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

  • DrQuint@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    while someone gets a patent on solar systems,

    Rarely achieved by individuals, rarely achieved by someone intentionally aiming to achieve that particular goal. Most were just doing a job.

    other invents a new recyclable plastic,

    Rarely achieved by individuals, rarely achieved by someone intentionally aiming to achieve that particular goal. Most were just doing a job.

    and another found a successful startup.

    Less than 10% chance. The other 90+ are now worrying about their FAILED startup. Also… Rarely achieved by indiv- yadda yadda

    Why are you this worried? The vast majority of humans are NOT special, and your framing for accomplishments is all weirdly skewed if you think those require a special human. This doesn’t take a stoic or a realist to realize, it’s just true. You’re boring and so am I, because almost everyone, even whatever celebrity you can name me on the spot, is also fundamentally someone boring who likes doing boring things in their spare time. And boring people can achieve great things. The opposition to that notion exists only to glorify whatever chucklefuck narcissist-serving philosophy dumbasses at social gatherings believe in, and pink magazines’ financial security.

    I’ve seen people be like this even with entertainment, and it’s not healthy. People worried about matchmaking ratings, or pissed at themselves that they can’t be as good as Fireb0rne when fighting Hollow Knight bosses, instead of just taking things at their pace, putting the effort they enjoy and accepting the results those bring.

    • Required@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 year ago

      Yes I have no claim that they’re special people. I can see myself being close that or just be that if I actually changed some (I mean, a lot of) stuff in the past
      I’m worried because I end up like some of those people. And time is passing really fast. Even years don’t feel as long now. I think college will start and end before I realize it