I always believed I was saving lives on the ministry, it's why I took it so seriously. Upon realising I wasted all those years working for a book publishing business, pioneering etc, I felt so hollow. All those years feeling fulfilled, feeling like I was making a difference.. vacuumed out instantaneously leaving nothing but a feeling of being duped out of the worlds most precious commodity... life years, and to top it all off I had not helped a single soul, quite the opposite.
I worked hard in my late twenties after leaving the JW's. The elders asked me to stop attending due to my questions and concerns. I dusted myself down and got back into education, I then got accepted into the medical profession. I am just finishing my training as a doctor. In the evenings and in my 'spare' time for the last 3 years , I have been working on a piece of technology I invented, a piece of medical equipment. I got financial backing and It has recently been patented, when i go back after Xmas it is being prepared for hospital trials. The government paid for research into my idea, It will save the health service a conservative estimate of approx 300 million pound a year, but more rewarding for me than any financial savings, my idea could save hundreds of thousands of people's lives.
After nearly 7 years out of the JWs I have found contentment, fullfilment and possibly will have contributed to the world. Every patient I help feel better, even through being a listener, fills that gap left behind by the WT corp. it's only recently that I noticed the feelings of insignificance, unfulfillment had dissipated..
It's never too late no matter how many years/dreams/loves they stole from you x
Have a happy new year,
Snare x