I was thinking about fading but there is no way I could in the hall that I'm at. They ask me to do things all the time,
Cognac, my dear. Fading isn't about up and quitting for some people. Some manage that.
Fading is a process for others where they slowly get out of it. It may not be for you. You may
need to just leave, but slow down before you do anything. You have a goal to stop pioneering.
That's part of fading. Fading can take a long time or not. I was an elder that started a fade, and
a short 8 months later, I was inactive and attending no meetings at the Kingdom Hall. I am not
suggesting my path for you, but find one that works- eventually.
You want to have a baby, lead a normal life. The pregnancy and the baby will cause you to
miss out on meetings- that's part of fading. As far as those last minute talks go, start saying NO.
You can say YES if you really are up to it sometimes, but make sure to say NO when you are
ready to do so. You can wait until mourning sickness or just a bad headache gets you, but sooner
or later, stay on the course of mostly NO.
I would stop right now but I just started and got kind of in an argument with the elders to let me (they made me wait because they didn't think I'd be able to do it) and it would be like me telling them they were right but they weren't.
The most successful way to quit pioneering in August is to fail to meet the time requirements.
Allow yourself to catch up on your business and household. Take sick days. The next thing you
know, you are a month behind. Don't knock yourself out to make it up- use the actual real excuse
that you are too tired, too busy, can't do it, won't do it anymore. Heck, they will even try to forgive
the time and keep you on as a pioneer if they like you. Tell them you would just fall behind again.
Don't worry that they appear right and you wrong. That's okay.
You have to leave options open until you decide what to do. If you want to just walk away, there
are family and friend consequences. If you fade, there is hounding by the elders. Stick around and
learn the truth about "the truth" before any decisions are made. Start your research. Even if you
are not going to fade, start fading anyway just because it's easier to say NO and enjoy your day off
or the weekend or going home from the meeting before 11 PM.
OH- don't wait until you find "the actual truth" somewhere else. Start your education on Jehovah's
Witnesses and you will be surprised. Finding the actual truth could take the rest of your life.