I was very sheltered as a Jw. BU since I left 5 yrs ago I have as a person both in school and in life. I have noticed that I am more self confident with myself and I am more objective about things. in what ways have you changed since the Jw's
being sheltered as Jw
by d 3 Replies latest jw experiences
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sd-7
"Sheltered", huh? That's actually a term that was leveled at me, some...14 or 15 years ago. A mentor at my first job said it to me. I hadn't really understood at the time. I genuinely believed I was acting in my own best interests by going along with the sheltering.
I had low self-esteem, never believed I was smart or handsome or any of the things people kept saying I was. I couldn't see those things, all I could see was what I was doing wrong as far as the JWs.
I still don't have that much self-esteem, but I know more about myself than I ever have before. I'm able to not be so judgmental of people who are different from me. I read so much more and question things so much more. I have an angry streak to me now that is probably worse than I've ever experienced, after seeing the hypocrisy in action during my judicial committee and its fallout.
But apart from that, the only stuff I really notice is having a beard, watching an R-rated movie if I want, and sleeping in rather than going out to recruit people.
I guess I have regressed a bit as far as the 'sheltered' side of things. I generally don't leave home unless it's to do something for my wife or to take her somewhere. I have no real-life friends of my own and no social life beyond the computer. And I go along with it because I think I'm acting in my own best interests. ...
Funny. I was just thinking of changing that doormat gravatar. Maybe I'll just leave it for now...
--sd-7
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d
I am slowly growing and progressing post Jw.
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Gopher
I questioned everything I was ever told about spirituality, God, etc. My path took me through agnosticism to general disbelief / skepticism.
I started voting in 2002. I had 2 blood transfusions in 2011 and survived! Oh, and I live with a never-been-JW woman with whom I am not married.
I have learned to be a little more realistic about who to trust and who not. The friends or associates I have are those who are supportive, helpful, kind. I don't tolerate other kinds of people in my life any more.