I'm surprised that you made up your mind at that young age! I think they will find out, if they haven't already, that your are of the kind one should hang around.
But can you tell what the benefits were of your commitment to objective reality? There must be some, because the cost is so high!
As a child, I looked around and saw where the grown-ups all around me ended up. None of them traveled, explored, innovated, or evolved in any noticeable way. They were born, grew larger, procreated with others that happened to be born nearby, grew old, and died. Nobody explored or invented. They all just perpetuated the same lowly existence from one generation to the next. I could see through books, television, movies, and later through the internet, that there was a great big world out there where people were actually evolving and making things better and better for themselves. I didn't want to just accept my fate. The pre-packaged life that my parents and local community offered was grossly insufficient. For some reason, I loved myself enough to demand more - a lot more.
So to answer your question, I guess I saw the pain I went through as an investment. I wasn't being cut down, I was paying the price for my freedom - the freedom to grow, expand, innovate, and evolve... and while it bewildered most everyone in my midst at the time, I paid it gladly and regret nothing (except I wish I'd had the courage to leave even sooner).
@piedpiper, thanks for editing your reply. I appreciate it.