You know, I didn't feel like what he was referring to was the kind of pessimism we all hear about: the resignation kind, the fatalistic kind. Instead, I hear the notion of letting go of things that don't matter. Something akin to...

Sure, you'll make mistakes. We all will. We don't know what we want, so while hurling yourself blindly to the ever-escaping, vague light that we all strive for, you're certainly going to hurt a limb or two. That's okay. The people you meet aren't going to be perfect, in themselves or for you - and that's okay too. Don't make a fuss out of having a fight or two: it's not the end of the world.

Acceptance, if anything.

Maybe it's just me. I'm a rebellious asshole who, if told that there's nothing better in the world, marches on twice the speed. I've so far assumed that everybody in my kind of situation would develop this kind of resilience towards the ill. Otherwise, there's no living, right?

It's not an inspiring lesson like some others I've heard him pronounce, but are truths supposed to be always inspiring? can they be?

I don't think it hurt me, though. He's not poisoning me, and he's not poisoning you. So who's getting poisoned?