How to start over?

Starting over at 31 years old is scary. I feel behind. I try my best not to compare myself to others but when i go on social media and see people I used to go to school be much more successful than me, I can't help it sometimes. Especially because I'm starting over.

In my early 20's I discovered I had a love for art. Specifically 3D modeling and environment art. When I was 21 I built my very first computer. I had a computer growing up but it was like a family computer. Nothing with the power that I put into my first pc. I had been going to community college trying to figure out what i wanted to do. But everything I did felt like I was doing because someone else wanted me to. With my new computer built, I asked myself..."what is something I've always wanted to do as a kid?" 3D modeling or VFX. So that's what I did. I started learning to 3D model and I fell in love. Creating a scene from nothing and turning it into something. I picked up the Unreal engine and started creating environments within the engine and creating cinematics. The only problem was I had no idea how to actually work a camera or what any of the terminology meant. I had a cousin staying with me at the time and he had a camera and was into all that. He told me I should get one. even if it was just for fun. I bought my first little mirrorless camera and off to youtube university. I become obsessed. I was trying to learn everything I possibly could.

You're probably wondering what this has to do with starting over....well...I'm getting there. I spent most of my 20's trying to follow this dream. Dream of being an artist and getting paid to do what I love, which is to create art. One thing I didn't mention was that I had a daughter when I was 21. I told myself that if I wasn't getting paid by the time I'm 30, I'm pivoting. Well I hit 30 and I wasn't where I wanted so I started to think about what I might want to pivot into. At first I thought IT. My dad is in IT I can go there and I have an in some where. I end up getting a herniated disc. It completely changes my life. It got so bad that I couldn't walk., I couldn't sleep well, I couldn't use the bathroom or bend down because I was in the worst pain of my life. Mind you, I've never broken a bone or anything before in my life. This is my first real injury and it was the worst pain I've ever suffered in my life. The recovery has been the biggest mental battle ever. But I'm getting through it. Something I found in all of this is, programming. I wasn't very mobile for a long time so while I layed in bed I started ti learn swift. I gave that a shot but its so niche. I went on forums and even asked AI if front end stack like javascript would be more beneficial and "easier" to get a job in. from what I researched it was.

So for the past few months I've been learning programming, specifically html, css and javascript. It's hard..javascript is not easy and the syntax seems a bit bulky compared to swifts. But I'm actually enjoying it. That thing I mentioned earlier about comparing to peers, its real. I feel a bit embarrassed about where I am but I've overcome so much in the past year or so and my situation is temporary. My road may be a bit longer than others but the experiences I've gained and the knowledge I have, I wouldn't change a thing. At the end of the day it's just you against you. Focus on what you're doing and ask yourself if you're giving it you're all. The rest is noise.