As a musician in my mid 30s, I would say the most liberating thing was realizing that there’s a difference between being really good at an instrument and being

As a musician in my mid 30s, I would say the most liberating thing was realizing that there’s a difference between being really good at an instrument and being a good musician. No amount of practicing your instrument will make you a good musician. For that, you must expand your sonic palette and write more. Go on Craigslist, get 3 used instruments that you have no idea how to play, bring them home and figure out how to make a song with them. That is how you continue to grow as a musician.