Calligraphy learning

After four months of training, I feel like making no significant progress in sumi-e techniques. I might be wrong but I believe this is because I don't have  the essential skills in calligraphy. And I undertake to learn calligraphy. Some friends are doubtful and said, "Aren't you too late to learn calligraphy? It takes years to master the techniques." Yes, they probably right. It takes years to master the techniques. But, I don't really care about it. I just have and love to do it.