Robin Roberts Quotes & Sayings

I want people to know there are infinite possibilities in life to be grateful for. I love that people feel comfortable coming up to me and telling me stories about things they have gone through. — Robin Roberts

I cannot believe how fine I am with being bald. — Robin Roberts

It's about focusing on the fight and not the fright. — Robin Roberts

Cancer was nothing more than a chapter in my life's story. It would never be my life's story. — Robin Roberts

I never slept when I lost. I'd see the sun come up without ever having closed my eyes. I'd see those base hits over and over and they would drive me crazy. — Robin Roberts

You can be fearful or fearless ... I chose the latter — Robin Roberts

Midway through my treatments, I was at the White House to do an interview with President Bush's press secretary, Tony Snow. He had recently revealed he was facing cancer for a second time. While there I was told that the First Lady, Laura Bush, wanted to see me in the private residence for tea. Mrs. Bush has a family history of breast cancer. She personally invited me to accompany her on a portion of an international breast cancer initiative with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and I couldn't pass up this opportunity. My doctors cleared me to travel - although getting my mom's blessing was far more difficult. Remember, I was in the middle of chemo treatments. I spent time with Mrs. Bush in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in the UAE and in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I met some incredible women on the trip. — Robin Roberts

My favorite part about spending time in Key West is riding my bike everywhere. We have these old bikes: mine is orange, Amber's is white, but they both have sweet and cheesy floral baskets. Our bikes are so old you can hear us coming from a mile away - we just squeak, squeak, squeak down the road. We always take the back roads and go past the cemetery. My favorite tombstone says, "See? I told you I was sick." It's so much the spirit of Key West that even the gravestones make you smile. But this time it was also Katie Couric — Robin Roberts

You have to be willing to put yourself in position for good things to happen — Robin Roberts

I've still got it. I refuse to lose. — Robin Roberts

Before, I would play a little hoops, a little tennis. Now it's more yoga, Pilates, stretching, some light weight work, push-ups, sit-ups, resistance things. When I used to live on the eleventh floor, I would take the steps. I don't do that so much now. I'm taking the elevator a bit more these days. — Robin Roberts

Dreams are vague and far away. Goals are tangible and achievable. — Robin Roberts

There is no magical reason why I am where I am. And there is absolutely no reason why you can't be where you want to be. If it can happen for me, it can happen for you, too. And it would be a privilege for me to help you get there. — Robin Roberts

"You don't have to be in shape to bowl. It's the only sport where there's a way to signal for a cocktail waitress." — Robin Roberts

Optimism is a muscle that gets stronger with use. — Robin Roberts

I am not going to apologize for the idyllic childhood and the wonderful siblings and the Christian home I grew up in. I know how blessed I am and I am thankful, but I also know it's not that way for everyone. I was talking to a young woman recently who was going through her something and she said, "I don't have sisters to watch my back like you do. I didn't have the kind of mother you did." And I said to her what I've begun saying to people across the country, "Then why not let the legacy of love and support start with you? — Robin Roberts

My mama told me in college, 'I love you, and you're God's child, but natural beauty will only take you so far.' — Robin Roberts

There are those of us who believe out of that faith tradition that God never puts more on us than we can bear, and yet there are times, I think, particularly given what you were up against, that we have to question whether or not we have the capacity, the ability, the wherewithal, to actually endure it. — Robin Roberts

At one point, we were all fearful. But as you get older, it's the things you don't do that you regret, more so than the things you do. When fear knocks, answer. — Robin Roberts

Find the meaning behind whatever it is you're going through because everybody's got something. — Robin Roberts

It was part of the reason I almost didn't go public with my diagnosis - I was embarrassed. I felt, 'Oh, I've always talked about exercising. And I got cancer.' And then I realized it's a great example of showing that cancer can hit anyone at any time. — Robin Roberts

Everything's the same; I'm living with cancer and it's not going to stop me. But until you really test yourself and challenge yourself, I don't think you quite know. — Robin Roberts

The combination of landing the biggest interview of my career and having a drill in my back reminds me that God only gives us what we can handle and that it helps to have a good sense of humor when we run smack into the absurdity of life. — Robin Roberts

When you are down and you don't know how to pick yourself up, start where you are. I can hear Pat's voice saying the words in my head, "Left foot, right foot, breathe. — Robin Roberts

Venture outside your comfort zone. To stop growing is to stop living. — Robin Roberts

Every now and again I just really have to have that steak or lamb chop. But yeah, B.C. - before cancer - I would eat red meat probably three or four times a week, easily. I am convinced that the amount of red meat I contributed to it. — Robin Roberts

My treatment ended in March/April of '08. It wasn't until the end of that summer that I started to feel I wasn't depressed. Even when I went on vacation to Saint Lucia, I was kind of depressed, even though it was such a beautiful place. — Robin Roberts

I've taken my cue from people here and from viewers, especially survivors-who said, 'When it's time to literally flip your wig, you'll know.' — Robin Roberts

You need to be surrounded by people whose voices echo your soul voice. — Robin Roberts

Make you mess your message. — Robin Roberts

Oh well, the truth hurts, doesn't it? — Robin Roberts

I have never been happier, or healthier, than I am right now. — Robin Roberts

Since it was my first visit with Dr. Knapp, he sat with me in his office before examining me. He wanted to know my family history. He has a warm, easygoing nature that put me at ease. It felt as if he had been my doctor for years. Again, I did not mention the real reason why I was there. Later, I was surprised to learn that 80 percent of people diagnosed with breast cancer have no prior family history. Eighty percent! It makes you wonder why there's so much attention paid to disclosing prior family history. — Robin Roberts

The tragedy is not so much the experience that you're having. The tragedy is that we don't take the time to understand the meaning and purpose behind what we're going through. — Robin Roberts

You have to CHANGE the way you THINK in order to CHANGE the way you FEEL — Robin Roberts

My feeling is that when you're managing a baseball team, you have to pick the right people to play and then pray a lot. — Robin Roberts

As I like to say, take the shot, even if your knees are shaking. — Robin Roberts

I was brought up with the 3 Ds: Determination, Discipline and Da Lord. — Robin Roberts

Generally in the Little League you're up against a good pitcher who throws like hell. What does the coach say? Get a walk. Isn't that beautiful way to learn to hit? For four years you stand up there looking for a walk. — Robin Roberts

But the best part of the evening was that there were whole hours when we sat around the fire pit and didn't say a word. We were together as a group, but they knew I needed silence. That can be very hard for friends. — Robin Roberts

And I think it's often very hard for close friends to understand that sometimes you want them to be there but you don't have to say anything, that their presence is as powerful as anything else. — Robin Roberts

It takes courage to believe the best is yet to come! — Robin Roberts

I am stronger than I thought I was. My favorite phrase has been 'This too shall pass.' I now understand it really well. — Robin Roberts

Do you know that some women actually refuse to be treated for fear of losing their hair? In the words of my friend India Arie: "Hey, I am not my hair. I am not this skin. I am a soul that lives within." I wanted to make a statement that I wasn't ashamed to have cancer or be bald. I was absolutely stunned by the reaction to my video diary. The outpouring of support was overwhelming. — Robin Roberts

I bet if we all threw our problems in a huge pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is about. That's why I always give people the benefit of the doubt; it's one of my rules to live by. There may be a reason why someone is having a bad day, there's often something that we can't see. She is not necessarily a bad person, just someone facing a bad situation. — Robin Roberts

When my mother makes out her income tax return every year, under occupation she writes, eroding my daughter's self-esteem. — Robin Roberts

I'm grateful I had the strength to fight. It takes courage to believe the best is yet to come, especially when you are flat on your back and don't know if you're going to see tomorrow. I'm no Pollyanna, but I believe optimism is a choice - a muscle that gets stronger with use. Right foot, left foot ... just keep moving. — Robin Roberts

Make your mess your message," Momma liked to say. And I did. — Robin Roberts

There is no doubt that someone who tries to throw a curve or pitch at any early age before he's developed, before his hand is big enough to grip the ball correctly, will damage his arm. — Robin Roberts

Cancer forced me out of my comfort zone. But the reality is that in life, there are no true comfort zones. Life comes at us in ways that we can't predict or control. — Robin Roberts

Another story Momma liked to tell was about how once she and Daddy went to visit the Middletons when Momma was pregnant with me. Daddy and Mrs. Middleton were laughing at Momma, because she was a little older and was surprised that she could get pregnant. I think Momma was thirty-seven at the time. Both she and Mrs. Middleton had children around the same age, and Mrs. Middleton sort of indicated that Momma should've quit while she was ahead. Well, it turns out right after that visit, Mrs. Middleton got pregnant. "I think she got pregnant that same night," Momma would say, adding, "Don't mess with karma, Cannie Middleton." Nine months later, Mrs. Middleton also had a baby girl. — Robin Roberts

I feel it's okay to get angry with God. He can take it. Just don't stay angry. It takes courage to believe that the best is yet to come. I hold steadfast to that belief, especially when I come face-to-face with adversity. — Robin Roberts

Life provides losses and heartbreak for all of us-but the greatest tragedy is to have the experience and miss the meaning. — Robin Roberts

Now I don't put things in the boxes anymore. I'm just focusing on right now. — Robin Roberts

We are all a little bit stronger than we think we are. — Robin Roberts

I love a doctor who can respect that somebody else is on your team, and that's God. — Robin Roberts

Things happen along the way in our path. Instead of looking at it as a wall that's being put up in front of us, look at it as as opportunity to scale new heights and to climb that wall - to see and do things you didn't think you were capable of. — Robin Roberts

Make your mess your message. — Robin Roberts

Thank God I could say that I had truly enjoyed the journey, because if I had saved all of my joy for the destination, I would have missed it. We are all so focused on getting "there," but you have to be careful. Sometimes, I sense a lot of times, "there" ends up feeling different than you expected. — Robin Roberts

When fear knocks, let faith answer the door. — Robin Roberts

I think there's a myth that people feel, that people of success are never fearful, that we're never challenged, that we have some supernova - no, we're like everybody else. — Robin Roberts

It is something that is called MDS. It is a rare blood disorder that affects the bone marrow. I'm going to beat this. My doctors say it and my faith says it. — Robin Roberts

Life is not so much what you accomplish as what you overcome. — Robin Roberts