I think what's happening in a lot of these "I missed my calling" stories is people suffering very deeply because of how closely they associate their identity with their CV.
Many have a sense that to "be" a philosopher or poet (e.g.) is something that exists entirely separate from the study of philosophy or poetry; that it's not the practice that defines the practitioner, but some credential. And this handicaps their ability to enjoy those things. It's as if they say "sure, I could use my free time to explore what I'm passionate about. Sure, I could access the entire corpus of philosophy and poetry and literature and art and anything else in a matter of seconds. I could read, write, draw, paint, act, play an instrument, or anything else to my heart’s content. But I chose the wrong major when I was 18, so that's all off-limits to me now."
You can just do stuff.
"Cynicism is not a neutral position—and although it asks almost nothing of us, it is highly infectious and unbelievably destructive. In my view, it is the most common and easy of evils."
If you read one thing this weekend may it be this from Nick Cave on cynicism and hopefulness
Rewatched Gladiator for the first time in probably 15 years and it’s still fine but god, we truly just do not make them like Oliver Reed anymore. On the edge of exploding his heart at the bar and he’s blowing everyone off the screen
Peter Falk telling Gena Rowlands that her performance in A Woman Under The Influence is the greatest ever and will be remembered 100 years from now and being absolutely correct