doing things the right age is a made-up concept
I had a long-term goal of having my own art exhibition by 25. I turn 25 next month, and I haven't achieved what I call my lifelong dream. Naturally, this means I failed. Missed deadline! Revoked potential! Would it even count if I achieved it at 29 or 30? Does success lose its flavor once you've passed the ostensible approved age for it?
What about this is hurting me?, I thought. What actually hurts isn't the nonexistent exhibition. It's my damn ego. I didn't just want to produce great work. No, I wanted to make good work early. My ego wanted the aesthetic of being young and accomplished. It wanted the narrative prodigy, gifted, ahead, not still figuring it out.
Of course, I've been misconstruing timing with talent. When something does happen by the arbitrary age I assigned it, I start questioning whether I was ever that good to begin with. Since when does art (creativity in general) operate on a biological clock? Yet, I buy into it every year when the candles come out.
This started as a private was journal entry, and I'm (almost) embarrassed to share it publicly. But we all need this reminder, that doing things at a "certain" age is completely insane. No matter your age, it’s never too late to pivot, start over, or chase a long-held dream, even if it happens later than you want it to.