--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can spend our days bemoaning our…" description: "\"We can spend our days bemoaning our losses, or we can grow from them. Ultimately the choice is ours. We can be victims of circumstance or masters of ou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/richard-paul-evans-1002_choice_we-can-spend-our-days-bemoaning-our-loss_1543860.png" --- # We can spend our days bemoaning our losses, or we can grow… ![“We can spend our days bemoaning our losses, or we can grow from them. Ultimately the choice is ours. We can be victims of circumstance or masters of our own fate, but make no mistake, we cannot be both. The Walk - Epilogue Page 288” quote by Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/richard-paul-evans-1002_choice_we-can-spend-our-days-bemoaning-our-loss_1543860.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/richard-paul-evans-1002_choice_we-can-spend-our-days-bemoaning-our-loss_1543860.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/richard-paul-evans-1002_choice_we-can-spend-our-days-bemoaning-our-loss_1543860.png) > “We can spend our days bemoaning our losses, or we can grow from them. Ultimately the choice is ours. We can be victims of circumstance or masters of our own fate, but make no mistake, we cannot be both. The Walk - Epilogue Page 288” [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We can either lament setbacks or learn from them, shaping our destiny through choices. **In simple terms:** Choose growth over victimhood. Key Takeaway Own your response to loss. Themes resilience choice personal power Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - grieving a loss - career setback - relationship breakup - health diagnosis Key Concepts mindset agency growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What loss can you transform into strength? - How does your mindset shape your fate? A Different Perspective Growth requires confronting pain, not just acceptance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Circumstance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstance/) [Epilogues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epilogues/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) [Victims of circumstance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victims-of-circumstance/) ## Related quotes > [We do not have to be victims of circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kweisi-mfume/we-do-not-have-to-be-victims-of-circumstance/) [Kweisi Mfume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kweisi-mfume/) > [Do you think in many ways, sir, you're the victim of circumstance now?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jennings/do-you-think-in-many-ways-sir-you-re-the-victim-of-circumstance-now/) [Peter Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jennings/) > [Successful people decide how they are going to live; they are not victims of circumstance. In good times or bad times, they know where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/successful-people-decide-how-they-are-going-to-live-they-are-not/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you believe you are an effect of the world around you - that your happiness is dependent on this thing or that person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-l-jampolsky/if-you-believe-you-are-an-effect-of-the-world-around-you-that-your/) [Lee L Jampolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-l-jampolsky/) > [The conflict between what one is and who one is expected to be touches all of us. And sometimes, rather than reach for what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-shain/the-conflict-between-what-one-is-and-who-one-is-expected-to-be/) [Merle Shain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-shain/) > [“Ultimately, it’s your choice whether or not to be positive. 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Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [I sat down with my long time business partner and Rap-A-Lot CEO James Prince to review the music that we had and quickly came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bun-b/i-sat-down-with-my-long-time-business-partner-and-rap-a-lot-ceo-james-2/) [Bun B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bun-b/) > [If it be true that good wine needs no bush, 'tis true that a good play needs no epilogue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-it-be-true-that-good-wine-needs-no-bush-tis-true-that-a-good-play/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“If you live long enough, Bill - it's a world of epilogues," Richard Abbott said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/if-you-live-long-enough-bill-it-s-a-world-of-epilogues-richard-abbott/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I sat down with my long time business partner and Rap-A-Lot CEO James Prince to review the music that we had and quickly came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bun-b/i-sat-down-with-my-long-time-business-partner-and-rap-a-lot-ceo-james/) [Bun B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bun-b/) > [Wait a second while I take a swig off this bottle: it's my true and only Helicon, my Caballine fount, my sole Enthusiasm. Here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/wait-a-second-while-i-take-a-swig-off-this-bottle-it-s-my-true-and/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [God is alpha and omega in the great world: endeavor to make him so in the little world; make him thy evening epilogue and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/god-is-alpha-and-omega-in-the-great-world-endeavor-to-make-him-so-in/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [“Epilogues are for Tolstoy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/epilogues-are-for-tolstoy/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) ## More by Richard Paul Evans > [ The smells of Christmas are the smells of childhood \[p. 53\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/the-smells-of-christmas-are-the-smells-of-childhood-p-53/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [We are chained to that which we do not forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/we-are-chained-to-that-which-we-do-not-forgive/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“I've found that when someone is beautiful on the outside, but spiritually dark inside, all that outer beauty is just lipstick on a pig.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-ve-found-that-when-someone-is-beautiful-on-the-outside-but/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [There are none so impoverished as those who do not acknowledge the abundance of their lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/there-are-none-so-impoverished-as-those-who-do-not-acknowledge-the/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [It's our memories that make us who we are. Without them, we're nothing. If that means we have to hurt sometimes, it's worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/it-s-our-memories-that-make-us-who-we-are-without-them-we-re-nothing/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [At one time in my career, Barnes and Noble bookstores categorized my books as religious fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/at-one-time-in-my-career-barnes-and-noble-bookstores-categorized-my/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“I'm no one important or famous, no matter. It is better to be loved by one person who knows your soul than millions who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-m-no-one-important-or-famous-no-matter-it-is-better-to-be-loved-by/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [The first step of a journey is always the longest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/the-first-step-of-a-journey-is-always-the-longest/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“Simply stated, earth is a school-a divine educational process custom-fit to each of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/simply-stated-earth-is-a-school-a-divine-educational-process-custom/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [So much of young adult literature has turned dark, almost pathological. It's almost as if there is a race to see who can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/so-much-of-young-adult-literature-has-turned-dark-almost-pathological/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [If the errors of my life have profited me one great truth it is this: believe. Believe in your destiny and the star from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/if-the-errors-of-my-life-have-profited-me-one-great-truth-it-is-this/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [Some people in this world have stopped looking for beauty, then wonder why their lives are so ugly. Don't be like them. The ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/some-people-in-this-world-have-stopped-looking-for-beauty-then-wonder/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [“There's a big difference between us. I write non-fiction, you write fiction. I write truths that tell lies. You write lies that tell truths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/there-s-a-big-difference-between-us-i-write-non-fiction-you-write/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [As a boy I heard this story in church. A man was patching a pitched roof of a tall building when he began sliding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/as-a-boy-i-heard-this-story-in-church-a-man-was-patching-a-pitched/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [I am facing the most difficult thing of my life, my own greatest failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-am-facing-the-most-difficult-thing-of-my-life-my-own-greatest/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) [Explore all 311 Richard Paul Evans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) Randy C. Dockens > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We can spend our days bemoaning our losses, or we can grow from them. 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