A few years ago, I went to a bar with my best friend. And at one point, I said "the waitress is really pretty". My friend responded with "she's not particularly pretty, she's just young".

That really made me think, and it still does.

Quite often, when I see someone attractive and then notice "oh, they're probably quite young, too", I wonder whether that person actually is "pretty", or "just" young.

(And I won't open the can of worms labelled "what makes a person pretty anyway and can it be quantified or even determined objectively".)

I have to admit, I find youth attractive. Not the "lack of experience" and "power dynamic" side of it, but youthfulness itself, and the body and energy and… inspiration(?) that usually comes with it.

But I'm turning 40 in a few months, and year after year, youth rather becomes something to admire from afar. Which is the right thing to do, I guess, because I don't want to be a creep. But it's also a bit sad.