Anyone else feel like ~99% of their life was kind of wasted?
In the last year or so I started to see so many people of my age that have done truly incredible things and still doing more.
For the vast majority of my life my only goals were gettimg academic satisfaction and doing unproductive stuff in the free time to get temporary pleasure. No end goal whatsoever.
I kind of don't know what I've been doing in the last 17 years while someone gets a patent on solar systems, other invents a new recyclable plastic, and another found a successful startup. I mean, they all find what they're supposed to be doing with their lives and excel in them.
I feel overwhelmed for trying to pace up with these kind of people. Yet I don't like the way the things are and I can't do anything but envy those people. Anyone with experience in this regard? How did you deal with this? Did you eventually "pace up" with these people or was it too late or an unattainable goal?
Edit: Whoops, I didn't expect so many replies! Thanks, I'll look into them all
I absolutely do. Up until my now-wife entered my life, I feel very strongly I did nothing with my life and just coasted along. Living on benefits, in single room bedsits, wasting my life doing bugger all and barely coping with life.
Since my amazing wife entered my life, I've held down a well paid full time job, lived in a full flat for the first time in my adult life (never going back to room let's!) And feel content and happy.
We'll be coming up to our first wedding anniversary in October, and I regularly reflect in how different my life used to be. I genuinely owe my wife my life. Companionship and having love in your life is a massive motivator.
For me, happiness is the goal. My boss is a few years older than me, is a millionaire, work is his entire life and he's absolutely miserable. I can say with full conviction that I am happier and more content with my life than a millionaire two years older than me