If I had to give someone advice, I would say, "Don't make up for lost time."
Appreciate the missed opportunities for love or success as something that builds hunger to fully appreciate the deliciousness of success.
You will have missed opportunities for success, you will miss out on love, but being able to love yourself and be secure in your humanity as much when you take a step back as you would during a step forward will help you be more genuinely appreciative when things do break your way.