Colleague's promotion upset

[Oldknowe]

So I found out this week that my colleague of 5 years will become my new boss. I am now feeling very low as things I've wondered about are becoming clear to me. I am much more qualified than my colleague in skills and experience though don't have the 'gift of the gab' they do.
We were both moved to a new team over a year ago and I've been surprised as our new boss has worked hard to upskill my colleague and given them all the best and high-visibility projects, keeping them very busy whilst leaving me with hardly any low-quality work. I've felt sad just not having much to do. I've coped by trying to feel grateful for just having a job. But now I see this was the plan all along and I feel devastated. I'm not good enough. I feel old and tired.
What can I do to feel better about this, or should I leave?

Did you ever ask for the same development opportunities?
What have you done to upskill yourself?

No I didn't ask. I've had plenty of free time so I've been doing online training and upskilling myself but I have no opportunity to use any new skills.

It’s really hard to answer objectively with one side of the story. I was promoted over a colleague many years ago, she was very upset as she thought we were ‘equals’ and did the same job, but we really weren’t. I now manage the entire function while she’s in the same job.

you say your colleague has the ‘gift of the gab’, but that could translate to that she’s been proactive in trying to further her career, has good people or communication skills, been asking for development opportunities etc.

maybe you need to think about your career, where you want to get to, and discuss development opportunities with your new manager?

This happened to me. I chose to leave, initially for similar pay. I am much more valued by my current employer, have been promoted and now earn more than I did now (and more than old colleague does too). I was mid 50s when I made the change. I'd suggest at least starting to look around.

Don’t be too disheartened. There are lots of examples of people coming back from these employment disappointments. Seriously, use it as information to get promoted next time. Make a plan.

I am a manger who recently promoted someone fairly new to the team over more experienced colleagues which I am sure left some of them feel like you. However, what they cannot see is that she is amazing at her jobs in ways they are not. She is also extrovert and outgoing but this makes her good at networking and relationship which is key in her role.

I agree you need to be much more proactive. Go to see your manager, say you want to progress as XYZ, ask what you need to do to progress, how you can upskill? ask for training or mentoring if needed.
Any online training you do, tell your manager. "Hi Clara, I'm glad to let you know that I passed XYZ training/certification that will equip me to do XYZ..."
Now that your colleague has ben promoted, then the high visibility/high projects are vacant, so ask to work on those.