[jonahbenton]

Lots of people feel that way, but that feeling is an inaccurate representation of reality.

Someone at 36 has at least 2x more work ahead of them than behind them.

They do need to pick their work and projects carefully. Thirties is when it is fair to expect that someone knows their own self to a degree, has some basis for understanding the perspectives of others, is responsible about commitments, knows to a degree what they know/can do and don't know/shouldn't do, when working with others. In short, an adult.

An adult tackling a problem in a responsible way is how things in the world actually get done. Welcome! You are now in that club.

There are many lucky savant children in the world, who are good at one thing and idiots at many, and for whom drama is a way of life. One of the joys of working with adults is just not having the drama, staying focused on the issue at hand.