---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It doesnt matter who is playing or how…"
description: "\"It doesnt matter who is playing or how old they are. I just worry about what I can control. It doesnt give me more or less motivation.\" — Monica Seles"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/monica-seles-15869_give-me_it-doesnt-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-o_3154634.jpg"
---

#  It doesnt matter who is playing or how old they are. I…

![“It doesnt matter who is playing or how old they are. I just worry about what I can control. It doesnt give me more or less motivation.” quote by Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/monica-seles-15869_give-me_it-doesnt-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-o_3154634.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/monica-seles-15869_give-me_it-doesnt-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-o_3154634.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/monica-seles-15869_give-me_it-doesnt-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-o_3154634.jpg)

> “It doesnt matter who is playing or how old they are. I just worry about what I can control. It doesnt give me more or less motivation.”

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

## About This Quote

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

Focus on controllable factors rather than external variables or motivation.

**In simple terms:** Control what you can, ignore what you can’t.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize personal agency.

Themes

self‑control motivation focus

Mood

determined reflective

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- sports competition
- personal goals
- stress management
- team leadership

Key Concepts

psychology agency mindset

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you identify what you can truly control?
- What strategies help you stay focused on controllable aspects?

A Different Perspective

May overlook systemic barriers that affect outcomes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Doesnt Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doesnt-motivation-5678047/) [Give me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give-me/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Playing Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-old-964696/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Tennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tennis/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Worry Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry-control-859596/)

## Related quotes

> [It doesn't matter who is playing or how old they are. I just worry about what I can control. It doesn't give me more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/it-doesn-t-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-old-they-are-i-just-worry/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [I have been playing old women ever since I can remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-moorehead/i-have-been-playing-old-women-ever-since-i-can-remember/)

[Agnes Moorehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-moorehead/)

> [I've been to Philadelphia a lot of times over the years, playing the old Celebrity Room and most of the other clubs around there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-ve-been-to-philadelphia-a-lot-of-times-over-the-years-playing-the/)

[Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/)

> [In school, I was playing old men and women, babies, Russian people, and all sorts of weird parts - a lot of comedy -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-schilling/in-school-i-was-playing-old-men-and-women-babies-russian-people-and/)

[Taylor Schilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-schilling/)

> [In any moment, I guess we could whip out a guitar and start playing old school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-gass/in-any-moment-i-guess-we-could-whip-out-a-guitar-and-start-playing/)

[Kyle Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-gass/)

> [I'm interested in playing old ladies because I am becoming one. And I want to become a very good one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyne-daly/i-m-interested-in-playing-old-ladies-because-i-am-becoming-one-and-i/)

[Tyne Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyne-daly/)

> [“You don't stop playing because you get old, you get old because you stop playing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-holmes/you-don-t-stop-playing-because-you-get-old-you-get-old-because-you/)

[James Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-holmes/)

> [Longevity in my family's been pretty good. And my grandparents were pretty spry at their age, so I figured I'd probably stay skinny and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/longevity-in-my-family-s-been-pretty-good-and-my-grandparents-were/)

[Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/)

> [There are so many millions of records out there, you should always be playing old and new together. This way, people can respect what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrika-bambaataa/there-are-so-many-millions-of-records-out-there-you-should-always-be/)

[Afrika Bambaataa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrika-bambaataa/)

> [Playing an old record doesn't interest me at all. It's exactly the opposite of what I want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gira/playing-an-old-record-doesn-t-interest-me-at-all-it-s-exactly-the/)

[Michael Gira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gira/)

> [Baseball is the most perfect of games, solid, true, pure and precious as diamonds. If only life were so simple. Within the baselines anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satchel-paige/baseball-is-the-most-perfect-of-games-solid-true-pure-and-precious-as-2/)

[Satchel Paige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satchel-paige/)

> [They realized I was alive again, even though I was playing an old, dying sop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-plummer/they-realized-i-was-alive-again-even-though-i-was-playing-an-old/)

[Christopher Plummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-plummer/)

> [I've been playing old parts forever. I play 93 quite often. When you've done it more than once, you take the hint. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-smith/i-ve-been-playing-old-parts-forever-i-play-93-quite-often-when-you-ve/)

[Maggie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-smith/)

> [It is bad when you feel like a toy and your love playing with you and when you became old toy she looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiko/it-is-bad-when-you-feel-like-a-toy-and-your-love-playing-with-you-and/)

[Shiko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiko/)

> [You have to enjoy playing. The old-timers did, and that's one reason why their music is a lasting music. I feel that I play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-harris/you-have-to-enjoy-playing-the-old-timers-did-and-that-s-one-reason/)

[Barry Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-harris/)

## More by Monica Seles

> [I don't believe in playing hurt, in taking injections to cover the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/i-don-t-believe-in-playing-hurt-in-taking-injections-to-cover-the-pain/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [Everybody has their story - at some point you have to say, 'This is who I am: Now it's up to me to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/everybody-has-their-story-at-some-point-you-have-to-say-this-is-who-i/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [Life is not worth living if I cannot have pasta or bread again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/life-is-not-worth-living-if-i-cannot-have-pasta-or-bread-again/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [I love new restaurants; I love trying out new foods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/i-love-new-restaurants-i-love-trying-out-new-foods/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [I have this terrible dark side to my personality, which playing tennis keeps at bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/i-have-this-terrible-dark-side-to-my-personality-which-playing-tennis/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [I never knew I was grunting, it was just part of my strokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/i-never-knew-i-was-grunting-it-was-just-part-of-my-strokes/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [Since I retired, I very much enjoy watching Serena Williams play. While I was playing, she was one of the toughest players I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/since-i-retired-i-very-much-enjoy-watching-serena-williams-play-while/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [You will never have great tennis champions from England because of the cold and dark, but most of all because people only care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/you-will-never-have-great-tennis-champions-from-england-because-of/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [Madonna has total control over her life, and not many women have that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/madonna-has-total-control-over-her-life-and-not-many-women-have-that/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [If I find the person that I love, it is because I love them, not because I will be dependent on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/if-i-find-the-person-that-i-love-it-is-because-i-love-them-not/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [I lost my dad way too early and it was agonisingly awful. I missed him so much and I hated knowing that I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/i-lost-my-dad-way-too-early-and-it-was-agonisingly-awful-i-missed-him/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [I decided that I want to live the rest of my life happy with what I'm doing. So when I play tennis again, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/i-decided-that-i-want-to-live-the-rest-of-my-life-happy-with-what-i-m/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [It doesn't matter who is playing or how old they are. I just worry about what I can control. It doesn't give me more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/it-doesn-t-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-old-they-are-i-just-worry/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [What I put in the stock market, I don't have to touch in my lifetime. I want to live off my bonds. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/what-i-put-in-the-stock-market-i-don-t-have-to-touch-in-my-lifetime-i/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

> [I have to live for the day, and not worry about or try to know what tomorrow brings… if I've learned one thing from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/i-have-to-live-for-the-day-and-not-worry-about-or-try-to-know-what/)

[Monica Seles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

[Explore all 41 Monica Seles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/)

## More Give me quotes

> [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/)

[St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/)

> [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/)

[Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/)

> [Give me an impromptu 50-person guest list, a fold-out emergency trestle table and a pack of frozen vol-au-vent cases and, darlings, I will give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-dent/give-me-an-impromptu-50-person-guest-list-a-fold-out-emergency/)

[Grace Dent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-dent/)

> [Give me, indulgent gods with mind serene, And guiltless heart, to range the sylvan scene, No splendid poverty, no smiling care, No well-bred hate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/give-me-indulgent-gods-with-mind-serene-and-guiltless-heart-to-range/)

[Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/)

> [My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work-give-me/)

[Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/)

> [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/)

[Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/)

> [I'm not going to pretend that bad things don't happen. I just hope my daughter has enough understanding that when they do, just give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/i-m-not-going-to-pretend-that-bad-things-don-t-happen-i-just-hope-my/)

[John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/)

> [My willingness to fail gives me the ability to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/my-willingness-to-fail-gives-me-the-ability-to-succeed/)

[Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/)

> [...it isn't foolish or wicked to enjoy. Wickedness is hurting people on purpose. I love what you are and who you are and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/it-isn-t-foolish-or-wicked-to-enjoy-wickedness-is-hurting-people-on/)

[John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/)

> [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [My identity shifted when I got into # recovery . That's who I am now, and it actually gives me greater pleasure to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/my-identity-shifted-when-i-got-into-recovery-that-s-who-i-am-now-and/)

[Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/)

> [You give me enough shots, I'll average 20. You give me a particular system where I stick close to the basket, I'll average 10 rebounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bosh/you-give-me-enough-shots-i-ll-average-20-you-give-me-a-particular/)

[Chris Bosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bosh/)

> [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/)

[Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/)

> [Staring up at the sky on a bright, sunny day makes me dream and gives me ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-jacobs/staring-up-at-the-sky-on-a-bright-sunny-day-makes-me-dream-and-gives/)

[Marc Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-jacobs/)

> [Creating a top team and being in a position to win the Tour de France will give me a nice feeling. But I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/creating-a-top-team-and-being-in-a-position-to-win-the-tour-de-france/)

[Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/)

[Browse all 2,443 Give me quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give-me/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It doesnt matter who is playing or how old they are. I just worry about what I can control. It doesnt give me more or less motivation.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Monica Seles"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/it-doesnt-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-old-they-are-i-just-worry/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Give me"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/it-doesnt-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-old-they-are-i-just-worry/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/monica-seles-15869_give-me_it-doesnt-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-o_3154634.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/monica-seles-15869_give-me_it-doesnt-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-o_3154634.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/monica-seles-15869_give-me_it-doesnt-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-o_3154634.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It doesnt matter who is playing or how old they are. I just worry about what I can control. It doesnt give…” — Monica Seles",
                "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": "Monica Seles",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-seles/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It doesnt matter who is playing...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/it-doesnt-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-old-they-are-i-just-worry/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-seles/it-doesnt-matter-who-is-playing-or-how-old-they-are-i-just-worry/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
