Day by day Quote by Shauna Niequist
““I have always, essentially, been waiting. Waiting to become something else, waiting to be that person I always thought I was on the verge of becoming, waiting for that life I thought I would have. In my head, I was always one step away. In high school, I was biding my time until I could become the college version of myself, the one my mind could see so clearly. In college, the post-college “adult” person was always looming in front of me, smarter, stronger, more organized. Then the married person, then the person I’d become when we have kids. For twenty years, literally, I have waited to become the thin version of myself, because that’s when life will really begin. And through all that waiting, here I am. My life is passing, day by day, and I am waiting for it to start. I am waiting for that time, that person, that event when my life will finally begin.””
About This Quote
A chronic pattern of postponing personal fulfillment, always believing the next stage will finally bring meaning, while life slips by unnoticed.
In simple terms: Perpetual postponement of self‑realization.
Key Takeaway
Waiting delays living.
Themes
self‑identity
future‑orientation
procrastination
existential angst
growth mindset
Mood
reflective
melancholic
hopeful
Type
personal reflection
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career transition
- post‑college life
- marriage planning
- parenthood anticipation
- mid‑life reflection
Key Concepts
self‑concept
life stages
expectation vs reality
Practical Applications
- coaching for present‑moment awareness
- writing exercises to map current values
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you do today if you stopped waiting?
- How does the idea of a 'future self' shape your current choices?
A Different Perspective
The desire to become a future self can motivate growth, but excessive delay risks missing present opportunities.
