--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I look back at pictures of myself and I…" description: "\"I look back at pictures of myself and I remember thinking, \"I was so fat when I was growing up. I was 165 pounds when I graduated from high school. I w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/viola-davis-1174_fats_i-look-back-at-pictures-of-myself-and-i_21378.png" --- # I look back at pictures of myself and I remember thinking… ![“I look back at pictures of myself and I remember thinking, "I was so fat when I was growing up. I was 165 pounds when I graduated from high school. I was a mess".” quote by Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/viola-davis-1174_fats_i-look-back-at-pictures-of-myself-and-i_21378.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/viola-davis-1174_fats_i-look-back-at-pictures-of-myself-and-i_21378.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47a/viola-davis-1174_fats_i-look-back-at-pictures-of-myself-and-i_21378.png) > “I look back at pictures of myself and I remember thinking, "I was so fat when I was growing up. I was 165 pounds when I graduated from high school. I was a mess".” [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflecting on past self‑image reveals how personal insecurities and body perception evolve over time, often colored by youthful self‑criticism. **In simple terms:** Past self‑image was harsh and weight‑focused. Key Takeaway Self‑perception changes with age. Themes body image self‑reflection growth memory Mood nostalgic vulnerable Type personal reflective When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal journaling - media interviews Key Concepts psychological self‑evaluation cultural standards Practical Applications - practice compassionate self‑talk - track body‑positive milestones Questions to Reflect On - How does past self‑criticism shape present confidence? - What practices can transform negative body memories? A Different Perspective Focusing on past negativity may reinforce current self‑criticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Pictures of myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pictures-of-myself/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Isnt it weird how you can look at pictures and remember the story behind them but look at the picture and dont remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/isnt-it-weird-how-you-can-look-at-pictures-and-remember-the-story/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [Forty pictures I was in, and all I remember is 'What kind of bra will you be wearing today, honey?' That was always the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-reed/forty-pictures-i-was-in-and-all-i-remember-is-what-kind-of-bra-will/) [Donna Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-reed/) > [When I was younger I spent way too much time thinking about me being too fat. So stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/when-i-was-younger-i-spent-way-too-much-time-thinking-about-me-being/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [When I was four years old, I remember looking in the mirror and running my fingers over my stomach and thinking I was fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/when-i-was-four-years-old-i-remember-looking-in-the-mirror-and/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Although I spent years thinking that I had fat arms, I am now approached by women daily who want to know how they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/although-i-spent-years-thinking-that-i-had-fat-arms-i-am-now/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [“To put it in the most basic terms, if someone is overweight, it came from thinking “fat thoughts,” whether that person was aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-put-it-in-the-most-basic-terms-if-someone-is-overweight-it-came/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like my baths really deep and hot. 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I don't think you can aspire to it, nor can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-beckinsale/what-s-considered-ideal-in-hollywood-is-completely-different-than/) [Kate Beckinsale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-beckinsale/) > [I always think photographs abominable, and I don't like to have them around, particularly not those of persons I know and love. Those photographic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/i-always-think-photographs-abominable-and-i-don-t-like-to-have-them/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [I wish I had never taken naked pictures of myself on a phone to send to a girl. It's the worst thing ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/i-wish-i-had-never-taken-naked-pictures-of-myself-on-a-phone-to-send/) [Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/) > [I don't objectify myself. I hate looking at pictures of myself, they're usually awful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-astbury/i-don-t-objectify-myself-i-hate-looking-at-pictures-of-myself-they-re/) [Ian Astbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-astbury/) ## More by Viola Davis > [I am not a glam woman - this definitely is a mask I put on for the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-am-not-a-glam-woman-this-definitely-is-a-mask-i-put-on-for-the/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I was bullied at school. The black girl in Central Falls, Rhode Island, in 1973. There'd be 8 or 10 boys; I would count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-was-bullied-at-school-the-black-girl-in-central-falls-rhode-island/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [That's why there's so much bad acting out there, because you could see actors watching themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-why-there-s-so-much-bad-acting-out-there-because-you-could-see/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I want my work to reflect my level of gifts and talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-want-my-work-to-reflect-my-level-of-gifts-and-talent/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I don’t want anyone putting any limits on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-don-t-want-anyone-putting-any-limits-on-me/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ I think that's why August \[Wilson\] named her Rose \[in "Fences"\]; I really do. 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And she says, 'My head and my heart.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-tell-my-daughter-every-morning-now-what-are-the-two-most-important/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I started a production company out of necessity, the need for great narratives for actors of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-started-a-production-company-out-of-necessity-the-need-for-great/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [That's always the biggest surprise when people meet me: how buoyant I am and how fun and light I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/that-s-always-the-biggest-surprise-when-people-meet-me-how-buoyant-i/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [When you're working as an actor, you don't think that when you get out of school, it's going to be so hard to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/when-you-re-working-as-an-actor-you-don-t-think-that-when-you-get-out-2/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [ It was hard, that confrontation scene \[in "Fences"\], that was a hard one. 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Preparedness makes us powerful. Butter merely makes us fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-goring/we-have-no-butter-but-i-ask-you-would-you-rather-have-butter-or-guns/) [Hermann Goring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-goring/) > [Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/man-preys-on-man-and-you-mourn-for-the-idle-tapestry-that-decorated-a/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [If Nirvana had remained a small, underground punk rock band, Kurt Cobain would still be alive. And he'd probably be living in Seattle, getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/if-nirvana-had-remained-a-small-underground-punk-rock-band-kurt/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [I am the one who got myself fat, who did all the eating. 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