Welcome. Isn't Linda a pretty name.
I've been out for over 30 years. It took a great many of those years to find some mental stability aka;sanity and self respect.
Boy, oh boy. How well I can remember those feelings of not fitting in...always had the sense of being an outsider. Which proved to be a good thing in the end. The one thing we learn is just how alone we are NOT. I'm so happy when new people join any of these forums because recovery can be quite difficult, and when we realise the risks many have taken...well, it gives us a little bit more courage to proceed forward with our life. No longer playing by the script written by self-serving individuals.
I remember how the Tuesday night book study was removed from our home because we were "poor." What a crock of shit, but hey, keeping up appearances really matter to people void of compassion and understanding. We had plastic curtains on the windows and sheets thrown over the couch and chair. My, my, what a shame, eh. Talk about judgement and condemnation for the poor working slob. My mother worked her butt of on Tuesday so the house would be perfectly clean for those ungrateful pigs. No love lost on those people from my standpoint.
Somedays I guess the old bitterness comes visiting and it's good for me, too, to rant and vent. Usually though, I'm content to remember the positive that came out of a very disturbed childhood of JW. There is hope, there is salvation. We make it happen...not something anyone can just give us. But we are the truly blessed for having come out the other side a surviver. enough said by me.
Granny
This is the guy to look out for! Anyone with a piece of steel stuck through his boob has got to be trouble!