--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was driving home, I just thought…" description: "\"When I was driving home, I just thought about the word 'special'. And I thought the last person who said that about me was my Aunt Helen. I was very gr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/stephen-chbosky-387_aunt_when-i-was-driving-home-i-just-thought-a_886258.jpg" --- # When I was driving home, I just thought about the word… ![“When I was driving home, I just thought about the word 'special'. And I thought the last person who said that about me was my Aunt Helen. I was very grateful to have heard it again. Because I guess we all forget sometimes. And I think everyone is special in their own way. I really do.” quote by Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/stephen-chbosky-387_aunt_when-i-was-driving-home-i-just-thought-a_886258.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/stephen-chbosky-387_aunt_when-i-was-driving-home-i-just-thought-a_886258.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/stephen-chbosky-387_aunt_when-i-was-driving-home-i-just-thought-a_886258.jpg) > “When I was driving home, I just thought about the word 'special'. And I thought the last person who said that about me was my Aunt Helen. I was very grateful to have heard it again. Because I guess we all forget sometimes. And I think everyone is special in their own way. I really do.” [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing personal uniqueness and gratitude for affirmation, reminding us that everyone has intrinsic value. **In simple terms:** Everyone is uniquely valuable and deserves appreciation. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and celebrate each person's distinct worth. Themes gratitude self‑worth individuality Mood warm reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - family gatherings - personal reflection - teaching moments - support groups Key Concepts human dignity psychological affirmation Questions to Reflect On - How can you express genuine appreciation for someone's uniqueness? - What habits help you remember each person's value? A Different Perspective May overlook the deeper needs behind simple compliments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aunt/) [Driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving/) [Driving home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving-home/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Helen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helen/) [Helen Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helen-grateful-1102391/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Aunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-aunt-482079/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Special Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-thought-1102390/) [Think Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-special/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Know this. I think you could be special if you only thought there was anything special about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/know-this-i-think-you-could-be-special-if-you-only-thought-there-was/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [I had discovered that I'm much less special than I thought I am. So whatever I find true for myself, other people might also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-sagmeister/i-had-discovered-that-i-m-much-less-special-than-i-thought-i-am-so/) [Stefan Sagmeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-sagmeister/) > [“I like Saturdays. They are my best thinking days. It is my day to try to find that one special thought that turns into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gantos/i-like-saturdays-they-are-my-best-thinking-days-it-is-my-day-to-try/) [Jack Gantos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gantos/) > [“Because I guess we all forget sometimes. And I think everyone is special in their own way”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/because-i-guess-we-all-forget-sometimes-and-i-think-everyone-is/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“I was very grateful to have heard it again. Because I guess we all forget sometimes. And I think everyone is special in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/i-was-very-grateful-to-have-heard-it-again-because-i-guess-we-all/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [When we were all getting ready to leave, I walked up to my grandfather and gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/when-we-were-all-getting-ready-to-leave-i-walked-up-to-my-grandfather/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [Despite everything my mom and doctor and dad have said to me about blame, I can't stop thinking what I know. And I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/despite-everything-my-mom-and-doctor-and-dad-have-said-to-me-about/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [Never," said my aunt, "be mean in anything; never be false; never be cruel. Avoid those three vices, Trot, and I can always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/never-said-my-aunt-be-mean-in-anything-never-be-false-never-be-cruel/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Paper Matches My aunts washed dishes while the uncles squirted each other on the lawn with garden hoses. Why are we in here, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulette-jiles/paper-matches-my-aunts-washed-dishes-while-the-uncles-squirted-each/) [Paulette Jiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulette-jiles/) > [Oh!" said my aunt, "I was not aware at first to whom I had the pleasure of objecting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/oh-said-my-aunt-i-was-not-aware-at-first-to-whom-i-had-the-pleasure/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Jimmy Murray, you are an ass,' said Aunt Ruth, angrily. 'Well, we're cousins,' agreed Cousin Jimmy pleasantly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/jimmy-murray-you-are-an-ass-said-aunt-ruth-angrily-well-we-re-cousins/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [“They seemed to be able to choose. We seemed to be able to choose, then. We were a society dying, said Aunt Lydia, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/they-seemed-to-be-able-to-choose-we-seemed-to-be-able-to-choose-then/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [We are a society dying, said Aunt Lydia, of too much choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/we-are-a-society-dying-said-aunt-lydia-of-too-much-choice/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“Haven’t you any old birds’ nests and stones and model airplanes?” asked Maggie. “Oh, can I keep that kind of things?” cried Mike. “Certainly,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-chandler-warner/haven-t-you-any-old-birds-nests-and-stones-and-model-airplanes-asked/) [Gertrude Chandler Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-chandler-warner/) > [“Do you remember little Zoe Octavia Lexham?' he said. His aunt cast her pale blue gaze in the direction of the great chandelier, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/do-you-remember-little-zoe-octavia-lexham-he-said-his-aunt-cast-her/) [Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/) ## More by Stephen Chbosky > [Sam dropped me off. When she was too far away to see me, I started to cry again. Because she was my friend again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-dropped-me-off-when-she-was-too-far-away-to-see-me-i-started-to/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“It's great that you can listen and be a shoulder to someone, but what about when someone doesn't need a shoulder. What if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/it-s-great-that-you-can-listen-and-be-a-shoulder-to-someone-but-what/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [Most of the people I know who were raised to be accommodating or were raised to just be nice and put everybody's needs ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/most-of-the-people-i-know-who-were-raised-to-be-accommodating-or-were/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I don’t want to start thinking again. Not like I have this last week. I can’t think again. Not ever again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/i-don-t-want-to-start-thinking-again-not-like-i-have-this-last-week-i/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“And then Patrick started running after the sunset. And Sam immediately followed him. And I saw them in silhouette. Running after the sun. Then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/and-then-patrick-started-running-after-the-sunset-and-sam-immediately/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [That was always my hope that that is exactly what I would do. It was always part of the dream of this story -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/that-was-always-my-hope-that-that-is-exactly-what-i-would-do-it-was/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [And she says she wants to expose me to all these great things. And to tell you the truth, I don't really want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/and-she-says-she-wants-to-expose-me-to-all-these-great-things-and-to/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“I'm sorry I bothered you, Susan. I'm just having a tough time. That's all. Have a good one," I said and walked away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/i-m-sorry-i-bothered-you-susan-i-m-just-having-a-tough-time-that-s/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [When we were all getting ready to leave, I walked up to my grandfather and gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/when-we-were-all-getting-ready-to-leave-i-walked-up-to-my-grandfather/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [It's like he would take a photograph of Sam, and the photograph would be beautiful. And he would think that the reason the photograph…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/it-s-like-he-would-take-a-photograph-of-sam-and-the-photograph-would/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [Five minutes of a lifetime were truly spent, and we felt young in a good way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/five-minutes-of-a-lifetime-were-truly-spent-and-we-felt-young-in-a/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I feel like a big faker because I've been putting my life back together, and nobody knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/i-feel-like-a-big-faker-because-i-ve-been-putting-my-life-back/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“So, this is my life. And I want you to know I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/so-this-is-my-life-and-i-want-you-to-know-i-am-both-happy-and-sad-and/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [If you care about somebody, you should want them to be happy. Even if you wind up being left out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/if-you-care-about-somebody-you-should-want-them-to-be-happy-even-if/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I wasn't raised very religiously because my parents went to Catholic school, but I do believe in God very much. I just never gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/i-wasn-t-raised-very-religiously-because-my-parents-went-to-catholic/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) [Explore all 558 Stephen Chbosky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) ## More Aunt quotes > [“My aunt Carol hasn’t heard her say a word in the whole six years and three months of Grace’s life—not a single syllable. 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