We're all still learning... but sometimes I feel like the little hooks came off my velcro. Usually it just takes a little push to get to the next plateau. I think progress in music is made by the hour. More hours playing = more progress. Don't get discouraged. I'm 63 and I don't learn or retain as fast as I once did, but even a half hour a day brings progress. An hour a day is even better, but any progress feels good and encourages me to work at it more. Believe it or not, it gets easier and even more fun the more you do it, but you have to put in enough 'woodshed' time to feel like you're making progress.
Lessons can really help no matter what stage of the process you're at, if you find a teacher you like. They don't have to be great, they just have to know a few things you don't and be able to present them in a way that works for you.