Quote of the Day: At 85, Neil Diamond Proves You Can Survive Hard Times

There are some things in life we never get to choose: the diagnosis we didn’t see coming, the door that slams shut in our face, the loss of a loved one. But as they say, the final stage of grief is acceptance—coming to terms with the new normal.

Few people understand that journey better thanNeil Diamond. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1941, he discovered his passion for music at 16, after watching folk legend Pete Seeger perform at a summer camp and seeing other campers play their own songs. The same year, he got his first guitar as a birthday gift and began taking lessons. Almost immediately, he started writing his own songs.

A few years later, he left a pre-med path at the prestigious New York University to write songs for $50 a week in New York’s legendary Brill Building. His big break came in 1966, when he wrote “I’m a Believer.”The Monkees recorded it and it became a No. 1 smash. The timing was perfect, because Diamond was reluctantly stepping out as a recording artist himself.

Throughout his incredible career, Diamond has given us hits like “Sweet Caroline,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Song Sung Blue” and “America.” He’s sold out stadiums across the globe for half a century. He’s a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame—and a recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In other words—a living legend.

But in 2018, after 50 years on the road, Diamond stepped away from touring following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. For a performer who lived to be onstage, it was a devastating blow—and by his own admission, he spent years unable to truly accept it. Then, slowly, something shifted. And that hard-won acceptance is exactly why Neil Diamond is today’s Quote of the Day.

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Quote of the Day by Neil Diamond

“This is the hand that God’s given me, and I have to make the best of it, and so I am.”

I love this quote because it sounds simple, but it’s so profound. He’s saying that accepting the hand you’ve been dealt is the start of change. If you’re going through a terrible time, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed by the pain and struggle to come to terms with it. But once you’ve acknowledged a reality you can no longer hide from, you can start fully living your life again.

Deeper Meaning of Neil Diamond’s Quote—The Power of Acceptance

Diamond shared these powerful words during an April 2023 interview with CBSSunday Morning‘s Anthony Mason, choosing to be completely honest and vulnerable about what he was going through. “In a sense, I was in denial for the first year or two,” he said. “When the doctor told me what it was, I was just not ready to accept it.”

But over time, he began to. “This is the hand that God’s given me, and I have to make the best of it, and so I am,” he added. For anyone facing a devastating reality, his words are a gentle reminder that there’s strength in making peace with your pain. And that’s the start of finding happiness again.

Related: Quote of the Day: John Denver’s 15 Words on Surviving Life’s Lowest Moments Will Transform Your Mindset

More Quotes From Neil Diamond

• “I find that I like myself better. I’m easier on people. I’m easier on myself.”
• “And the beat goes on—and it will go on—long after I’m gone.”
• “I’ve come to accept what limitations I have and still have great days.”
• “I’m an imperfect emotional being, trying to figure out some way to give some kind of substance and meaning to my life.”
• “My songs tend to reflect myself, my life and my attitude about things to one degree or another.”

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