Interesting post. I am 66, a huge reference for this post, and I have had many failures AND many fantastic wins through life so far. I have had 2 attempts, both were caused by an ex-wife, who gambled tens of thousands of U.S. dollars away behind my back. The 1st time I was not locked up but had to do an IOP (Intense outpatient program). She swore up and down the wall that she would never do it again, well guess what 4 years later I get a call from my bank saying a lot of money was withdrawn at a casino in another city where she was at for work.
This time I all most made it, but my mental health folks, figured it out, called the police and I wound up in the hospital for 2 weeks and then 6 months of weekly supervised visits. I divorced her in a heartbeat, after the 2nd time and it took me a whole lot of time to even start to recover from it.
But I told myself, then and there, that I would not let someone like her "win" and I would get better and stronger from it.
I also found SS and was allowed to join, and this site is truly everything to me now.
I give you some of my background to say that I believe in you and also that you have a tremendous number of gifts to not only give yourself, but humanity also.
Yep, there are great and not so great days, times, events, etc. But through it all there is SS, all the awesome souls here and so many experiences awaiting you.
Sending you lots of huge hugs, caring and the knowledge that you WILL do awesome things.
My absolute best to you,
Walter