Anyone else feel like ~99% of their life was kind of wasted?

Required@lemmy.world to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world – 707 points –

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

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Hmm, take it easy on yourself. You don't have to be someone known. Just enjoy what you have and stay satisfied. I know its harder to do than to say but human desires can keep you wanting for whole life.

Our realm is full of noisy things, making us chase/desire what we don't have, and that is deliberate.

Fill your life with positivity, Change your prescription. Greed and envy will only give you negativity.

I just want to. And I believe I can, can't I? I don't think I lack anything they have. This is more of "I'm sad because of these people doing better than me" but "Oh, I can't believe I missed this. How can I do it myself as well?" approach.

When you know you don't want to do that, then why are you doing that?

Maybe the title is kind of making you say what you're saying, but I really don't like how I've been using my time in the past. And I'm not using that to feel bad about myself. I just don't think I'm seeing through my mistakes enough. I can still change, like a lot.

No. I've been in that insecure position. I just realised its not worth my time. Look forward.