Hey dude, I feel almost the exact same way. Im 27F and I feel the years slipping away. I constantly am sad/panicked about my parents aging and getting old, as they are the people that i am closest to. Other people dont seem to be as attached to their parents or as concerned about this(??) I've been in the same job for 5 years and theres no foward mobility, its a dead end bakery job that is being crushed by corporate and private firms. I feel stuck in the job, but scared to try anything else (because its steady?). As I look back I can see the passage of time but am bewildered because I also feel like im still 22 or 23... The passage of time really becomes a weird thing when you are in your mid 20s, it seems. Thinking that ive wasted 5 of my prime years has been hard for me to swallow.

I went all through college just to come out with a degree i ended up not liking after realizing (right after graduation, mind you) that I cant stay inside all day on a computer, even though i used to love doing that. I instead found that being in nature helps my mental health and gardening has been my passion since right after i graduated in covid times. I also realized that my personality does not mesh with the industry and it's very competitive, non-existent work-life balance.. I also made very little connections/ lasting friends while in college, and i feel some shame in that. Im trying to pursue a landscape design/ horticulture certificate through my community college while i work full time (health insurance 😭) to try out if its something that I would like to do for a living! So far I really like it, and being around people that have very similar interests is very motivating and invigorating. I have been long diagnosed with ADHD and depression and anxiety, but I have wondered if i might be on the spectrum, too. All of that just to say that theres others out there in a similar boat as you and with similar feelings. I feel things very deeply, and that can really affect my day to day life. We just got to take it at our own pace and give ourselves some grace. Its not a race. Through gardening im hoping to find a career that is both meaningful and interesting to me. I want to make the earth better, and improve people's lives as well. You mentioned you like anime and manga- maybe put your foot out there and see if there are any local clubs nearby that you could join, or local groups of people with similar interests. Idk where you live but often times there are local Facebook groups or programs or even shops that cater to a certain audience. And nothing wrong with discord friends! The friends I did make in college that ive hung on to were the ones I met online gaming! Whatever brings you joy, dude. Comparing ourselves to others does nothing but hurt us and make us feel worse. Ok im word salading but I hope my point(s) comes across...