and at the bottom of it all, is their own misery. Not the world around them. But what's right in the mirror. And it's easier to lash out, than to look inward.

That's some powerful shit man. I'm sorry for what you've had to deal with, but you've clearly got a great head on your shoulders and an intelligent, compassionate perspective on life. The thing that sucks the most, in my opinion, about growing up is realzing just how little control you have over anything. It's easy to attack everyone for ruining (i.e. changing) what you once cherished. It's much harder to look inward and realize the ideals you once cherished were hurting other people all along.