it's good to hear you are enjoying a thing! That's not generally encouraged in our highly competitive dog eat dog society. I have much respect for anyone who excels at thing as well, though- possibly those negative messages were coming from jealous individuals?
In my experience, also, those who were truly talented were also innately humble. Just naturally beautiful souls who's intent was to share their talents, not too busy trying to knock others "out of the game" or trash talk. They weren't even concerned with it. No sense of entitlement.
I bet you have a lot of talent in there still. Can't wait to hear what you do sober.