When I was in my late teens or early twenties (pre-internet times) I read that aspiring cartoonists tended to become better storytellers after they clocked in more real life experiences. I'm not saying I'm better than other twentysomethings, but I'm better than I was. You meet more people, learn more things, read more books, play more roles, have more experiences, learn ugly, scary, startling or funny truths, go places, do things. All material fuel.