A question for atheist who entered the light of reason later in life:

Last night I was talking to an old friend who recently (a few years ago) awoke from superstition to live in reality (no longer a theist) about this person's discussion:

Time Stamp 1:10

John in London: (lots of other nuances worth watching)

He realizes and for the first time confirms he is an atheist.

Highlight quotes from video:

“. . . . I realize that it (believe in god) was pointless that there is no god there is not life after this one. . .
. . . It was then I realized I have wasted so much time. I’m 44 and I have wasted so much time on delusion, on illusion, lies and I have been lying to myself for such a long time because I am frightened of death. . . .
. . . I have lived my life in fear. . .
. . . I realize I’ve spent my life in a bubble of delusion because I didn’t want to face life. . .
. . . I don’t know who I am Tracie, I don’t know who I am Don. I’m 44 years of age and I don’t know who am because religion has kept me suspended in animation (comforted?) in stasis because I’ve never really grown up. I’m emotionally stunted. I’m still that boy of 14 or 15 when I came to religion even though I’m 44 physically, mentally and emotionally I’ve still that kid. So now I’ve got and play catch up because I don’t know who I am” . . . And about loosing opportunities because of faith.

To my surprise, when I talked to my friend about this episode she became rather emotional and expressed great regret and anger about wasting so much of her life under the delusion of religion. She went on to sight many great unnecessary losses that could have resolved with good outcome, differently if she was not under the make-believe world of faith over facts and “how embarrassed” she is now for “having been so foolish for so many years”. (Catholic)

I was lucky in I realized religion was BS when I was a young kid.

For those who entered the light of reason over the darkness of superstition in later years; spending many years in a delusion state (accepting faith (belief without evidence) as truth (things that can be demonstrated with evidence), what reflection of those years spent as a “Believer” best describes your current perspective?