---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been going a long time now along the…"
description: "\"I've been going a long time now along the way I've learned some things. You have to make the good times yourself take the little times and make them in..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/rod-mckuen-9451_big-time_i-ve-been-going-a-long-time-now-along-th_1175828.jpg"
---

#  I've been going a long time now along the way I've learned…

![“I've been going a long time now along the way I've learned some things. You have to make the good times yourself take the little times and make them into big times and save the times that are all right for the ones that aren't so good.” quote by Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/rod-mckuen-9451_big-time_i-ve-been-going-a-long-time-now-along-th_1175828.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/rod-mckuen-9451_big-time_i-ve-been-going-a-long-time-now-along-th_1175828.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/rod-mckuen-9451_big-time_i-ve-been-going-a-long-time-now-along-th_1175828.jpg)

> “I've been going a long time now along the way I've learned some things. You have to make the good times yourself take the little times and make them into big times and save the times that are all right for the ones that aren't so good.”

[Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

## About This Quote

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

Create joy deliberately, amplify small moments, and preserve neutral times for future growth.

**In simple terms:** Make joy yourself.

Key Takeaway

Intentionally craft happiness.

Themes

joy mindfulness growth time management

Mood

hopeful reflective

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

- daily routines
- celebrations
- stressful periods
- personal development

Key Concepts

positive psychology philosophy well‑being

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you turn a mundane moment into joy?
- What neutral times can you repurpose?

A Different Perspective

Neglecting challenges can stall progress.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Big time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-time/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Going Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-long/) [Good times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-times/) [I've learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-ve-learned/) [Learned Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-things/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Ve Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-learned/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [I've learned enough things the hard way to know we humans can make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-patrick/i-ve-learned-enough-things-the-hard-way-to-know-we-humans-can-make-a/)

[Richard Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-patrick/)

> [I've learned not to put things in my mouth that are bad for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-lewinsky/i-ve-learned-not-to-put-things-in-my-mouth-that-are-bad-for-me/)

[Monica Lewinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-lewinsky/)

> [I've learned that you can keep going, long after you think you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/i-ve-learned-that-you-can-keep-going-long-after-you-think-you-can-t/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [I have learned a lot from my life ,I fall, I rise, I make mistakes, I live, I learn, I've been hurt but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shafique-ahmed/i-have-learned-a-lot-from-my-life-i-fall-i-rise-i-make-mistakes-i/)

[Shafique Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shafique-ahmed/)

> [After all of my years in politics, I've learned that sometimes things that are said are true, and other things that are said are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-carville/after-all-of-my-years-in-politics-i-ve-learned-that-sometimes-things/)

[James Carville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-carville/)

> [I've learned a lot this year.. I learned that things don't always turn our the way you planned, or the way you think they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-learned-a-lot-this-year-i-learned-that-things-don-t-always-turn/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Once I've learned all those things and gotten through the hard times, I come out feeling really powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skylar-grey/once-i-ve-learned-all-those-things-and-gotten-through-the-hard-times/)

[Skylar Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skylar-grey/)

> [I've learned a few things from the tea party, both the political one and the one in Alice in Wonderland. From the first, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lore-sjoberg/i-ve-learned-a-few-things-from-the-tea-party-both-the-political-one/)

[Lore Sjoberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lore-sjoberg/)

> [I've learned the hard way how valuable privacy is. And I've learned that there are a lot of things in your life that really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/i-ve-learned-the-hard-way-how-valuable-privacy-is-and-i-ve-learned/)

[Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/)

> [All that I've learned, I've forgotten. The little that I still know, I've guessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-that-i-ve-learned-i-ve-forgotten-the-little-that-i-still-know-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [What I've learned from myself is that I don't have to be anybody else. Myself is good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/what-i-ve-learned-from-myself-is-that-i-don-t-have-to-be-anybody-else/)

[Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/)

> [I've learned not to be surprised by what people do no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-ve-learned-not-to-be-surprised-by-what-people-do-no-more/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I've learned sometimes you just have to take the bad from people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/i-ve-learned-sometimes-you-just-have-to-take-the-bad-from-people/)

[Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/)

> [I've learned that people will seldom let you down if they understand that your destiny is in their hands, and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/i-ve-learned-that-people-will-seldom-let-you-down-if-they-understand/)

[Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/)

> [I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-ve-learned-that-you-can-tell-a-lot-about-a-person-by-the-way-he-she/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

## More by Rod McKuen

> [Even when you feel you've reached the end or edge of life, hold on. Life itself will ultimately take care of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/even-when-you-feel-you-ve-reached-the-end-or-edge-of-life-hold-on/)

[Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

> [It seems to me that it's every man's obligation to make what contribution he can. You live each day as best you can. That,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/it-seems-to-me-that-it-s-every-man-s-obligation-to-make-what/)

[Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

> [“How can we be sure of anything the tide changes. The wind that made the grain wave gently yesterday blows down the tress tomorrow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/how-can-we-be-sure-of-anything-the-tide-changes-the-wind-that-made/)

[Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

> [Love is a sweet thing caught a momentand held in a golden eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/love-is-a-sweet-thing-caught-a-momentand-held-in-a-golden-eye/)

[Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

> [I have never known a cat that couldn't quiet me down just by walking slowly past my chair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/i-have-never-known-a-cat-that-couldn-t-quiet-me-down-just-by-walking/)

[Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

> [“I have fallen in love with the world And I am aware that I have chosen the most dangerous lover of them all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-the-world-and-i-am-aware-that-i-have/)

[Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

> [The world needs writers. We will always be necessary. There are few professions that can claim that distinction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/the-world-needs-writers-we-will-always-be-necessary-there-are-few/)

[Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

> [“These long years later it is worse for I remember what it was as well as what it might have been.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/these-long-years-later-it-is-worse-for-i-remember-what-it-was-as-well/)

[Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

> [I can't understand people who give up and commit suicide. If I have a bad day, I figure tomorrow will be better. And even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/i-can-t-understand-people-who-give-up-and-commit-suicide-if-i-have-a/)

[Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

> [“I went back to look for you. Not understanding the language of hello, I thought I’d speak it just the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/i-went-back-to-look-for-you-not-understanding-the-language-of-hello-i/)

[Rod Mckuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

> [“Crowded rooms and lonesome tunes and very little sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/crowded-rooms-and-lonesome-tunes-and-very-little-sky/)

[Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

> [Be gentle with me, new love. Treat me tenderly. I need the gentle touch, the soft voice, the candlelight after nine. There's been so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/be-gentle-with-me-new-love-treat-me-tenderly-i-need-the-gentle-touch/)

[Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

> [“Sometimes I think people were meant to be strangers. Not to get to know one another, not to get close enough to damage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/sometimes-i-think-people-were-meant-to-be-strangers-not-to-get-to/)

[Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

> [“Love is a sweet thing caught a moment and held in a golden eye.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/love-is-a-sweet-thing-caught-a-moment-and-held-in-a-golden-eye/)

[Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

> [“Theres no misery in not being loved, only in not loving”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/theres-no-misery-in-not-being-loved-only-in-not-loving/)

[Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

[Explore all 72 Rod McKuen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/)

## More Big time quotes

> [I've read about all the sales today. If you're an auto dealer, you're feeling it. If you're a furniture retailer like we are, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-ve-read-about-all-the-sales-today-if-you-re-an-auto-dealer-you-re/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [The way social media is now, and people are with cameras - we all live different lives whether you're in the spotlight or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-andrews/the-way-social-media-is-now-and-people-are-with-cameras-we-all-live/)

[Erin Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-andrews/)

> [The biggest fool to hit the big time and all I've got to do is act naturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-owens/the-biggest-fool-to-hit-the-big-time-and-all-i-ve-got-to-do-is-act/)

[Buck Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-owens/)

> [Never give up or you are big time jabroni.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-iron-sheik/never-give-up-or-you-are-big-time-jabroni/)

[The Iron Sheik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-iron-sheik/)

> [“There is no playing safe with me any longer. I only take huge risks. I know this means I can lose big time, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sahndra-fon-dufe/there-is-no-playing-safe-with-me-any-longer-i-only-take-huge-risks-i/)

[Sahndra Fon Dufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sahndra-fon-dufe/)

> [I always love stories that do a big time leap where the past informs the present, where you find out what became of some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-jones/i-always-love-stories-that-do-a-big-time-leap-where-the-past-informs/)

[Ruth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-jones/)

> [This is why I signed with the Patriots - to play in these big-time games and the obvious reason, which is the Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrelle-revis/this-is-why-i-signed-with-the-patriots-to-play-in-these-big-time/)

[Darrelle Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrelle-revis/)

> [I had some interesting costumes... the one that I remember right offhand is Zorro when I was a lot younger. I was a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-had-some-interesting-costumes-the-one-that-i-remember-right-offhand/)

[Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/)

> [I knw most of u wonder why I use 'LOL' when I dont laugh a lot... awky mayb I do laugh big time, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marwin-machiaveli/i-knw-most-of-u-wonder-why-i-use-lol-when-i-dont-laugh-a-lot-awky/)

[Aruho Marwin Machiaveli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marwin-machiaveli/)

> [And being gay isn't so easy, either I've always said that if anyone ever thought I was straight they must need glasses - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/and-being-gay-isn-t-so-easy-either-i-ve-always-said-that-if-anyone/)

[Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/)

> [The mistake the apartheid government made was they gave the black people nothing, so they had nothing to lose. But now a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-smith/the-mistake-the-apartheid-government-made-was-they-gave-the-black/)

[Wilbur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-smith/)

> [Joining another big time rock band was the last thing I was looking for, but as the tour went on, I really dug playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cameron/joining-another-big-time-rock-band-was-the-last-thing-i-was-looking/)

[Matt Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cameron/)

> [Nowadays, television has taken over big time and I'm really enjoying my stints there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyamani/nowadays-television-has-taken-over-big-time-and-i-m-really-enjoying/)

[Priyamani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyamani/)

> [Chinese movies are not just about making Chinese local movies. It's about the Chinese money, the Chinese creativeness participating in a global movie. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-zheng-wu/chinese-movies-are-not-just-about-making-chinese-local-movies-it-s/)

[Bruno Zheng Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-zheng-wu/)

> [Well, Rush, look what happened? 9/11 happened, and we didn't know it in advance. That's right, we got hit, we got hit big time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/well-rush-look-what-happened-9-11-happened-and-we-didn-t-know-it-in/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

[Browse all 281 Big time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-time/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I've been going a long time now along the way I've learned some things. You have to make the good times yourself take the little times and make them into big times and save the times that are all right for the ones that aren't so good.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rod McKuen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/i-ve-been-going-a-long-time-now-along-the-way-i-ve-learned-some/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Big time"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/i-ve-been-going-a-long-time-now-along-the-way-i-ve-learned-some/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/rod-mckuen-9451_big-time_i-ve-been-going-a-long-time-now-along-th_1175828.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/rod-mckuen-9451_big-time_i-ve-been-going-a-long-time-now-along-th_1175828.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/rod-mckuen-9451_big-time_i-ve-been-going-a-long-time-now-along-th_1175828.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I've been going a long time now along the way I've learned some things. You have to make the good times…” — Rod McKuen",
                "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": "Rod McKuen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I've been going a long time...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/i-ve-been-going-a-long-time-now-along-the-way-i-ve-learned-some/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/i-ve-been-going-a-long-time-now-along-the-way-i-ve-learned-some/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
