> But I can't help but feel that if I had started in earnest at 25, at 21, at 19 — then maybe the list of accomplishments at the end of my life will be longer.
Even if you did, there is no reason why you wouldn't have felt the same. I met someone of my age who had made an excellent game and was one of the winners of Github Game-Off. I felt envious, I struggled and finally made my own game with free art [1]. When I finished, did I feel any sense of accomplishment? Yes, sort of, but few days hence, I was in the same hole feeling shitty about my game being mediocre and having done nothing significant.
I have a reason to believe, that even many accomplished people, feel that they have missed so much, things could have been better and they could have achieved more.
Even if you did, there is no reason why you wouldn't have felt the same. I met someone of my age who had made an excellent game and was one of the winners of Github Game-Off. I felt envious, I struggled and finally made my own game with free art [1]. When I finished, did I feel any sense of accomplishment? Yes, sort of, but few days hence, I was in the same hole feeling shitty about my game being mediocre and having done nothing significant.
I have a reason to believe, that even many accomplished people, feel that they have missed so much, things could have been better and they could have achieved more.
[1]: http://coffeecoder.net/penguin-walk/