It's commonly said that people who've been ill in childhood and who've had an upset education never really regret that they do. It means that you don't look at the world in the way that other people do, and if you were inclined to be a writer, that's a help.
“If you're open to it, New Orleans will teach you about yourself, but if you want to hide from who you really are, the city will help you do that, too.”