Let us be thankful to JWs for having resisted our free-thinking. What is resisted persists and becomes even stronger. I pray that JWs continue this habit of theirs with more vigor so that more and more free-thinkers come out!
Researchers have found that those who lead a life of gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives, and paid less visits to doctors than others. (http://www.lifebroker.com.au/news/2014-09-19/world-gratitude-day-feeling-good-from-being-grateful#.VB6XrpSSwqM)
(http://www.inspirationalhappiness.com/law-of-gratitude.html)
I am especially grateful to some of the children of Elders in my congregation who went for higher studies despite the WT encouragement to stop studies after their basic education. Thus I never became a babtized JW (though my family members were active JWs), but could go for a Masters in Journalism.