[mindcrime]

I don't like people my age, including myself. We are inexperienced and foolish, and think much too highly of ourselves. The only cure for our folly is experience, which I believe does not temper ambition, but instead directs it towards wiser pursuits.

I know I will soon reflect on the things I create now and realize how flawed they were, but I've decided not to let it stop me. I know I will make mistakes, I know I will chase the wind, and I know that five years from now all of my running may leave me tired and broke, but what choice do I have?

I'm 39, almost 40. I feel the same way.

The moral of this, IMO, is that the answer to the question "Am I there yet?" is always "no" in life. No matter how old you are, you always have more to learn, and you can always look forward and say "in 15 years I'll look back and think I was pretty silly now".

This is not to discredit the value of experience. I feel like I make better decisions about certain things now, than I did, say, 20 years ago. But by the same token, don't discredit the energy and ambition of youth.

In the end though, at any given time all you can be, is who you are. Make the most of it and just accept that you'll make some mistakes. Always keep learning and trying to grow and eventually you'll realize that the more "wise" you become, the more you just realize how much you don't know.

[stevenameyer]

I think that both ambition of youth and experience based wisdom are incredibly valuable in most areas. I think one of the major mistakes that people make is trying to focus on why one is better then the other rather then seeing what each of them has to bring to the table. I personally would love to work in an environment where both are present and valued.

[dpiers]

You're right.

Experience is only a treatment, not a cure, for folly. People will always be imperfect, regardless of how much they improve, and will always make mistakes. We just get better at avoiding the easy ones.

[obviouslygreen]

Just don't hate yourself for it. I was the opposite way: I didn't realize how ridiculous I was early in my 20's until I hit my 30's, and the fact that you already know it does put you ahead of the game (i.e. your peers).

Keep going cautiously, but always keep going. You have a great attitude.