You are trying too hard.
In my case, this would have been to ignore pretentious fuckwads who say how difficult life is. It's easy. The hard part (for me, not necessarily you) is impressing women, and it's also the single largest thing affecting long term happiness. Perhaps there are some young people (not all) who would benefit from hearing this, because you don't hear it very much.
http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2010/11/21/bill-clinton...
Hacking awkwardness away.