Is the beginning of the game your weakest area too?

Hello, Chess World. It's been a while since I've been on this site; seems like only a week ago I was 13 and just discovering Chess.com.
That was 6 years ago. I've gotten better over the years, but I have been having trouble keeping Chess consistently in my life.

I have always loved the game. Strategizing your next moves, anticipating what your opponent will do next, and the sensation you feel in outsmarting someone, or simply by just playing.....It's why I play the game.
And yet, while I get back into my usual Chess self, there is still one area in which I have always been weak.....My opening game.
I have never been able to understand what goes into a good opening. I've tried so many used by so many people from the most average Chess.com-goer, to the greatest in the world, and nothing works.

I'm a defensive kind of player, whether I am playing as white or as black. I can never be aggressive until near the end, otherwise I crumble to pieces (no pun intended). I wait for my opponent to slip, then I strike.
With that in mind, is there any experienced player out there, hopefully reading this, that maybe had the same problem that I have right now, or maybe understands my frustration? I want to better myself as a Chess player, and be able to compete with the big boys and girls. I can do just fine mid-game and end-game, but what's the secret in opening a game up to your advantage?
It's always gone over my head on how to figure this out. No opening that I currently use truly helps me in what I want to do....Play defense throughout.
Any help is truly appreciated, friends.
Thank you, and good day!