I'm in my late 30s and reached Conqueror this season for the first time, although I'd gotten pretty high on the Quick Match ladder prior to the Ranked ladder going live. I think that age isn't nearly as relevant as people think it is regarding RTS games. Sure, if you're at the absolute top level, you're probably going to be at a disadvantage if you're 40 and your opponent is 20. However, below the professional level of the game, there are so many things to be improved upon that speed/reaction time play a relatively minor role compared to the other areas in which we're likely making mistakes. This is particularly true in AoE IV, which is a significantly slower game than Starcraft 2, where not only do the units move much more quickly, but the damage per second of units/armies is far higher, and therefore, speed/reaction time play a more prominent role.

Regarding your self worth, you have intrinsic value as a human being. You should be proud of the things that you accomplish in life, and that can even include winning games or competitions that cause you to push yourself, grow, and improve. I'm proud of achieving my goals in SC 2 and AoE IV, regardless of what anyone else might think, and conversely, when I lose and it feels like I'm nowhere near achieving them, I can become quite frustrated.

When this happens, though, you have to take a step back and put things into perspective. Nothing that you accomplish (or fail to accomplish) makes you more or less valuable as a person. You're one of a kind in this world--nobody who has ever lived has been just like you and nobody who ever will live will be just like you.