--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I suppose even when I was growing up, I…" description: "\"I suppose even when I was growing up, I noticed I was most happy when I was absorbed in something, lost in the moment and forgot the time, whether was ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/pico-iyer-1252_absorb_i-suppose-even-when-i-was-growing-up-i-n_2694490.png" --- # I suppose even when I was growing up, I noticed I was most… ![“I suppose even when I was growing up, I noticed I was most happy when I was absorbed in something, lost in the moment and forgot the time, whether was conversation, movie, or a game I was playing. That was my definition of happiness. And I was least happy when I was all over the place, distracted…” quote by Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/pico-iyer-1252_absorb_i-suppose-even-when-i-was-growing-up-i-n_2694490.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/pico-iyer-1252_absorb_i-suppose-even-when-i-was-growing-up-i-n_2694490.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/pico-iyer-1252_absorb_i-suppose-even-when-i-was-growing-up-i-n_2694490.png) > “I suppose even when I was growing up, I noticed I was most happy when I was absorbed in something, lost in the moment and forgot the time, whether was conversation, movie, or a game I was playing. That was my definition of happiness. And I was least happy when I was all over the place, distracted and restless.” [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness arises when fully immersed in an activity, losing sense of time; distraction reduces joy. **In simple terms:** Being absorbed brings happiness; being distracted brings unhappiness. Key Takeaway Seek deep focus, limit distractions. Themes happiness focus mindfulness Mood content reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - creative work - study sessions - reading - gaming - conversation Key Concepts flow absorption attention Questions to Reflect On - What activities make you lose track of time? - How can you balance focus with obligations? A Different Perspective Even focused moments can become unhealthy if they avoid necessary responsibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Definition of happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition-of-happiness/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Restless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restless/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The ancient Greek definition of happiness was the full use of your powers along lines of excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-ancient-greek-definition-of-happiness-was-the-full-use-of-your/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [One dangerous definition of happiness is to think of happiness as kind of a warm, joyful feeling in your heart that you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-c-hayes/one-dangerous-definition-of-happiness-is-to-think-of-happiness-as/) [Steven C. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-c-hayes/) > [“Being happy for no reason is the definition of happiness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihail-militaru/being-happy-for-no-reason-is-the-definition-of-happiness/) [Mihail Militaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihail-militaru/) > [Putting my hand in someone else’s has always been my definition of happiness. Before I fall asleep, often - in that small struggle not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarice-lispector/putting-my-hand-in-someone-else-s-has-always-been-my-definition-of/) [Clarice Lispector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarice-lispector/) > [If I had to give a definition of happiness, it would be this: happiness needs nothing but itself; it doesn’t have to be validated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-koch/if-i-had-to-give-a-definition-of-happiness-it-would-be-this-happiness/) [Herman Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-koch/) > [“We have come to see money as the key to pleasure, and pleasure as the key to happiness. This definition of happiness has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/we-have-come-to-see-money-as-the-key-to-pleasure-and-pleasure-as-the/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [But this cheap-thrill version, this sort of ease definition, the feel-good definition of happiness is an empty promise. Unless we get wiser as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-c-hayes/but-this-cheap-thrill-version-this-sort-of-ease-definition-the-feel/) [Steven C. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-c-hayes/) > [The definition of happiness being very emotion-oriented - the problem is that there's too many quick and dirty ways to chase that in ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-c-hayes/the-definition-of-happiness-being-very-emotion-oriented-the-problem/) [Steven C. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-c-hayes/) > [“Hence," goes on the professor, "definitions of happiness are interesting." I suppose the best thing to do with that is to let is pass.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/hence-goes-on-the-professor-definitions-of-happiness-are-interesting/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [You have to be doing something you enjoy. That is a definition of happiness: Complete use of one's faculties along lines leading to excellence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-kennedy/you-have-to-be-doing-something-you-enjoy-that-is-a-definition-of-2/) [Jackie Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-kennedy/) > [You have to be doing something you enjoy. That is a definition of happiness!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-kennedy/you-have-to-be-doing-something-you-enjoy-that-is-a-definition-of/) [Jackie Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-kennedy/) > [This is the definition of happiness: a whole day stretching out ahead of me, beautiful in its emptiness and simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-suzuma/this-is-the-definition-of-happiness-a-whole-day-stretching-out-ahead/) [Tabitha Suzuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-suzuma/) > [Your a definition of happiness to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghassan-el-labadi/your-a-definition-of-happiness-to-me/) [Ghassan El-labadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghassan-el-labadi/) > [“We kept each other's stare a long time, for we had each done a startling thing, dodged time for an instant - which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sean-greer/we-kept-each-other-s-stare-a-long-time-for-we-had-each-done-a/) [Andrew Sean Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sean-greer/) > [“There isn’t a single definition of happiness to suit everyone’s requirements, but you know it when you feel it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/there-isn-t-a-single-definition-of-happiness-to-suit-everyone-s/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) ## More by Pico Iyer > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [For citizens who think themselves puppets in the hands of their rulers, nothing is more satisfying than having rulers as puppets in their hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/for-citizens-who-think-themselves-puppets-in-the-hands-of-their/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [The Dalai Lama would say that meditation is something that can help everyone. But he's aware that it can be misused or things can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-would-say-that-meditation-is-something-that-can-help/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [Like any traveler, I'm always looking for those experiences that are almost unique to any place, and watching films around Alaska of the skies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/like-any-traveler-i-m-always-looking-for-those-experiences-that-are/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [“When you're hurrying around too quickly," he had said, "there's a part of the world you can't see. 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If you know the amount of hydrogen someone is exhaling orally, it's a simple matter to extrapolate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/he-was-doing-a-breath-hydrogen-test-if-you-know-the-amount-of/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [I would spend hours absorbing every intonation, every inflection - how the singer would convey a sentiment and how it would sound coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-edmonson/i-would-spend-hours-absorbing-every-intonation-every-inflection-how/) [Kat Edmonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-edmonson/) > [Be a mirror, absorb everything around you and still remain the same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/be-a-mirror-absorb-everything-around-you-and-still-remain-the-same/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [To Kiss : An attempt to absorb the essence of the other person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/to-kiss-an-attempt-to-absorb-the-essence-of-the-other-person/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [Most of the things you absorb you will ultimately secrete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/most-of-the-things-you-absorb-you-will-ultimately-secrete/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [You absorb 2,000 years of history just by being near the Thames.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/you-absorb-2-000-years-of-history-just-by-being-near-the-thames/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [We live with incessant music, all the time. It's like some weird musical purgatory, there is absolutely no rest for the ears, no space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-blake/we-live-with-incessant-music-all-the-time-it-s-like-some-weird/) [James Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-blake/) > [Technology teaches passivity. Absorbed in our devices - at any age - we are absorbed in someone else's perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/technology-teaches-passivity-absorbed-in-our-devices-at-any-age-we/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [A man, to read, must read alone. He may make extracts, he may work at books in company; but to read, to absorb, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/a-man-to-read-must-read-alone-he-may-make-extracts-he-may-work-at/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [Console yourself, you're better alone destroy yourself, see who gives a fuck. Absorb yourself, you're better alone destroy yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamb-of-god/console-yourself-you-re-better-alone-destroy-yourself-see-who-gives-a/) [Lamb Of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamb-of-god/) > [In '77 there was no Internet, there was no Twitter or Facebook, and I think that, without being some old git who hates anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jones/in-77-there-was-no-internet-there-was-no-twitter-or-facebook-and-i/) [Steve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jones/) Browse all 194 Absorb quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I suppose even when I was growing up, I noticed I was most happy when I was absorbed in something, lost in the moment and forgot the time, whether was conversation, movie, or a game I was playing. That was my definition of happiness. 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