Time's a Wasting?

I wonder if years ago there were so many books on decluttering, organizing, and the like. As I stand in line to pay for groceries, every magazine seems to have "cut the clutter" as one of their lead stories. I don't know if it was always like this because of course, when I was younger, I didn't read the same magazines. Was clutter less of a problem years ago, and is minimalism the "it" thing of our generation, or have we learned from mistakes of the past?
Meanwhile I had an epiphany last night as I drove around town fetching and carrying, that in the last 16 years I haven't accomplished much. I've had part time jobs only. I have not perfected any type of talent. I have not developed any new hobbies. I have not significantly reduced the amount of clutter (although I have learned to get a handle on the daily routines of life and cleaning....) There are many goals I have not achieved. One of those goals was to find a satisfying work life. I don't think that has happened. I started grad. school for instructional technology. Now I see jobs which I would have been qualified for if I had just stuck with the program and finished it. Money was an issue at that time, so I put aside my goals for the sake of the house. Now I have bigger house, but am not closer to that first goal. That goal continues to be really important for me because I probably will never be one of those people who is satisfied simply by my home life. Of course, I want to do a good job as a parent, and I feel I've done a pretty good job, as my kids are turning out to be decent human beings. I just know that kids grow up and do their own thing. I don't want to be wasting away in a small town. I want to plan and do more things, activities that bring joy to my life. Instead, my days seem to pass in a blur of chores, and unfinished projects. I read so many blogs about motivation but something seems to keep me from going forward. I feel like I could use a breakthrough.