Defining “grace”

It’s scanning a trove of your high school and college papers without wincing each time.

Part of being an actual adult—instead of yourself, but taller—isn’t forgiving yourself for the unobjectionable things you did when you were younger.

It’s realizing you don’t have to forgive yourself at all.

When I had an office job (more on this later) I had a coworker who really, truly enjoyed being around teenagers. I think a good part of it was recognizing, without judgment, that the flailing and earnestness was just part of forging their identities.