--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel like I'm an ordinary person, but…" description: "\"I feel like I'm an ordinary person, but I've had extraordinary opportunities in my later life, and I never saw any of it coming. I never saw 'The Offic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/446/phyllis-smith-11568_enthusiasm_i-feel-like-i-m-an-ordinary-person-but-i_843713.png" --- # I feel like I'm an ordinary person, but I've had… ![“I feel like I'm an ordinary person, but I've had extraordinary opportunities in my later life, and I never saw any of it coming. I never saw 'The Office' coming, I never saw 'Inside Out' coming, and I just feel grateful and thankful to have these opportunities and to have an actual real enthusiasm…” quote by Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/446/phyllis-smith-11568_enthusiasm_i-feel-like-i-m-an-ordinary-person-but-i_843713.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/446/phyllis-smith-11568_enthusiasm_i-feel-like-i-m-an-ordinary-person-but-i_843713.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/446/phyllis-smith-11568_enthusiasm_i-feel-like-i-m-an-ordinary-person-but-i_843713.png) > “I feel like I'm an ordinary person, but I've had extraordinary opportunities in my later life, and I never saw any of it coming. I never saw 'The Office' coming, I never saw 'Inside Out' coming, and I just feel grateful and thankful to have these opportunities and to have an actual real enthusiasm in my life.” [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflects on unexpected life chances and gratitude for surprising successes. **In simple terms:** Unexpected opportunities bring gratitude. Key Takeaway Embrace surprise and stay thankful. Themes gratitude serendipity career growth appreciation Mood thankful reflective Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - career reflection - personal development - celebrating milestones - mindful living Key Concepts mindset recognition of luck personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay open to unexpected chances? - What practices keep gratitude alive? A Different Perspective Opportunities may be rare; not everyone experiences such late‑life breakthroughs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enthusiasm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiasm/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Grateful and thankful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful-and-thankful/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Thankful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thankful/) ## Related quotes > [I, for one, am, like, the most ordinary person. Like, people look past me all the time because I'm just so blending in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/i-for-one-am-like-the-most-ordinary-person-like-people-look-past-me/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [The holy days are the best times to focus on real enthusiasm, the inner source that lightens and sanctifies our lives all year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-holy-days-are-the-best-times-to-focus-on-real-enthusiasm-the/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [There is nothing to know bout me like an ordinary person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vipalove-gupta/there-is-nothing-to-know-bout-me-like-an-ordinary-person/) Vipalove Gupta > [Young people, you need the wisdom of age, just as some of us older ones need your enthusiasm for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/young-people-you-need-the-wisdom-of-age-just-as-some-of-us-older-ones/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [What color is in a picture, enthusiasm is in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/what-color-is-in-a-picture-enthusiasm-is-in-life/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [If you have zest and enthusiasm you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/if-you-have-zest-and-enthusiasm-you-attract-zest-and-enthusiasm-life/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I am impressed with just the enthusiasm for life and the fact that some of these people are in their 80's, even 90's, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-am-impressed-with-just-the-enthusiasm-for-life-and-the-fact-that/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“One of the main reasons that we lose our enthusiasm in life is because we become ungrateful; we take for granted what God has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/one-of-the-main-reasons-that-we-lose-our-enthusiasm-in-life-is/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [If you ask me, most people have children just as their own enthusiasm about life begins to wane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/if-you-ask-me-most-people-have-children-just-as-their-own-enthusiasm/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I have far more enthusiasm in life than I have actual energy. In my excitement, I routinely take on more that I can physically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-have-far-more-enthusiasm-in-life-than-i-have-actual-energy-in-my/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Days are more fulfilling when you have enthusiasm for life, a passion for the work you do, a heart for community service, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/days-are-more-fulfilling-when-you-have-enthusiasm-for-life-a-passion/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [Color in a picture is like enthusiasm in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/color-in-a-picture-is-like-enthusiasm-in-life/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [You work and live to meet your daily needs rather than to maximize your potential. You simply exist from day to day, without much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-t-bailey/you-work-and-live-to-meet-your-daily-needs-rather-than-to-maximize/) [Simon T. Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-t-bailey/) > [Develop an enthusiasm for life, create a need for more life, and you will receive more life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/develop-an-enthusiasm-for-life-create-a-need-for-more-life-and-you/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [How do you go from where you are to where you wanna be? And I think you have to have an enthusiasm for life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/how-do-you-go-from-where-you-are-to-where-you-wanna-be-and-i-think/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) ## More by Phyllis Smith > [I'm generally pretty happy about life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-m-generally-pretty-happy-about-life/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [I don't really think about being pigeonholed so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-don-t-really-think-about-being-pigeonholed-so-much/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [Everybody involved in Pixar, I've not met one person who's not incredibly creative and nice and lovely and know what they're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/everybody-involved-in-pixar-i-ve-not-met-one-person-who-s-not/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [It was only after I'd had some injuries that I basically retired from the performing side of show business and then began working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/it-was-only-after-i-d-had-some-injuries-that-i-basically-retired-from/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [IMDB's not the most accurate. Even my birth place and my age are wrong there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/imdb-s-not-the-most-accurate-even-my-birth-place-and-my-age-are-wrong/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [Just go for it. Don't be afraid of trying new things. You have absolutely no idea what's going to present itself to you. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/just-go-for-it-don-t-be-afraid-of-trying-new-things-you-have/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [I once prayed when struggling financially and worried how I was going to be able to assist my parents in their latter years living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-once-prayed-when-struggling-financially-and-worried-how-i-was-going/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [I didn't want Sadness to be just one note.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-didn-t-want-sadness-to-be-just-one-note/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [I know how difficult it is to get one job, much less an entirely new career. I'm very blessed and grateful. It's like I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-know-how-difficult-it-is-to-get-one-job-much-less-an-entirely-new/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [I just wanted Sadness to be true, to come from a real place. I tried to work from the inside out, going from my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-just-wanted-sadness-to-be-true-to-come-from-a-real-place-i-tried-to/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [To be in a Pixar movie is just great to begin with, and it has afforded me the opportunity to do a different medium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/to-be-in-a-pixar-movie-is-just-great-to-begin-with-and-it-has/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [I'm just a normal person, believe me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-m-just-a-normal-person-believe-me/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [Even before 'The OA,' I was a very spiritual person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/even-before-the-oa-i-was-a-very-spiritual-person/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [When I hurt my knee, I knew it was time to retire from dancing, and I needed a job just to pay the bills,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/when-i-hurt-my-knee-i-knew-it-was-time-to-retire-from-dancing-and-i/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [I wish I had paid more attention in my psych class in college. I would've had a broader vocabulary to draw from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/i-wish-i-had-paid-more-attention-in-my-psych-class-in-college-i-would/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) [Explore all 59 Phyllis Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) ## More Enthusiasm quotes > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [“Great things can be accomplish with passionate enthusiasm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/great-things-can-be-accomplish-with-passionate-enthusiasm/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/enthusiasm-is-the-yeast-that-makes-your-hopes-shine-to-the-stars/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [I'm fascinated by political enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-fascinated-by-political-enthusiasm/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Nothing cools so fast as undue enthusiasm. Water that has boiled freezes sooner than any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-iles/nothing-cools-so-fast-as-undue-enthusiasm-water-that-has-boiled/) [George Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-iles/) > [When you've got enough enthusiasm, and don't overthink, things turn out well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-trezeguet/when-you-ve-got-enough-enthusiasm-and-don-t-overthink-things-turn-out/) [David Trezeguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-trezeguet/) > [The figure of the enthusiast who has just discovered jogging or a new way to fix tofu can be said to stand or, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-h-lapham/the-figure-of-the-enthusiast-who-has-just-discovered-jogging-or-a-new/) [Lewis H. Lapham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-h-lapham/) > [Attempt to be creative for the joy it brings… Select something like music, dance, sculpture, or poetry. Being creative will help you enjoy life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-scott/attempt-to-be-creative-for-the-joy-it-brings-select-something-like/) [Richard G. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Good churches are not built by bad men; at least, there must be probity and enthusiasm somewhere in the society. These minsters were neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/good-churches-are-not-built-by-bad-men-at-least-there-must-be-probity/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Enthusiasm is by far the highest paid quality on earth, probably because it is one of the rarest; yet it is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bettger/enthusiasm-is-by-far-the-highest-paid-quality-on-earth-probably/) [Frank Bettger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bettger/) > [The book it reminded me of most is Henry Miller’s The Books in My Life. Like Miller, Shields manages to convey his affection for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/the-book-it-reminded-me-of-most-is-henry-miller-s-the-books-in-my/) [Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/) > [I wanted to do a talk show that reminded me of the old school ones I loved as a kid, without all the fake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/i-wanted-to-do-a-talk-show-that-reminded-me-of-the-old-school-ones-i/) [Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/) > [ As we have seen after every other \[Donald\] Trump controversy, this one only increased their enthusiasm for him. His supporters thought the idea of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/as-we-have-seen-after-every-other-donald-trump-controversy-this-one/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) [Browse all 1,846 Enthusiasm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiasm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I feel like I'm an ordinary person, but I've had extraordinary opportunities in my later life, and I never saw any of it coming. 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