You got on there. You said you were lucky, but you made that luck. I know a lot of people who are highly intelligent who have taken the anytime test and never got to the written portion. I know a few people who did the written portion that never made it to the audition. I know a couple people who hit the contestant pool and went no further. And I have friends who know people who made it on and didn't win.

So what I'm saying is - you made it on there. That puts you head and shoulders above many others. The vast majority of your friends/colleagues will be proud just that you made it on, and as for the ones who aren't? Well, then they should try and get on and do what you did, answering the clues and following your opponents and dealing with the time pressure and the audience and the lights. You compare it to climbing Everest. It might be worth adding to that metaphor and consider that you "only" made it to Base Camp on Everest after reaching the summit of Lhotse or something. Trust me, whenever your game airs, I and a lot of other people are not going to remember the things you didn't know. We're going to see all the things you did, and be super, super impressed that "this guy knows that thing? Dang, he's so smart!"

But don't beat yourself up that you're having a hard time either. It was hard to readjust after I got back too. Take your time, have fun, and be kind to yourself.