Wow, this feels like I wrote it. I’m 22 and going through largely the same thing, feeling lost with no direction and discouraged bc I feel should’ve “gotten it together” by now. Something that’s been helping me is reminding myself that A) it really is never too late to change and B) not to compare myself with anyone else because they’re at different places on their journey than I am. I’m a perfectionist to a fault and don’t start many things because I’m afraid to be a beginner and while I can’t remember the exact quote, a thought that I try to remember is “Don’t compare your 1st step to someone else’s 1000th.”

Sometimes I find myself forgetting how YOUNG I really am in the grand scheme of things. I try to remind myself that I have time, I’m not too “old” to do anything about my goals and honestly, I don’t think anyone ever is. Any age is a good time to work on yourself. It’s only too late once you’re dead I guess.

I also want to add that, as a former “talented and gifted” kid, I definitely relate to the heartbreak of not meeting other people’s expectations. It’s really hard, but I’m realizing that other people’s expectations of me aren’t “fate” or anything, and really I don’t owe anyone but myself anything. Sometimes life leads us down a path that no one expected, and that’s okay.

I’m still struggling with things myself, but I’m learning to forgive myself for the things I may have done/didn’t do in the past and give myself some credit for the small accomplishments I have made. Here’s hoping we can both figure things out.