Living in Superlatives

I have a relative who never experiences anything in a normal, everyday range. Everything (it seems) that happens to her or that she's describing is always in superlatives. The best or the worst. Never just okay. The saddest or the happiest. Never so so. I've been around this person a bit more than normal the last few months, and I've found that it wearies me. Conversations always seem to make me grind my teeth and put me on edge. I don't doubt the sincerity or honesty of the person, but I doubt the necessity of the superlative.

Personally, I like a day without any excessive highs or lows. Middle-of-the-road is fine with me. I don't have the strength to handle superlatives on a daily basis. It's exhausting. I'm content not to be the happiest, most beautiful or most talented person around. ALMOST will do. I don't have to work so hard. Lazy? Not really. Realistic? Absolutely!

For those of you who are wondering what in the world "superlative" is - may I present:


su·per·la·tive
   /səˈpɜrlətɪv, sʊ-/ Show Spelled[suh-pur-luh-tiv, soo-] Show IPA
–adjective
1.
of the highest kind, quality, or order; surpassing all else or others; supreme; extreme: superlative wisdom.
2.
Grammar . of, pertaining to, or noting the highest degree of the comparison of adjectives and adverbs, as smallest, best, and most carefully, the superlative forms of small, good, and carefully. Compare comparative ( def. 4 ) , positive ( def. 20 ) .
3.
being more than is proper or normal; exaggerated in language or style.
–noun
4.
a superlative person or thing.
5.
the utmost degree; acme.
6.
Grammar .
a.
the superlative degree.
b.
a form in the superlative.