I feel wiser now and I became more independent and confident in my own self - and that is the better part. I came to realise that there are things that I don't know but learning can be done at any age (and there will still be things that I won't know); I learned to ask for help when I need it; I learned to say no; I learned that there are things that I should not give a c**p about and I distanced myself from those. It is not always pink clouds, but as a painter myself :) I came to appreciate all the colors and choose for me those that make me want to keep on going:). (On the subject - I used to do black-and-whites in my youth, now I am using complementary colors and gold - big no-nos from my professors - with a defying pleasure!) Also, beware of peer pressure: for me it was one of the most toxic things and I did not realise (and released myself from it) until my early 30s.

I'm so glad to hear this, it's inspiring . I hope I learn and grow to appreciate life more, like you did.