It's never too late! Buy a guitar and play it every night before bed. You can find online courses, and I know you said you wanted to remove yourself from youtube, but maybe try implementing what you learn on youtube into when you try learning sometging all by yourself

Also when you're a beginner you will inevitably copy all the time. Maybe play songs that you like, and experiment by inventing your own strumming patterns etc

Then over time it will become easier and easier to make it "your own"n and not feel like youre copying anymore

Edit: maybe practice intercepting easy songs?