I very vividly remember the most depressing thing someone told me as an adolescent. I was 13, and a woman at the church my family and I attended at the time told me, “You know, these are the best years of your life.” Let me assure you; 13 was not a great year for me. I was in 8th grade and in the midst of the requisite middle school drama which was compounded, by the 3rd year of a physically awkward phase that lasted to my own estimation, until sometime after college. But that’s not the point. The point is that the idea of a 70 year old woman telling a 13 year old, “yeah kid, enjoy this because it’s as good as it gets, so you know, enjoy it.” is depressing as hell.
Oh Quidnunc! 