the road towards home, hers, and the bright yard light, and her own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/i-followed-her-out-the-door-and-watched-her-walk-down-the-road/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [“someday you’ll be gone, you’ll be dust, and then even less than dust. Nothing. There’s no other place to be. This world is good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/someday-you-ll-be-gone-you-ll-be-dust-and-then-even-less-than-dust/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [...and I put on "All My Love" and watched the sun rise yet again and thought thank you Robert Plant for all your love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/and-i-put-on-all-my-love-and-watched-the-sun-rise-yet-again-and/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [If, along the way, something is gained, then something will also be lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/if-along-the-way-something-is-gained-then-something-will-also-be-lost/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [Things shouldn't hinge on so very little. Sneeze and you're highway carnage. Remove one tiny stone and you're an avalanche statistic. But I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/things-shouldn-t-hinge-on-so-very-little-sneeze-and-you-re-highway/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) [Explore all 125 Miriam Toews quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) ## More Bulletin board quotes > [“I looked down at the doors of the forbidden Dorms and studiously examined the bulletin boards covered with incomprehensible information about events and rules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-kerman/i-looked-down-at-the-doors-of-the-forbidden-dorms-and-studiously/) [Piper Kerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-kerman/) > [People live and work in uninspiring environments, but look inside those rooms. Look at the painted walls and the decorations. 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They would put a little notice up on the bulletin board…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lantz/the-fascinating-thing-about-the-studio-was-that-there-was-no-story/) [Walter Lantz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lantz/) > [Everyone tells you to write what you know. It’s the tried-and-true advice every writer hears at some point in her career. But to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jio/everyone-tells-you-to-write-what-you-know-it-s-the-tried-and-true/) [Sarah Jio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jio/) > [My website bulletin board is the place I interact with my readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/my-website-bulletin-board-is-the-place-i-interact-with-my-readers/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I can do five things at once. 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It's entirely logical to him that his house has been shot at and when he's able to spend a minute or two in a world that makes sense he appears almost happy. And when he gets happy he does decisive things like this time he went over to the bulletin board in the kitchen and took down the city bus schedule that we've had up there since Tash left and before the bus depot itself closed down. He put it in the garbage can under the sink. Phew. Done. Goodbye past. But then I imagined him on a day when shitty things weren't happening and he'd be feeling his usual mystified self and go to the dump and there he would see that little piece of paper with the schedule on it and it would bring him to his knees. Just destroy him for a minute or two and he'd probably pick it up and wipe whatever seagull crap there was on it and straighten it out with the side of his hand and bring it back to the kitchen bulletin board and ARRANGE it on there so you'd know it was the centerpiece of his life.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Miriam Toews" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/when-negative-experiences-such-as-having-one-s-house-shot-at-occur-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bulletin board" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/when-negative-experiences-such-as-having-one-s-house-shot-at-occur-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/miriam-toews-3632_bulletin-board_when-negative-experiences-such-as-having_682252.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/miriam-toews-3632_bulletin-board_when-negative-experiences-such-as-having_682252.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/miriam-toews-3632_bulletin-board_when-negative-experiences-such-as-having_682252.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When negative experiences such as having one's house shot at occur in my dad's life he tends to come alive…” — Miriam Toews", "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": "Miriam Toews", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When negative experiences such as having...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/when-negative-experiences-such-as-having-one-s-house-shot-at-occur-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/when-negative-experiences-such-as-having-one-s-house-shot-at-occur-in/#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 } } ] } ```