--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm accepting I'm not living that…" description: "\"I'm accepting I'm not living that younger, dreamed version of myself in the big city.\" — Paula Cole" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/paula-cole-13975_accepting_i-m-accepting-i-m-not-living-that-younge_556360.jpg" --- # I'm accepting I'm not living that younger, dreamed version… ![“I'm accepting I'm not living that younger, dreamed version of myself in the big city.” quote by Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/paula-cole-13975_accepting_i-m-accepting-i-m-not-living-that-younge_556360.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/paula-cole-13975_accepting_i-m-accepting-i-m-not-living-that-younge_556360.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/paula-cole-13975_accepting_i-m-accepting-i-m-not-living-that-younge_556360.jpg) > “I'm accepting I'm not living that younger, dreamed version of myself in the big city.” [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker acknowledges they cannot fulfill an idealized younger self in the city, accepting reality over fantasy. **In simple terms:** Accepting reality over idealized self. Key Takeaway Embrace who you are now. Themes self-acceptance urban life identity growth Mood reflective calm Type personal motivational When to use this quote - career planning - mental health - relocating - creative pursuits Key Concepts personal development realism self-compassion Questions to Reflect On - How does this acceptance change your goals? - What aspects of city life still inspire you? A Different Perspective Idealized expectations can cause chronic dissatisfaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-cities/) [Big city](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-city/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Version Of Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/version-of-myself/) ## Related quotes > [When I was younger, I always dreamed of being a legend, to be remembered in figure skating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/when-i-was-younger-i-always-dreamed-of-being-a-legend-to-be/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [When I was younger, I dreamed to meet someone to love, who would love me back. But the greatest lesson in my life, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhails/when-i-was-younger-i-dreamed-to-meet-someone-to-love-who-would-love/) [MikhailS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhails/) > [“Could I ever be as brave as the dream version of myself? I do not believe so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-anne-noble/could-i-ever-be-as-brave-as-the-dream-version-of-myself-i-do-not/) [Carrie Anne Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-anne-noble/) > [I don't relate to people that look like me. I find it deeply unsatisfying to play a version of myself. It was something I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-riseborough/i-don-t-relate-to-people-that-look-like-me-i-find-it-deeply/) [Andrea Riseborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-riseborough/) > [Maybe this is so pretentious, but 'West Side Story' was everything I had ever hoped to accomplish as an actor. It's really crazy, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/maybe-this-is-so-pretentious-but-west-side-story-was-everything-i-had/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [I'm not a good actor, I can play myself and a much gayer version of myself. That's my range.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tosh/i-m-not-a-good-actor-i-can-play-myself-and-a-much-gayer-version-of/) [Daniel Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tosh/) > [From quite early on, I had this idea of compartmentalized identities - 'this is how you are when you are with your mum, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/from-quite-early-on-i-had-this-idea-of-compartmentalized-identities/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [I have a singular focus, I'm a perfectionist, and I always want to prove I am the best and the best version of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-morrison/i-have-a-singular-focus-i-m-a-perfectionist-and-i-always-want-to/) [John Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-morrison/) > [I can only be the best version of myself and understand that the only way that we as a people can heal is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/i-can-only-be-the-best-version-of-myself-and-understand-that-the-only/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [Without God, for me, I'm not the best version of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-gaines/without-god-for-me-i-m-not-the-best-version-of-myself/) [Chip Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-gaines/) > [I always say that playing Christ has just made me a better version of myself because I aspire to greater things, to a moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-roumie/i-always-say-that-playing-christ-has-just-made-me-a-better-version-of/) [Jonathan Roumie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-roumie/) > [“I have always, essentially, been waiting. Waiting to become something else, waiting to be that person I always thought I was on the verge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/i-have-always-essentially-been-waiting-waiting-to-become-something/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Oh my gosh, I'd give so much advice to a younger version of myself. I would say it really does get better as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/oh-my-gosh-i-d-give-so-much-advice-to-a-younger-version-of-myself-i/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [I'm inspired by it all - the good and the not so good - because every experience is an opportunity for me to learn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-deloach/i-m-inspired-by-it-all-the-good-and-the-not-so-good-because-every/) [Nikki DeLoach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-deloach/) > [I think my days of trying outrageous things are over. I'm not looking for trends, I just want to be the best version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-think-my-days-of-trying-outrageous-things-are-over-i-m-not-looking/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) ## More by Paula Cole > [Feminists were psyched that I had armpit hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/feminists-were-psyched-that-i-had-armpit-hair/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [I don't like to sit and bask in my own awards. Awards represent artistic death to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/i-don-t-like-to-sit-and-bask-in-my-own-awards-awards-represent/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [I find that the older I get, the more I see that there really aren't huge zeniths of happiness or a huge abyss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/i-find-that-the-older-i-get-the-more-i-see-that-there-really-aren-t/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [But at the age of 44, I sure hope to be a better businesswoman. I want to get the music straight to my fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/but-at-the-age-of-44-i-sure-hope-to-be-a-better-businesswoman-i-want/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [You make me feel like a candy apple, red and horny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/you-make-me-feel-like-a-candy-apple-red-and-horny/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [I'm a songwriter who's put my childhood memories and teenage angst into songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/i-m-a-songwriter-who-s-put-my-childhood-memories-and-teenage-angst/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [I am searching for the truth. Somewhere, it's in the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/i-am-searching-for-the-truth-somewhere-it-s-in-the-music/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [I wore Nietzsche's eyes. Now that I step back to see, I haven't been me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/i-wore-nietzsche-s-eyes-now-that-i-step-back-to-see-i-haven-t-been-me/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [I've left Bethlehem, and I feel free. I've left the girl I was supposed to be, and some day I'll be born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/i-ve-left-bethlehem-and-i-feel-free-i-ve-left-the-girl-i-was-supposed/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [I'd love to act. I feel that it's another naked, mysterious challenge, like jazz. It kind of intrigues me in the same way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/i-d-love-to-act-i-feel-that-it-s-another-naked-mysterious-challenge/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [I was curious and hungry at a young age, and jazz was such a mystery to me, an ocean where you can express yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/i-was-curious-and-hungry-at-a-young-age-and-jazz-was-such-a-mystery/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [I am not the person who is singing I am the silent one inside. . . . I am not my house, my car,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/i-am-not-the-person-who-is-singing-i-am-the-silent-one-inside-i-am/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [Walking is magic. Can't recommend it highly enough. I read that Plato and Aristotle did much of their brilliant thinking together while ambulating. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/walking-is-magic-can-t-recommend-it-highly-enough-i-read-that-plato/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [I'm raising my daughter with her grandparents in the picture, and that feels good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/i-m-raising-my-daughter-with-her-grandparents-in-the-picture-and-that/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) > [I'm still trying to find out who Paula Cole is. I always am - and I always will be - my real, inside self,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/i-m-still-trying-to-find-out-who-paula-cole-is-i-always-am-and-i/) [Paula Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) [Explore all 48 Paula Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm accepting I'm not living that younger, dreamed version of myself in the big city.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paula Cole" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/i-m-accepting-i-m-not-living-that-younger-dreamed-version-of-myself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/i-m-accepting-i-m-not-living-that-younger-dreamed-version-of-myself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/paula-cole-13975_accepting_i-m-accepting-i-m-not-living-that-younge_556360.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/paula-cole-13975_accepting_i-m-accepting-i-m-not-living-that-younge_556360.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b36/paula-cole-13975_accepting_i-m-accepting-i-m-not-living-that-younge_556360.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm accepting I'm not living that younger, dreamed version of myself in the big city.” — Paula Cole", "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": "Paula Cole", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-cole/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm accepting I'm not living that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/i-m-accepting-i-m-not-living-that-younger-dreamed-version-of-myself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-cole/i-m-accepting-i-m-not-living-that-younger-dreamed-version-of-myself/#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 } } ] } ```