If hindsight was 20/20, would you have done the same things given the chance to change?

by sinis 12 Replies latest jw friends

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  sinis

  In respects to the Dubs. Would you do it all over again? What kind of things did you miss out on, accomplish? For me, I probably would because now I'm free and while in I met my wonderful wife (who is also free) of 18 years. However, although I finally finished my degree in Computer Science a couple of years ago, I feel that had I went to college when I was younger perhaps my life would have been better, though I really can't complain about my current employment. The flip side is I would have never met my wife, and who knows, perhaps things would have been worse?

  In some respects the Dubs helped me to be a better speaker, and while Edison was told why bother with trying to make the light bulb, he explained that the 1,000 previous times were not failures but knowledge on not what to do again. So, given that, I know not what to do again...
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  tec

  I would do it again. It was an experience, and I learned from it. I understand that it did not cost me much of anything, except some grief. But life tends to do that anyway.

  There are very few things in my past (even though they might be big mistakes) that I would do differently - or I would have lost what I learned.

  Tammy
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  tec

  Um... with the exception that I might have asked some of the questions in my mind, instead of staying silent about them. When I had the chance for dialogue, I would have liked to try and help the woman who tried to help me.

  Tammy
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  Awen

  If I had it to do all over, yeah I would have stayed in. Not for myself (I have one relative in Savannah, GA who is a JW), but for my friends whom I miss dearly. There were cliques and people who were more popular than others or who had more money, etc, but those things never mattered to me. I would have stayed in order to set an example (I hope) of how a Christian should be. I often spoke to DFed people and ignored what the elders had to say about it. I pointed out that Corinthians mentions that the man who took his father's wife had repented and was evetually reinstated, but how was this possible if he was shunned in the same way JW's shun people today. So obviously someone was talking to him and not at meetings since they took place in private homes where he wouldn't be welcome.

  I thought we were supposed to follow in Christ's footsteps and if I saw BS, I called people on it, be they an elder or not.

  yeah, no wonder I was DFed. lol
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  Botzwana

  I would've done it different. I would've showed Dad many things.
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  im stuck in

  I would have left Jehovahs Witnesses years ago if I had know what I know now. Im on a roll think ill have some more Jack Daniels stuck in
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  Reopened Mind

  I assume you mean, "Would I be a JW if I knew then what I know now." Thirty seven years ago there was no way to know what I know now. Instead of regretting my decision to become a JW I need to look ahead to the future I have now.

  As tec said, "It was an experience, and I learned from it."

  Reopened Mind
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  mamalove

  I think I would have been a bit more outspoken about things that bothered me when I quit attending meetings. People ASSumed things that were untrue and could not fathom that I didn't care for the religion being a born in and all. I would have liked to explain a little bit. But I cannot undo what the past was, only move forward.

  But the early years yes, finish college, which I am trying to do now. Not shun my one side of the family like I did.
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  factfinder

  Regarding being a witness? No- I would not have become one if I knew then what I know now, and I doubt I could tolorate again all the bad things I experienced. But there were times I enjoyed as a jw many years ago. I wonder what my life would have been like if I had not become a jw. But I would not do it over again.
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  LongHairGal

  SINIS: Thankfully, we will never be able to choose because few would want to live painful parts of their life over again. As far as my experience in the JW religion, I was told to view it like having been in a bad marriage and now am divorced. I will never know if I was protected in some way I will never know. So, I no longer beat myself up over being stupid enough to fall for a cult. It was a lesson learned.