I was in my 40s when I finally started waking up. Now I have a degree and a good job that I find interesting.
It is very depressing when I compare myself to where I could be in life, or when I compare myself to other classmates that have racked up the money and family and other measures of success.
But you know what? We survived the WT experience and have lived to tell about it. I've had 6 JW friends and acquaintences that committed suicide. But I didn't. Although my life isn't what it could have been, at least I've still got it! Although it might have been wonderful to get out of WT sooner, at least I'm out now and don't have to sit through hours of "blah, blah, blah, do what we say, blah, blah, tight pants, blah, blah, blah." And I may not be rich and famous, but I can go out for a very nice brunch rather than endure a Pub-bleck Talk and Botchtower Study in a windowless KH. (Hey Tony da Turd, ya know what gays call "brunch"? It's called "Gay Church". Now you can bash both brunch and tight pants in your next talk. Wearing tight pants to brunch makes Jehovah sad.)
So lets all look on the bright side: I got my weekly paycheck today! None of it is going to WT, inc.