--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I watched him skip down the trail and…" description: "\"“I watched him skip down the trail and felt annoyed by all this joy; then I wondered why I couldn't be that joyful. Maybe everything really was attitud..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c65/suzanne-roberts-90250_bad-attitude_i-watched-him-skip-down-the-trail-and-fe_828035.jpg" --- # I watched him skip down the trail and felt annoyed by all… ![“I watched him skip down the trail and felt annoyed by all this joy; then I wondered why I couldn't be that joyful. Maybe everything really was attitude. I had mastered self-pity and realized maybe it was time to work on joy. Doesn't the Dalai Lama say happiness is a decision? Pain is inevitable…” quote by Suzanne Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c65/suzanne-roberts-90250_bad-attitude_i-watched-him-skip-down-the-trail-and-fe_828035.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c65/suzanne-roberts-90250_bad-attitude_i-watched-him-skip-down-the-trail-and-fe_828035.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c65/suzanne-roberts-90250_bad-attitude_i-watched-him-skip-down-the-trail-and-fe_828035.jpg) > ““I watched him skip down the trail and felt annoyed by all this joy; then I wondered why I couldn't be that joyful. Maybe everything really was attitude. I had mastered self-pity and realized maybe it was time to work on joy. Doesn't the Dalai Lama say happiness is a decision? Pain is inevitable, suffering a choice. Could it be that I simply suffered from a bad attitude? Maybe I needed to try harder to enjoy all of it even if it wasn't exactly fun.”” Suzanne Roberts ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker struggles with envy and self‑pity, questioning whether joy is a choice versus a reaction to pain, and reflects on attitudes toward suffering. **In simple terms:** Joy may be a decision despite inevitable pain. Key Takeaway Choose joy over self‑pity. Themes self‑pity joy attitude pain choice Mood contemplative motivational Type Bad attitude:1 Dalai lama:1 Happiness:1 Joy:1 Try harder:0 Suffering Choice:1 Happiness Decision:1 Joy Wondered:0 Attitude Maybe:1 When to use this quote - dealing with envy - cultivating joy - reframing suffering Key Concepts psychology mindset happiness philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What attitudes keep you stuck in self‑pity? - How can you practice choosing joy daily? A Different Perspective Joy isn’t always a simple choice; external factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-attitude/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) ## Related quotes > [Some people say I have attitude - maybe I do...but I think you have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/some-people-say-i-have-attitude-maybe-i-do-but-i-think-you-have-to-2/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [I've already move on and I'm inlove with someone but I was wondering why is that they have the same appearance/attitude. maybe it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snafu/i-ve-already-move-on-and-i-m-inlove-with-someone-but-i-was-wondering/) [Snafu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snafu/) > [Some people say that I have an attitude- Maybe I do. But I think that you have to. You have to believe in yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/some-people-say-that-i-have-an-attitude-maybe-i-do-but-i-think-that/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [You can talk so why can't I you can scream so why can't I you think you the boss but your so annoying get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayonna-marie-brace/you-can-talk-so-why-can-t-i-you-can-scream-so-why-can-t-i-you-think/) [Dayonna Marie Brace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dayonna-marie-brace/) > [I feel like women are frequently seen as guests in the comedy world - you know, a kid sister of the “real comedians”. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-peretti/i-feel-like-women-are-frequently-seen-as-guests-in-the-comedy-world-2/) [Chelsea Peretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-peretti/) > [Some people say I have attitude - maybe I do... but I think you have to. You have to believe in yourself when no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/some-people-say-i-have-attitude-maybe-i-do-but-i-think-you-have-to/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [“Pain is inevitable but suffering is a choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-s-m-popp/pain-is-inevitable-but-suffering-is-a-choice/) Terrence S.M. Popp > [Pain from problems and disappointments, etc., is inevitable in life, but suffering is a choice determined by whether you choose to compare your experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/pain-from-problems-and-disappointments-etc-is-inevitable-in-life-but/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Getting hurt is inevitable. You can never avoid it but suffering from it, is always a choice!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nova-rosa/getting-hurt-is-inevitable-you-can-never-avoid-it-but-suffering-from/) Nova Rosa > [“Suffering is inevitable, they said, but how we respond to that suffering is our choice. Not even oppression or occupation can take away this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/suffering-is-inevitable-they-said-but-how-we-respond-to-that/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [“So many people suffer because they choose to suffer. Pain comes to us all, but suffering is a choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-squires/so-many-people-suffer-because-they-choose-to-suffer-pain-comes-to-us/) [E.J. Squires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-squires/) > [My message is that happiness is the first principle of life. But you must choose it. We all have pain, but suffering is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/my-message-is-that-happiness-is-the-first-principle-of-life-but-you/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [“Most people believe that pain and suffering are synonymous—that one begets the other. A yogi recognizes that pain is an unavoidable aspect of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-main/most-people-believe-that-pain-and-suffering-are-synonymous-that-one/) [Darren Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-main/) > [If you're going to plan a wedding, then a certain amount of suffering is not a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-kemper/if-you-re-going-to-plan-a-wedding-then-a-certain-amount-of-suffering/) [Ellie Kemper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-kemper/) > [I lost my father when I was four, so maybe that was always in the background. Losing my brother kicked it into overdrive. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lee/i-lost-my-father-when-i-was-four-so-maybe-that-was-always-in-the/) [Shannon Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lee/) ## More by Suzanne Roberts > [“Katherine Anne Dugan had long ago realized that being pretty helped her to be a better librarian, actually stimulating interest in learning and reading.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-roberts/katherine-anne-dugan-had-long-ago-realized-that-being-pretty-helped/) Suzanne Roberts Explore all 2 Suzanne Roberts quotes ## More Bad attitude quotes > [You say I have a bad attitude. But have you ever stopped to check yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-marie/you-say-i-have-a-bad-attitude-but-have-you-ever-stopped-to-check-yours/) Tasha Marie > [Ladies: Anne Hathaway is a feminist and she has amazing teeth. Let's save our bad attitudes for the ones who aren't advancing the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/ladies-anne-hathaway-is-a-feminist-and-she-has-amazing-teeth-let-s/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [An attitude can communicate as much as any words. It is the expression of the energy you carry in the moment. Good or bad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/an-attitude-can-communicate-as-much-as-any-words-it-is-the-expression/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“The only handicap in life is a bad attitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hamilton/the-only-handicap-in-life-is-a-bad-attitude/) [Scott Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hamilton/) > [“A flat tire is like a bad attitude, you won't go anywhere until you change it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-brown/a-flat-tire-is-like-a-bad-attitude-you-won-t-go-anywhere-until-you/) Winston Brown > [“People who hate you because of a mere jealousy over your success hurt themselves in disguise. This is because you carry an image of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/people-who-hate-you-because-of-a-mere-jealousy-over-your-success-hurt/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Don't allow your attitude to stand between your happiness and you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jebz-king/don-t-allow-your-attitude-to-stand-between-your-happiness-and-you/) Jebz King > [You've gotta learn to let some things slide. Don't let someone else's bad attitude become your bad day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ve-gotta-learn-to-let-some-things-slide-don-t-let-someone-else-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You may assume me physically that I am worst, I am sinner, I am brutal, I am wicked, and I am weird. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/you-may-assume-me-physically-that-i-am-worst-i-am-sinner-i-am-brutal/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“The worst disability in life is a bad attitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/supa-nova-slom/the-worst-disability-in-life-is-a-bad-attitude/) [Supa Nova Slom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/supa-nova-slom/) > [“There is no need returning anger to those who made your past horrible, do not think of making them feel bitter, maybe a help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/there-is-no-need-returning-anger-to-those-who-made-your-past-horrible/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [The only disability in life is a bad attitude. - Jimmy Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-scott/the-only-disability-in-life-is-a-bad-attitude-jimmy-scott/) [Jimmy Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-scott/) > [You can't be Allen Iverson on a football team. And even Iverson got run out of Philadelphia when he was still a spectacular talent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/you-can-t-be-allen-iverson-on-a-football-team-and-even-iverson-got/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [When you talk like an asshole and look like an asshole, you're an asshole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/when-you-talk-like-an-asshole-and-look-like-an-asshole-you-re-an/) [John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/) > [A bad attitude is like a flat tire, you cant get very far until you change it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly/a-bad-attitude-is-like-a-flat-tire-you-cant-get-very-far-until-you/) [Kimberly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly/) [Browse all 179 Bad attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I watched him skip down the trail and felt annoyed by all this joy; then I wondered why I couldn't be that joyful. Maybe everything really was attitude. I had mastered self-pity and realized maybe it was time to work on joy. Doesn't the Dalai Lama say happiness is a decision? Pain is inevitable, suffering a choice. Could it be that I simply suffered from a bad attitude? Maybe I needed to try harder to enjoy all of it even if it wasn't exactly fun.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Suzanne Roberts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-roberts/i-watched-him-skip-down-the-trail-and-felt-annoyed-by-all-this-joy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-roberts/i-watched-him-skip-down-the-trail-and-felt-annoyed-by-all-this-joy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c65/suzanne-roberts-90250_bad-attitude_i-watched-him-skip-down-the-trail-and-fe_828035.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c65/suzanne-roberts-90250_bad-attitude_i-watched-him-skip-down-the-trail-and-fe_828035.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c65/suzanne-roberts-90250_bad-attitude_i-watched-him-skip-down-the-trail-and-fe_828035.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I watched him skip down the trail and felt annoyed by all this joy; then I wondered why I couldn't be that…” — Suzanne Roberts", "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": "Suzanne Roberts", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-roberts/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I watched him skip down the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-roberts/i-watched-him-skip-down-the-trail-and-felt-annoyed-by-all-this-joy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-roberts/i-watched-him-skip-down-the-trail-and-felt-annoyed-by-all-this-joy/#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 } } ] } ```