---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Note to self: Try to stop reacting to…"
description: "\"“Note to self: Try to stop reacting to surprises like a cartoon character.” Jane Jameson”\" — Molly Harper"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/molly-harper-2053_cartoon-character_note-to-self-try-to-stop-reacting-to-sur_2789673.png"
---

#  Note to self: Try to stop reacting to surprises like a…

![“Note to self: Try to stop reacting to surprises like a cartoon character.” Jane Jameson” quote by Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/molly-harper-2053_cartoon-character_note-to-self-try-to-stop-reacting-to-sur_2789673.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/molly-harper-2053_cartoon-character_note-to-self-try-to-stop-reacting-to-sur_2789673.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/molly-harper-2053_cartoon-character_note-to-self-try-to-stop-reacting-to-sur_2789673.png)

> ““Note to self: Try to stop reacting to surprises like a cartoon character.” Jane Jameson””

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

## About This Quote

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

Avoid reacting impulsively to unexpected events, stay calm like a cartoon character.

**In simple terms:** Stay calm when surprised.

Key Takeaway

Practice mindful responses to surprise.

Themes

self‑control humor surprise mindfulness

Mood

lighthearted reflective

Type

advice humorous

When to use this quote

- workplace stress
- social media
- family arguments

Key Concepts

cognitive restraint emotional regulation

Questions to Reflect On

- What triggers your reactive habits?
- How can humor help you stay grounded?

A Different Perspective

Humor may mask deeper feelings.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cartoon character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoon-character/) [Molly-harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/molly-harper/) [Note Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/note-self/) [Note to self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/note-to-self/) [Reacting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reacting/) [Reacting Surprises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reacting-surprises-3370495/) [Stop Reacting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-reacting-879726/) [Surprises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprises/)

## Related quotes

> [A lot of my work is a matter of reacting to surprises in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-wang/a-lot-of-my-work-is-a-matter-of-reacting-to-surprises-in-life/)

[Alexander Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-wang/)

> [Note to self: Everyone is equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/note-to-self-everyone-is-equal/)

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

> [Note to self: Never take advantage of someone's kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/note-to-self-never-take-advantage-of-someone-s-kindness/)

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

> [Note to self: Thanks for always being there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/note-to-self-thanks-for-always-being-there/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [Note to self: Win some, lose some. You can't have it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/note-to-self-win-some-lose-some-you-can-t-have-it-all/)

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

> [“Note to self, when a girl’s smile makes you forget your own name – you’re in some deep shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-van-dyken/note-to-self-when-a-girl-s-smile-makes-you-forget-your-own-name-you/)

[Rachel Van Dyken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-van-dyken/)

> [Note to self: I am enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/note-to-self-i-am-enough/)

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

> [Note to self-give serious thought to becoming an alcoholic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/note-to-self-give-serious-thought-to-becoming-an-alcoholic/)

[Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/)

> [Note to self: Never put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sniper-alpacino/note-to-self-never-put-the-key-to-your-happiness-in-someone-else-s/)

[Sniper Alpacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sniper-alpacino/)

> [Note to self 19... IM FLIPPIN AWESOME!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-brothers/note-to-self-19-im-flippin-awesome/)

[Jonas Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-brothers/)

> [“Note To Self! I will stay calm and relaxed no matter what confronts me today, tomorrow and everyday forth!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-rufus/note-to-self-i-will-stay-calm-and-relaxed-no-matter-what-confronts-me/)

[Allan Rufus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-rufus/)

> [“Note to self: All you have to do is show up. Be late. Be scared. Be a mess. Be weird. Be confused. Just BE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nanea-hoffman/note-to-self-all-you-have-to-do-is-show-up-be-late-be-scared-be-a/)

[Nanea Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nanea-hoffman/)

> [“Note to self: Always remember how lucky you are to wake up next to someone who thinks you're the shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffanie-debartolo/note-to-self-always-remember-how-lucky-you-are-to-wake-up-next-to/)

[Tiffanie DeBartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffanie-debartolo/)

> [“Note to self: buy some nunchucks or something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/note-to-self-buy-some-nunchucks-or-something/)

[Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/)

> [“Note to self...must back up my files daily...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-mar-gerrison/note-to-self-must-back-up-my-files-daily/)

[Heather Mar-Gerrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-mar-gerrison/)

## More by Molly Harper

> [“I was shameless in my supermarket-shelf mass-market taste. I loved King, Evanovich, Grisham and Brown. I won't lie; the oficial-looking filing cabinet in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/i-was-shameless-in-my-supermarket-shelf-mass-market-taste-i-loved/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

> [You can take the girl out of the library, but you can’t take the neurotic, compulsively curious librarian out of the girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/you-can-take-the-girl-out-of-the-library-but-you-can-t-take-the/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

> [ “The fact that these kits \[vampire protection\] were generally useless didn’t bother me nearly as much as the idea of holy water being sold… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/the-fact-that-these-kits-vampire-protection-were-generally-useless/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

> [“Wait, is this a nice-ish way of telling me we had sex and I was lousy? That's how you can tell I'm inexperienced? Because,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/wait-is-this-a-nice-ish-way-of-telling-me-we-had-sex-and-i-was-lousy/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

> [“My color schemes were limited to what would go with the pewter-gray gown...except for the bridesmaids' gowns. I'd already decided that they were going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/my-color-schemes-were-limited-to-what-would-go-with-the-pewter-gray/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

> [“I look like Barbara Bush in drag." Aunt Jettie”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/i-look-like-barbara-bush-in-drag-aunt-jettie/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

> [“When a naked man shows up on your doorstep with a bear trap clamped around his ankle, it's best just to do what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/when-a-naked-man-shows-up-on-your-doorstep-with-a-bear-trap-clamped/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

> [If you want to hurt me, fine. Take my books. Burn down my house. Shave my head while I am sleeping. But nobody, nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/if-you-want-to-hurt-me-fine-take-my-books-burn-down-my-house-shave-my/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

> [“He doesn’t drink too much. He’s employed and works hard. He doesn’t have commitment issues, kids, or crazy ex-girlfriends. He doesn’t attach way too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/he-doesn-t-drink-too-much-he-s-employed-and-works-hard-he-doesn-t/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

> [“He was always 'checking in' to see if I needed any help with my campaign, which on the surface seemed nice enough, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/he-was-always-checking-in-to-see-if-i-needed-any-help-with-my/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

> [I am a former newspaper reporter turned church secretary turned vampire novelist. I wrote my first complete novel, 'Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs,' at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/i-am-a-former-newspaper-reporter-turned-church-secretary-turned/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

> [“Really. How do you respond when someone gifts you with nonlethal law-enforcement equipment?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/really-how-do-you-respond-when-someone-gifts-you-with-nonlethal-law/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

> [“Establishing dominance early in the relationship is key. Vampire children are like human children in that they can sense weakness. They will wait for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/establishing-dominance-early-in-the-relationship-is-key-vampire/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

> [“Did I just get psychically pimp-slapped by a little old lady?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/did-i-just-get-psychically-pimp-slapped-by-a-little-old-lady/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

> [Contrary to popular myth, werewolves myth, werewolves are born, not made. No matter how many times they bite someone, that person will not turn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/contrary-to-popular-myth-werewolves-myth-werewolves-are-born-not-made/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

[Explore all 189 Molly Harper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

## More Cartoon character quotes

> [“A clearing of a gravelly throat pulled him from his thoughts. He turned and looked at Thomas, the boat captain, who was seventy if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-kauffman/a-clearing-of-a-gravelly-throat-pulled-him-from-his-thoughts-he/)

[Donna Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-kauffman/)

> [With The Brood, it was cool because it had the music, it had the different look and at the time reality-based characters were really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cage/with-the-brood-it-was-cool-because-it-had-the-music-it-had-the/)

[Christian Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cage/)

> [And there were sort of three toys for boys and three toys for girls. And the boys I can remember was, well, there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-lowe/and-there-were-sort-of-three-toys-for-boys-and-three-toys-for-girls/)

[Nick Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-lowe/)

> [Not a lot of people get to say, 'I'm a cartoon character.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-hirsch/not-a-lot-of-people-get-to-say-i-m-a-cartoon-character/)

[Alex Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-hirsch/)

> [Ian sighed wanly. "I once had the means to be gaga over art–before I found myself in a country where the standard of beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-korman/ian-sighed-wanly-i-once-had-the-means-to-be-gaga-over-art-before-i/)

[Gordon Korman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-korman/)

> [“begin a daily use of the self-control techniques you’ve already learned. Remember to practice the Safe/Calm Place technique every day to strengthen it, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-shapiro/begin-a-daily-use-of-the-self-control-techniques-you-ve-already/)

[Francine Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-shapiro/)

> [Admit it, at one point in time you were attracted to a cartoon character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/admit-it-at-one-point-in-time-you-were-attracted-to-a-cartoon/)

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

> [When you work on anything, you want to find the range of impulses - which ones get portrayed is another question, but you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/when-you-work-on-anything-you-want-to-find-the-range-of-impulses/)

[Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/)

> [Scooby's the greatest cartoon character ever. He isn't cute like Mickey or smart like Bugs or fearless like Woody and Buzz - he's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gunn/scooby-s-the-greatest-cartoon-character-ever-he-isn-t-cute-like/)

[James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/)

> [When you throw punches at actors, you stop, you pull it, and it looks like you pulled it. When you throw punches at cartoon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-fraser/when-you-throw-punches-at-actors-you-stop-you-pull-it-and-it-looks/)

[Brendan Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-fraser/)

> [When people see me in public, they're usually like, 'Whoa, you're a real person.' It's as if they're seeing Pinocchio or a cartoon character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-rogowsky/when-people-see-me-in-public-they-re-usually-like-whoa-you-re-a-real/)

[Scott Rogowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-rogowsky/)

> [If I was to pick a cartoon character I am most like, I would say Daisy Duck because she is very stubborn, she has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/if-i-was-to-pick-a-cartoon-character-i-am-most-like-i-would-say-daisy/)

[Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/)

> [My grandmother was probably the first person who I thought was beautiful. She was incredibly stylish, she had big hair, big cars. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-ford/my-grandmother-was-probably-the-first-person-who-i-thought-was/)

[Tom Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-ford/)

> [When a cartoon character randomly pulls out an object from behind them and you ask yourself: Where the hell did that come from?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-cartoon-character-randomly-pulls-out-an-object-from-behind/)

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

> [All kids draw some kind of cartoon characters. They just grow out of them, and I didn't](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-smith/all-kids-draw-some-kind-of-cartoon-characters-they-just-grow-out-of/)

[Jeff Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-smith/)

[Browse all 89 Cartoon character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cartoon-character/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Note to self: Try to stop reacting to surprises like a cartoon character.” Jane Jameson”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Molly Harper"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/note-to-self-try-to-stop-reacting-to-surprises-like-a-cartoon/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cartoon character"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/note-to-self-try-to-stop-reacting-to-surprises-like-a-cartoon/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/molly-harper-2053_cartoon-character_note-to-self-try-to-stop-reacting-to-sur_2789673.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/molly-harper-2053_cartoon-character_note-to-self-try-to-stop-reacting-to-sur_2789673.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b58/molly-harper-2053_cartoon-character_note-to-self-try-to-stop-reacting-to-sur_2789673.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Note to self: Try to stop reacting to surprises like a cartoon character.” Jane Jameson” — Molly Harper",
                "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": "Molly Harper",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Note to self: Try to stop...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/note-to-self-try-to-stop-reacting-to-surprises-like-a-cartoon/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/note-to-self-try-to-stop-reacting-to-surprises-like-a-cartoon/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
