I can relate to this, and the rest of your piece so much. Sometimes I find myself teetering on falling into the trap of elitism-bubble, and as much as I like to try and keep it in check, of course there are times when I slip. But the one thing that always breaks it off, is realising exactly the same conclusion you did when being in that steakhouse: That person is currently experiencing a euphoria and at the absolute peak of their happiness and a sense of all's-right-in-the-world. And I realise the issue is not them, but a wave of jealousy sweeping over me that needs to be put back into place. It's quite funny, my better half and I were driving the other day and a very similar topic topic came up, and in true blunt form I blurted out, "You know, sometimes I wish I were just really dumb". She was slightly miffed as to why I'd say such a thing, and I explained it wasn't just an elitist whinge, and that dumb was not the right word to use, but what I meant was: sometimes I wished I wasn't aware and educated on the impact of bigger/global issues (e.g. how the debt ceiling impasse could affect global markets, and affect her/myself/everyone else), and that I could just focus on the here-and-the-now on a constant basis, and have that sense of happiness and bliss in the small things, much like your mate with his steak and cowboy lingerie waitresses (which, by the way, sounds awesome). She understood and somewhat agreed with where I was coming from, but then reminded me of some common interests (travel, history, art, cultures, foreign languages etc) and reminded me a) I wouldn't be the person I am and b) we probably wouldn't be together, because we wouldn't have the same level of connection together, shared interests etc. That made me snap out of my funk I almost got into and realise how happy I was, and that being jealous is only self-defeating. I can't argue against or even begin to compete this, well said. If only they told that to school kids more often.I was wrapped up in a selfish little bubble of elitism and considered myself better than everyone around me.
Everyone is a mentor for something. No one is a mentor for everything. The best way to live is to soak up as much from everyone around you and decide how you're going to take the pieces and apply it to your life or your job or your hobbies.