The truth is multi-faceted. You have to see the truth as a whole, not just from the "bad" direction.

I "wasted" 10-15 of my 4 score and 7 years living in a fantasy world, my entire teen/young adult years (necessitating nearly 30 years in therapy; do the math at a conservative $75/hr). I did not marry until I was 39, partially as a result of my "late start" in life. That is the truth, but it is not the whole truth.

I have a wonderful imagination, a rich inner life, read 1,000-2,000 books during that period, have become a competent writer of both fiction and non-fiction. I got my meeting and mating/marrying "right", my DH is the love of my life and me, of his and we both know and express it. I would not be who I am now, if I had not had that experience! I love myself now.