Holding on to expectations about a certain path that your life is “supposed” to take and comparing yourself with others according to that metric is a recipe for unhappiness. Life does not proceed according to a pre-defined path and there is no check-list that you are obliged to fulfill by this or that age. You are not playing a game, advancing from level to level, passing check-points and accruing score.

We’re all on our own paths. Most younger folk appreciate the guidance of the wisdom age brings. You’ve survived longer than them, you can help them survive longer just by sharing your knowledge. It’s a lot of responsibility but you can’t let that demoralize you.

often times when kids are ahead they have things severely wrong with them whether it be industry exploitation, feeling isolated from their peers etc.

they often have something very bad coming for them too because theyre sorrounded by evil people. maybe its an evil manager, maybe its a parent who pays for their private tutoring. when you have high skills at a young age it often comes from people pouring money into you and that will come back to bite them at some point. hence why many child stars find themselves in deep financial issues later in life.

i think we become better with age and the experience we acquire. a bit of a lore drop but in my early teens i was trying to get into the music industry and had a grand plan to run away to L.A and even had contacts there and found some songwriting opportunities. im forever thankful that never took off because kids get chewed up and spit out in there…

They don’t even have to be younger than me, just the fact they accomplished great stuff back when they were younger than I am now used to be enough to severely depress me. I guess I got numb to it