Your honesty and soul searching lead me to believe you will do quite well in this life. I'm not that smart, was born to a secretary and Army major and have made my own share of mistakes. I made it a point to work harder than people around me, get more education than them and surround myself with smart, hard-working people. I just turned 40 and feel like I'm doing well. Sure, timing and some luck plays a part, but if you don't work hard and play smart you will NEVER be in position to benefit.
it helps not to develop stupid habits.
assume a pack of cigarettes costs approximately $3.00
assume a pack-a-day habit
assume the passage of ten years
10*365*$3 = $10,950.00 up in smoke
people really NEED to LOOK at what they actually do to themselves, look at what monies they expend without deriving any return (or any hope or expectation of return) before they start whining.