Not having good childhood experiences is a snowball that results in being a timid, shy, shoe-gazing teenager...
...which snowballs into not getting teenage experiences (peer-group, friends, "love", sex, hangouts etc.), which results in not getting young adult experiences (relationships, comradery, colleagues, friends etc.)
...which snowballs...
...which snowballs...
...which snowballs...
...which snowballs...
until you're like me: a 37 year old, basically a middle-aged man who has no idea what is it like to deal with and relate to people, even everyday interactions are a challenge to me because I never learned how to interact when at the appropriate age.
And at this age it is not really possible to "make up" for all the missed time because I am treated as a 37-years-old man, I'm expected to behave as such, and to already know my way around people. The opportunity for error and learning is afforded to children, and then other opportunities for adolescents, yet another set of opportunities for young adults, and so on...
The opportunities I have as at age 37 require me to be mature in order to take them. Since I'm not mature, I can't. You can't fake maturity and experiences you never had. JuSt AcT cOnFiDeNt bRo.
