by JeffT 52 Replies latest jw friends
Hello there JeffT
I'm not a long time poster but
Back in 08 I had to have radiation treatment , I had to go for several weeks
There where volunteers there to make us comfortable while we wait our turn
for treatment.
They didn't have to be there, they could have left that horrible chapter behind
They were themselves cancer survivors who chose to come back and give comfort
My treatment was for a non cancerous tumor, but the comfort given was no less
.
I am not out. I still go to meetings.
Firstly, I am moved by Blondie's post, and can relate. I am still involved with domestic violence helping others to escape and recover despite being years free of it and now in a wonderful 'normal' marriage. I've only been here 3 years, but I can't forget how invaluable the support was here for me. How much it helped me to recover and heal. I am not needy here nowadays, but can't not help others leaving the WTBS to freedom. If Simon and Angharad had taken the other view, so many of us would've had nowhere to go. Keep up your good work.
Loz x
There was a turning point where participation was not so much for myself, but what I can contribute. Also, the WTS is still in my life thanks to my adorable husband. That being said, I went on a two year walkabout, where I did not have the inclination to stay in touch.
Each individual case is different. I know there are those who wish to move on and try to forget ever having been a JW. They choose not to participate here. Some participate here for a while, then go away. Some of them come back.
If you served in Vietnam, you are part of a group that no one else can entirely relate to. You served, did what you thought was right, then were persecuted and treated wrongly by your fellow countrymen. One doesn't just get up, walk away, and start a new life. There are scars. There is PTSD. There is trauma, anger, and a need for peace within.
We have been through a unique kind of experience as well. It is useful and beneficial to talk about it and help ourselves and others recover. People who were never JW's do not quite understand why we did the stupid things we did. They don't know what one goes through in escaping the Watchtower and facing shunning and, after years of faithful service, being regarded as nothing by the very people we were serving. We need validation from others who have been through the same thing.
Regards,
SandraC
I'm not really a long time poster either. I've been here for a few years though. I have to say that when people refer to themselves as having 'moved on' I wonder if they think that others have not moved on. I think people are moving on all the time, I know I am and I think others are too. Some people might be on this forum and other ex JW forums for a lot of hours, some just check in to see whats going on. It's kind of like the newspaper, you pick out things that appeal to you to read and then 'move on'. Some people use ex JW-ism interests more than others. Maybe it just interests them more like car forums or travel forums or food/health forums might to someone else. It's informative, validating and as someone said therapeutic.
This community is serving a great cause. Thank goodness for all the long time posters and new ones.
I haven't been around this board for a long time, but I've been out of TT for 20 years, and I've had no contact with JW in that time.
No one in my life even knows that I was a JW (except husband) and he's not interested in ever talking about it now, maybe because I never wanted to talk about it before.
I thought by putting it in the past I could move on. And I have, BUT....I've realised it cannot be ignored.....because it was the first 20 years of my life & it makes me who I am AND I've noticed it makes me different from others.
I'm surrounded by all these people who are the SAME, white, middle class, private schools, organic food, etc etc classic "first world problems" types. Which is fine....but they don't know me.
on this board, I don't know anyone, but I do ...if you know what i mean.
The way people speak, the language, phrases, terminology everything is so familiar. It is the language of my childhood, so it is nice to hear it again (never thought I would ever think something like that!)
I really appreciate the wisdom & kindness of some who post on this board.
also, the hilarious writings of (I think it was sd7) have made me actually laugh about being a JW, which must be a good thing!
Hello Jeff!
Our family has been out of the borg for over five and a half years now. My husband and I joined this forum about two and a half years ago, so we're not some of the long time ones on here. As you can see we are not big at posting and I don't get on here often. We do care about people and how they are treated, so if we can encourage anyone else in their exit from the WTBTS, that would be great!
I feel like being a JW for more that twenty years, it's just part of our psyche, and thank goodness there was good with the bad, but some of what we all have gone through and are going through we have in common and can relate to each other. We actaully got to meet in person someone we met on this forum, so that was really nice! We have kept in touch with several people that we personally knew in our area that have come out, and hope to be supportive to them.
So we look to our future, enjoy the present, trying to understand the past and forgive ourselves and finding peace.
Love, Mrs. Thor
For the same reasons I still help people regain sobriety.
I joined and sometimes contribute, but I get so encouraged by all of you and it helps to realize that I am not alone. Mouthy, I feel for you and I hope that all your family will find out that the JWs are a CULT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Etna
