--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was trying to fill this gaping hole…" description: "\"“I was trying to fill this gaping hole inside me with “stuff I couldn’t have when I was a little kid,” and I assumed that one day, when I had finally b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/samantha-irby-19558_quote_i-was-trying-to-fill-this-gaping-hole-in_2124593.jpg" --- # I was trying to fill this gaping hole inside me with… ![“I was trying to fill this gaping hole inside me with “stuff I couldn’t have when I was a little kid,” and I assumed that one day, when I had finally bought enough magazines and name- brand snack foods to feel caught up, the feeling would go away. But it hasn’t. And because I know the value of a…” quote by Samantha Irby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/samantha-irby-19558_quote_i-was-trying-to-fill-this-gaping-hole-in_2124593.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/samantha-irby-19558_quote_i-was-trying-to-fill-this-gaping-hole-in_2124593.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/samantha-irby-19558_quote_i-was-trying-to-fill-this-gaping-hole-in_2124593.jpg) > ““I was trying to fill this gaping hole inside me with “stuff I couldn’t have when I was a little kid,” and I assumed that one day, when I had finally bought enough magazines and name- brand snack foods to feel caught up, the feeling would go away. But it hasn’t. And because I know the value of a dollar, when I get one, I want to buy the nicest thing I can with it. I’m still buying hardcover books and department-store mascara, still daydreaming about what I’m going to spend my 401(k) on when I withdraw that shit early,”” [Samantha Irby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-irby/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator tries to fill emotional emptiness with material purchases, believing money and goods will heal childhood lack, but the void persists, revealing deeper unmet needs. **In simple terms:** Buying things can’t fix inner emptiness. Key Takeaway Seek emotional fulfillment beyond possessions. Themes consumerism loneliness materialism self‑worth healing Mood reflective melancholic hopeful Type personal essay confessional When to use this quote - shopping sprees - financial planning - career advancement - personal reflection - therapy Key Concepts psychology attachment theory addiction self‑esteem Questions to Reflect On - What deeper needs are you trying to satisfy with purchases? - How can you nurture inner fulfillment without spending? A Different Perspective Money may temporarily distract but cannot replace genuine emotional work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bought Magazines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bought-magazines-4351890/) [Dollar Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollar-want-3455532/) [Foods Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foods-feel-1035433/) [Spend 401](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spend-401-4351891/) [Thing Buying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-buying-2158746/) ## Related quotes > [The good thing about buying things online is that you can send them back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-james/the-good-thing-about-buying-things-online-is-that-you-can-send-them/) [Geraldine James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-james/) > [I should have bought him some magazines to read on the trip!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daffy-duck/i-should-have-bought-him-some-magazines-to-read-on-the-trip/) [Daffy Duck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daffy-duck/) > [When you eat whole foods, you feel satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-rosenthal/when-you-eat-whole-foods-you-feel-satisfied/) [Joshua Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-rosenthal/) > [There are people who like photography; there are people who are worrying about what's going to happen with the dollar. They want to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/there-are-people-who-like-photography-there-are-people-who-are/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) > [“I inherited a pound from my British uncle. I’d have rather gotten a dollar, because what do I want with an animal shelter? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-inherited-a-pound-from-my-british-uncle-i-d-have-rather-gotten-a/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I keep my center by really making sure I am nourished and taking care of my body. I cook all of my own food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-prepon/i-keep-my-center-by-really-making-sure-i-am-nourished-and-taking-care/) [Laura Prepon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-prepon/) ## More by Samantha Irby > [“but there I was, trying to fit the ocean into a plastic cup as it tossed and turned me in its waves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-irby/but-there-i-was-trying-to-fit-the-ocean-into-a-plastic-cup-as-it/) [Samantha Irby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-irby/) > [“Favorite food? Brunch and tacos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-irby/favorite-food-brunch-and-tacos/) [Samantha Irby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-irby/) > [“A lot of us are living like this, right? Taking cabs and ordering takeout Thai on payday, then walking the three blocks to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-irby/a-lot-of-us-are-living-like-this-right-taking-cabs-and-ordering/) [Samantha Irby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-irby/) > [“48. Try to think positively. Can’t. Everything is garbage. 49. Stop talking (so much) shit. See above.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-irby/48-try-to-think-positively-can-t-everything-is-garbage-49-stop/) [Samantha Irby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-irby/) > [“Real love feels less like a throbbing, pulsing animal begging for its freedom and beating against the inside of my chest and more like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-irby/real-love-feels-less-like-a-throbbing-pulsing-animal-begging-for-its/) [Samantha Irby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-irby/) > [“You know, what I really need is someone who remembers to rotate this meaty pre-corpse toward the sun every couple of days and tries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-irby/you-know-what-i-really-need-is-someone-who-remembers-to-rotate-this/) [Samantha Irby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-irby/) > [“have never—and I mean ever—had a real desire to let otherwise-unaccounted-for money just chill in my bank account unmolested for more than maybe a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-irby/have-never-and-i-mean-ever-had-a-real-desire-to-let-otherwise/) [Samantha Irby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-irby/) > [“It's so weird that adults in committed relationships have a problem with something so innocuous as flirting. I would never expect you to walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-irby/it-s-so-weird-that-adults-in-committed-relationships-have-a-problem/) [Samantha Irby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-irby/) > [“I am a negative person by nature, and I typically shy away from anything that requires me to be having visible fun.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-irby/i-am-a-negative-person-by-nature-and-i-typically-shy-away-from/) [Samantha Irby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-irby/) > [“do so much shit I don’t want anyone else to see, or know about, that I never want to have to explain to another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-irby/do-so-much-shit-i-don-t-want-anyone-else-to-see-or-know-about-that-i/) [Samantha Irby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-irby/) > [“The Bachelorette proves that men are as petty and vapid and ridiculous as women are made to seem. 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