In my teens I was never part of the cool crowd.

To my surprise my 70s are nicer than my 60s and my 60s than my 50s and I wouldn't wish my teens and 20s on my enemies.

The truth of the matter is beauty is a specific thing rare and fleeting. Some of us have it in our teens 20s and 30s and then lose it most of us have it not at all. And that's perfectly okay. But lying to yourself that you have it when you don't seems to me simple-minded at best and psychotic at worst.

Preparation for old age should begin not later than one's teens. A life which is empty of purpose until 65 will not suddenly become filled on retirement.