So I'm starting the fading out now, and i'm avoiding all kh 'friends,' but am finding it a bit lonely, as was raised in org, and was always taught to shun worldly people even at school. Does anyone have any advice or experiences about how to overcome this? how they met and made new friends in the beginning? I don't work due to poor health, so i dont meet there.
I think it's important to remember that under normal (ie, "non-cult") circumstances, it takes time to develop and cultivate friendships. The WTS did us a disservice in this area by providing a program that mandated instant friendships and brotherhood with everyone within the Organization™. Some JWs even arrogantly refer to people in the Organization™ as The Friends™.
Maybe you need to look for activities that you enjoy doing, and find other people who like doing the same kinds of things. Volunteering, as other people have mentioned, is a great way to support a cause that you feel is important and meet other people who feel the same way. If you have a special interest in some activity, maybe there is a group that meets regularly to participate in the same activity. There are book clubs, cooking classes, photography classes, calligraphy classes, music lessons, bird watching clubs, craft groups, sports activities of all kinds. Think about all the things that you wished you could do when you were growing up, but had to put off until later because "there will be plenty of time to do that after Armageddon™." Make a list and think about which things you still want to do or are able to do, and then look for some local groups of people who do those things.
I started meeting new people when I went back to school. Later I found other people with the same interests in various crafts - starting with card-making and scrapbooking.
If you have some skills that you want to share, you can volunteer to teach people how to learn the skill. One of the local knitting shops has volunteers who teach beginners how to knit, and also needs volunteers to knit tiny hats and sweaters for babies in the NICU. There is a quilting club that makes little quilts for the babies in the NICU. There is a carpentry club that makes memory boxes for bereaved parents of stillborn babies, and a tole-painting club whose members paint designs on those boxes. There is a group that makes knit and crochet shawls, hats and mittens for the elderly in nursing homes, or for homeless people in shelters. There is another group that makes hats for chemotherapy patients who are losing their hair. Meals on wheels needs volunteers to cook and deliver meals to the elderly. Food banks need volunteers to distribute care packages to the less fortunate. There are choirs and other kinds of singing groups that perform at nursing homes and other events. There is no end to opportunities to help other people... you just need to think about what you'd like to do... and there will be people who are interested in the same things.
I'm sure you'll find something very special that you will enjoy doing and sharing with others.
