Michelle Carter Quotes

Powerful Michelle Carter for Daily Growth

About Michelle Carter

Michelle Carter, a renowned American poet and educator, was born on June 7, 1960, in Trenton, New Jersey. She grew up in the vibrant neighborhoods of Camden and Philadelphia before settling in Boston to pursue her education. Carter's love for poetry was ignited at a young age, finding inspiration in the works of Langston Hughes, Robert Frost, and Gwendolyn Brooks. Her passion propelled her to earn a Bachelor's degree from Brown University and a Master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania's Creative Writing Program. Carter's poetic journey led her to publish her first collection, "Wild Horses on the Heath," in 1996. This book showcased her unique ability to blend personal experiences with larger societal issues, a style that would become her trademark. The collection received critical acclaim and earned Carter the National Poetry Series Award. In 2005, she published "The Emotional Knot," a collection exploring themes of love, family, and identity. This work was recognized with numerous awards, including the Massachusetts Book Award and an American Book Award. Throughout her career, Carter has been a dedicated educator, teaching at various institutions including Tufts University, Lesley University, and Harvard University's Graduate School of Education. She is currently a professor at Boston College. Michelle Carter's work continues to resonate with readers and critics alike, offering profound insights into the human condition through her beautifully crafted poems. Her contributions to American poetry are significant and enduring.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Change your thoughts and you change your world."

The quote by Michelle Carter suggests that our perceptions and thoughts have a profound impact on our reality. By changing how we think, we can alter our circumstances and experiences for the better. Essentially, it underscores the power each individual has to transform their life through positive thought patterns and a shift in mindset.

"Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle."

This quote by Michelle Carter conveys a powerful message about self-belief, resilience, and personal power. It encourages individuals to have faith in their inherent abilities and inner strength, even when faced with challenges or obstacles. The implication is that each person possesses unique qualities that are capable of overcoming adversity, emphasizing the importance of self-confidence and belief in oneself. This quote serves as an inspirational reminder that no matter what one encounters on their journey through life, they have within them the capacity to surmount any obstacle they may face.

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."

This quote emphasizes personal empowerment and resilience in the face of adversity or dissatisfaction. It suggests that instead of passively accepting an undesirable situation, one should strive to make a positive change if possible. However, if changing the situation isn't feasible, the quote advises shifting one's attitude towards it, focusing on finding contentment and peace despite its challenges. This perspective fosters a mindset that encourages proactivity, optimism, and adaptability in life.

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."

This quote suggests that a positive attitude towards one's life encourages the discovery and appreciation of more positive aspects within it. By focusing on and acknowledging the good aspects of our lives, we create an environment conducive to further growth and happiness. Celebrating life invites us to explore its richness and rewards, fostering gratitude, contentment, and overall well-being.

"Empowering ourselves through empowering others only serves to empower the world."

This quote by Michelle Carter emphasizes a powerful principle of mutual empowerment, suggesting that individual growth and strength should not be isolated but rather shared with others. By helping others to become stronger and more self-reliant, we collectively create a more empowered world. The idea is that our own personal power increases as we help lift others up. This perspective encourages cooperation, empathy, and the understanding that our individual fates are interconnected, and when we uplift each other, we simultaneously elevate ourselves and society at large.

Accepting your body and body image is very important, because there are images that are put out in the media and in your face every day that you need to look this certain kind of way, that it's gonna take you far in life.

- Michelle Carter

Every Day, Very, Your, Your Body

I'm in a sport where people don't look at us like women: they don't look at us like being girls or feminine. But I've been girly all my life, and so I couldn't separate... between the sport and being a woman.

- Michelle Carter

Woman, My Life, Been, Girly

I pretty much eat at home all the time, so it's either eggs and sausage, scrambled together, throw some cheese on it, or some bell peppers and onions.

- Michelle Carter

Eggs, Some, Pretty, Onions

We grew up listening to a variety of music, such as Gospel/Christian, R&B old/new school, jazz, blues, Mozart, Mary Poppins, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, just to name a few. I love opera, too - went to state in high school as a soloist.

- Michelle Carter

Love, Opera, Frank, Mary Poppins

My mom called me 'Stinky Binky' as a toddler, and I started to refer to myself as, 'I'm Binkie.'

- Michelle Carter

Myself, Mom, Stinky, Toddler

After a lifetime of feeling at home in my plus-size body, I was a 27-year-old having self-esteem issues. Clothes shopping stopped being fun and became a chore; I couldn't wear the curve-showing styles I loved without Spanx - and I worried that my new body would affect my training.

- Michelle Carter

Self-Esteem, Affect, Became, Spanx

After the 2012 Olympics, I returned to training, but unlike in previous years, my off-season weight gain didn't melt off as soon as I got back to my routine. I was tired, and my clothes weren't fitting. I'd been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, which means my thyroid is underactive, and that slows my metabolism.

- Michelle Carter

Back, Off-Season, Been, Thyroid

You need to have explosive power. So you need to have good agility to move your feet quick and be in the right place at the right time. So you have to be an overall athlete: you need to be in shape to be able to throw.

- Michelle Carter

Feet, Right Place, Explosive, Right Time

In college, I would do my teammate's hair and their makeup sometimes. I did a friend's makeup at the 2008 Olympics, and she said, 'Have you ever considered taking classes?' For some reason, it had never crossed my mind.

- Michelle Carter

Makeup, College, Some, Crossed

I gained over 100 lbs. that I could never lose. My hair was falling out. I was tired all the time. I couldn't maintain muscle. I had no energy. It gave me some relief that there was something actually wrong with me and I wasn't crazy, but it was really hard knowing that there is something wrong with my body and I couldn't fix it.

- Michelle Carter

Some, Maintain, Had, Relief

Rio has been absolutely epic. I did leave my heart out there, and I wanted to do everybody proud.

- Michelle Carter

Proud, Been, Everybody, Rio

My goal is to peak big in Rio because my goal is to win gold.

- Michelle Carter

Goal, Gold, Big, Rio

Being a female athlete, sometimes your clothes don't fit right if you have a small waist and broad shoulders, or strong hips. And it's OK to embrace that.

- Michelle Carter

Strong, Small, Shoulders, OK

The parents say, 'Can you talk to my daughter and say that it's OK? That she can have muscles?' They'll say, 'I show her pictures of you so they can know she's good at what she does but still looks like a girl. She wears dresses.' It releases people to be whoever they want to be in the sport.

- Michelle Carter

Good, Pictures, Show, OK

Even though I was dealing with all of these health issues, I was still doing well during my season. It wasn't the best season, but it was consistent. And I figured if I could be this consistent when I'm not my best, what happens when I get better, where could I be? So I wanted to see what I would be like on the other side.

- Michelle Carter

Best, Doing, Other, Season

Some people are meant to be bigger, and that's okay. Because if everybody was built the same, it would be a little boring. We enjoy the differences in each other, and I think that's what makes all of us beautiful.

- Michelle Carter

Some, Other, Everybody, Meant To Be

The first event I vividly remember was competing at the Junior Olympics in Seattle, Washington. It was my first major competition outside of Texas, and I remember being very nervous. I could not control my nerves, and I threw a few fouls.

- Michelle Carter

Texas, I Remember, Very, Seattle

My first media interview was when I was a high school freshman and I was set to compete at state champs. The interview was the first occasion people had heard me on TV. When I watched back the recording on TV, I thought, 'Wow, is that what I sound like?' I didn't like the sound of my voice.

- Michelle Carter

Voice, Compete, Occasion, Wow

The best piece of advice my father gave me was to always work hard. One thing he instilled: Proper preparation prevents poor performances.

- Michelle Carter

Work Hard, Advice, Always, Instilled

Learning disabilities do not go away, but you learn how to adapt. You may have to work a little bit harder; it may take a long time. You just may do it differently - but you can do it.

- Michelle Carter

Learn, Away, May, Disabilities

One of my sayings is: look good, feel good, do good.

- Michelle Carter

Feel Good, Look, Feel, Sayings

At my first Olympics, I didn't have a contract, and I wasn't making any money. After my first Olympics, I was working at 24 Hour Fitness at the front desk. I would go to practice in the morning, run home, shower, grab some food and then go straight to work. I didn't get off of work until 10 or 11 o'clock at night.

- Michelle Carter

Practice, Shower, Some, Grab

Anything can happen. Everybody is working to be on that team and to win the Olympic Games.

- Michelle Carter

Happen, Everybody, Olympic, Olympic Games

My dad never wanted to push what he did on us. It was more, for him, if you chose to do this, then we're going to do it, and we're going to get it right. It was, 'I know how to do it. I'm going to teach you how to do it because I want you to be good at it.'

- Michelle Carter

Good, Him, Dad, I Want You

I loved playing with a doll as a youngster. I liked dressing her up and combing her hair. This one doll had a really big face and hair and earrings. I had her for a long time and only got rid of her when I was at high school.

- Michelle Carter

Big, Had, Rid, Youngster

Don't be afraid to try new things, because I just tried shot put not knowing my family history behind it, and trying it led me to the rest of my life.

- Michelle Carter

New Things, My Life, Behind, Not Knowing

Winning a gold medal means you're the best in the world at that time.

- Michelle Carter

World, Gold, Means, Gold Medal

The night before, I'll lay out the makeup I want to put on: a brow filler, a lipstick - there's a NYX red one that looks great with those Team USA uniforms - and my lashes.

- Michelle Carter

Makeup, Lashes, USA, Brow

I call him 'Daddy Coach.' He's taught me everything that he's known so I'm able to do what I'm able to do.

- Michelle Carter

Him, Call, Taught, Daddy

Of course, I can't wait until I get the medal and I can walk around the house and say, 'Daddy, I got you.'

- Michelle Carter

Wait, Say, Around, Daddy

I can actually dress up or bring my femininity in and bring my own flair and my own stout - and still be great at what I do. We're created different to be unique!

- Michelle Carter

Dress, My Own, Still, Femininity

Athletes can not look the same and be great in their individual sport. The example I like to use is Gabby Douglas. She could not flip in the air if she was built like me, but then Gabby Douglas couldn't throw the shot put. I was built like this because I was made to throw the shot put.

- Michelle Carter

Air, Use, Put, Flip

What I would tell a kid with ADHD and dyslexia or someone who struggles with anything in life is this: 'When you put your mind to it, you can do anything.'

- Michelle Carter

Mind, Kid, Tell, Struggles

I've matured - just growing up and learning more about my sport and more about myself.

- Michelle Carter

Growing Up, Growing, More, Matured

I love what I do and know I'm good at it. It helps that I can get financial support along the way.

- Michelle Carter

Love, Good, Financial, Helps

I can secretly sing. But I am extremely shy when it comes to singing in public.

- Michelle Carter

I Am, Singing, Extremely, Secretly

I can walk in a room of people who may not know Christ and still be myself. And they can still see Christ in me even though they may not know who it is, but I know that they can see that in me and I'm carrying that with me.

- Michelle Carter

Christ, May, Still, Carrying

My advice is try something you've never done before or maybe something that's not as popular.

- Michelle Carter

Never, Maybe, Before, Popular

You have to understand, everyone's body was built to do something. I was built to do something, and that's how I was built. I think the world is realizing we were promoting one body type, and there have always been many.

- Michelle Carter

Think, Always, Promoting, Realizing

I learn how to put myself in situations at practice that cause me to zone in on what I'm trying to accomplish at meets. I try to make my practice surrounding as close to competition pressure to focus on what I need to do on the big stage.

- Michelle Carter

Practice, Big, Cause, Situations

Black Girl Magic means that I have the power to overcome anything. Especially when we're in a world where you're told that you can't do something or you're less than, I'm reminded that my ancestors have overcome so much. There's still so much work to be done, and I have the power to overcome it.

- Michelle Carter

Magic, Overcome, Anything, Ancestors

I know that God is intentional with everything that He brings to me and what He does for me. I'm not here just to be here. God made me intentionally! He created me on purpose, for a reason! To throw the shot put for sure. That's one of the things I am created to do.

- Michelle Carter

Purpose, Reason, Here, Intentionally

I was not aware of what my dad had accomplished. I grew up with him playing football.

- Michelle Carter

Aware, Had, Dad, Accomplished

By the end of the day, I just want someone to feed me.

- Michelle Carter

Me, Want, Someone, Feed

When you see somebody who always came so close, and they finally accomplish what they've been working for - to see someone excel and break through that barrier - it's a great moment not just for that athlete but for all of us.

- Michelle Carter

Moment, Through, Been, Excel

I love hair, I love make up, I love fashion, and I love throwing the shot put.

- Michelle Carter

Love, Hair, Throwing, Make Up

I throw the shot put, people expect me to look like somebody named Helga and not put on make up to be considered serious about my sport.

- Michelle Carter

Like, Named, Considered, Make Up

For a couple of years, being professional, I kind of questioned myself. Should I wear my false lashes or take the time I want to take so I can feel good when I go out on the field? Because nobody else was really doing that. And I thought, No: I'm not going to change what I believe I should look like to fit anybody else's standards.

- Michelle Carter

Thought, Doing, Couple, Nobody Else

Fashion and beauty is a reflection of what's on the inside. And if you're genuine, they match up. The core of who you are will be the same.

- Michelle Carter

Beauty, Reflection, Will, Fashion

I can't choose a favorite musician, because I love music so much that whatever/whomever I'm listening to at that moment is my favorite.

- Michelle Carter

Love, Listening, Choose, Musician

You have 15-20 years of work for that one throw, that one moment. And I was like, 'Okay, Lord, this is it - you told me I had the victory. So this is the time to show me'. And I'm going to give it all I have because this is my last throw in the Olympics.

- Michelle Carter

Show, Lord, Had, Olympics

I've been to three Olympics. I gave it my all.

- Michelle Carter

Three, Been, Gave, Olympics

For some people, being bare-faced is wonderful. Others like a little bit of mascara and eyeliner.

- Michelle Carter

Wonderful, Some, Like, Mascara

God puts us in position to do the things we need to, both on and off the track, to honor Him.

- Michelle Carter

Honor, Need, Puts, On And Off

I was definitely a handful back then. I could not sit down long enough to study.

- Michelle Carter

Study, Could, Definitely, Handful

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, right? I always figure that as you experience life and things, you usually learn and pick up on things that you can do better. That's how I look at my career over time.

- Michelle Carter

Career, Doing, Same Thing, Insanity

If you are feeling good, you look good, you are confident about yourself, you are going to go out there, and you will rock it.

- Michelle Carter

Confident, Will, Going, Feeling Good

I have to have my lashes. For me, it all sets the tone: I'm getting ready to go to work.

- Michelle Carter

Tone, Getting, Sets, Lashes

It's cool because here everybody has the same goal. We're all competing for our countries. We're all coming down here to do our best. And we all are the best athletes in our own countries.

- Michelle Carter

Here, Competing, Everybody, Athletes

You have to grow up, and you learn things along the way.

- Michelle Carter

Learn, Grow, Along, Grow Up

My goal is to beat you whether you're clean or dirty.

- Michelle Carter

Goal, Dirty, Whether, Beat

I never focus on trying to beat somebody.

- Michelle Carter

Focus, Trying, Never, Beat

Everybody wants to come out and win the gold, and sometimes it takes a personal best, sometimes it doesn't. But to be able to have all those pieces come together, it's a great feeling.

- Michelle Carter

Everybody, Great Feeling, Pieces

My body had to mature, and my mind had to mature. I had to put these pieces together.

- Michelle Carter

Mind, Mature, Had, Pieces

Depending on how slow I move that day, weight training will take two to three hours.

- Michelle Carter

Will, Hours, Move, Depending

I just encourage young girls to be true to themselves.

- Michelle Carter

Young, Young Girls, Encourage

It means a lot that my peers think so much of me that they would pick me to be their team leader.

- Michelle Carter

Leader, Think, Means, Peers

My very first sport was soccer. I used to play in goal, but after I was hit the face with the ball a couple of times, I was done with soccer.

- Michelle Carter

Soccer, Play, Very, Sport

My family's so awesome. They help me be the person I can be.

- Michelle Carter

Help, Me, Person, Awesome

I just want to go out there and do my best. You can't argue with your best.

- Michelle Carter

Best, Want, Go, Argue

If I was to get nervous, then I'm wasting my energy.

- Michelle Carter

Get, Wasting, Then, Nervous

We definitely don't want to get in others' way while we're competing.

- Michelle Carter

Want, Get, Definitely, Competing

Understanding how to compete better has really made a difference.

- Michelle Carter

Better, How, Made, Compete

I'm very, very grateful for all the support I've had. It's been an amazing journey.

- Michelle Carter

Grateful, Amazing, Very, Journey

We have to be ready to share our faith in Christ.

- Michelle Carter

Faith, Ready, Share, Christ

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