I love this chinese proverb. LOVE IT. Pretty much throughout Human history people got to teens or young twenties, got married, had kids, worked at some profession or job to provide for them, and if they were lucky they lived long enough to maybe see some grandkids before meeting their maker. But, remember, as recently as just 1900 people's life expectancy (how long on average people lived for) was barely 40 years. Today, average expected lifespans go into 70's and 80's and I suspect that our babies born around now will be well over 100's with all the new advances! So - about that tree........ In a world where we live double or even triple what our great-grandparents lived (on average) we not only get the very cool opportunity - but we probably have the obligation to re-invent ourselves a few times. Whether you are 25, 50, or 70 - there is PLENTY of time to do something VERY different from anything you've done before. So trade in those regrets for fresh starts. Wish you were a different career? Start taking classes toward it now! Wish you would have started a company? - get going. Wish you would have had a mentor in your worklife - go find one now (and hint - mentors can be older - or younger!). The world's your oyster - you have plenty of time -- you just need the internal motivation to get to it! So what if that 'tree' wasn't planted 20 years ago?? Plant it today!