by jst2laws 45 Replies latest jw friends
I felt bad for the truly smart posters on the board who were linked in any way with the likes of me
Typical..you should be mentioned on the *humble posters* thread too if there was one.
Glad you mentioned Pathof too
The whole community has helped me grow in one way or another, I mainly post fluff around and annoy everyone but do have a serious side that I get in touch with occasionally...well, rarely :)
Brummie
I believe we are continually growing and learning from each other, which I love. I can walk into chat or any thread and grow by words or wisdom and experience. Likewise, I can share my experience and pain with the hopes that it helps others. But I love the fact that so many people finally get me and my painful family/religious history! Up until June of 2001 I never even knew there were others like me!
To answer the question "Who has helped me grow?" Too many to mention everyone, but I will mention the ones I've either met in person or corresponded a bit via email. They've all taught me different things. On this board:
Megadude - the first person from this board I met in person. A close friend (whom I've adopted as my brother) who has listened to me babble and cry on the phone for hours and hours and hours! He's the wise voice of reason when I couldn't get a grip on some of my deepest pain. A million thank yous will never be enough.
COMF - the second person I met from this board and over a bunch of raw Japanese fare and good beer. (He was such a trooper that night!) He says so much by his kind and ornery eyes and masters Life principles I can only hope to figure out. His heart is one of gold!
Esmerelda and Joelbear - have taught me so much about compassion and kindness and giving to others even if they don't deserve the attention of a gnat.
JanH, Valis and SixofNine - have taught me to look on the lighter, funnier side of Life. Okay...dirtier side of life. LOL!
Tina, Julie, and Peaceloveharmony - all were/are so faithful to send me encouraging and uplifting emails when things were so tough with my parents. I can't thank you enough for being so persistent about "taking care of myself". You three are wonderful examples of independence, which I'm still trying to figure out.
Within the 18 months or so since I've joined this board I've grown by leaps and bounds. Mostly emotionally. When I first got here, there was so much of me that was a lost little girl with so much heartache. With the help of y'all here I feel like I've matured and healed and even come to a position to help others. If not on this board then with people I meet in real life. I couldn't have done it without you.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
(((Andi)))) you sound happy. It sounds good on you.
We need to do sushi again sometime soon.
Say hi to Neil for me.
EVERYONE here has truly helped me to grow. When I read your comments and feelings, I get to learn a lot more about how so many nice people have suffered due to being Witnesses. You ALL inspire me.
A close friend (whom I've adopted as my brother) who has listened to me babble and cry on the phone for hours and hours and hours!
Billygoat that got to me and brought back memories of my pouring it out on the phone. Gee we sure do need our friends huh.
Brummie
jst2laws, in all honesty, I've never laughed and cried and laughed and cried in all my life as much as I have since meeting the folks in this forum.
My eyes, my heart, my mind...
All this might have happened to me somewhere else, sometime else.
But it happened here.
Craig
I guess for me, different persons were there for me during different stages in the whole exit process.
I would have to thank 6of9 as one of several that exercised great tolerance with me as many of us struggled to come to grips with "the Lie" over at Witnet. I have to thank Obed Fernandez for personally phoning me at that key turning point when I finally accepted it was not true, when you realize you are going to die and your family isn't going to have anything to do with you anymore. I'd have to thank Ray Franz for his books at about this time, as well as "Duncan" that encouraged me not to send in my disassociation letter. Those that came over from Witnet, like Prisca are remembered well.
Also at about the same time, I'd have to thank the crowd over at H20. Particularly, Norm's essays and their sarchasm cracked me up but they were just so true, and Alan F and Jan H's posts were impossible to ignore. And "one" or JT has always been a favorite. Forgive me for forgetting his name, but there was a man that passed away that had a wicked-evil sense of humour that left me laughing so hard and so I should mention him too.
This board (Thanks Simon) grabbed my attention innitially because of Frenchy's posts. And his comments and the spirit in which they were made left a huge impression on me. A simple comment from PuppyLove finally made me consider the "possibility" there might not be a "God that cares about us". Comments from AhHa made me think as well. Waiting, Seven and RedHorseWoman all were great company during that bizarre transition period where your beliefs seemed to change every week. Each was a strong and brilliant lady that helped me grow.
In the days since then, the board is very different and a more challenging place to be and can often be a bit volatile. In view of this and because I try to keep my personal life separate from this online stuff I am often unemotional, distant and vague in my posts and stick more to the "non-fluff" threads. At the same time, it is the humorous threads and comments that I enjoy reading the most. I laugh alot reading comments at this place.
There just are so many these days that make me smile or leave me with things to think about that it would be impossible to list them all. Even persons that can be difficult I find beneficial because they push my limits and force me to find creative ways to resolve difficult situations in a peaceful way.
I would have to also thank my "real life" friends who made the exit with me but live apart from this online xjw culture and so will never read this. But they are appreciated so much and many treat me like family and for that I am grateful.
Sometimes you have to stop and look back to see how much you have grown. And when you do, you realize you have grown more in that short while since you've been out than in your whole lifetime as a JW. Thank you everyone.
Path
PS... J2L, thanks for this thread and for the honorable mention. I don't think our paths cross too often, but I remember your first posts here and remember thinking to myself... "this is a good and genuine man".
J2L, thanks for this thread and for the honorable mention. I don't think our paths cross too often, but I remember your first posts here and remember thinking to myself... "this is a good and genuine man".
Path, you are right about that. J2L is one of the nicest men you'll ever meet!
BTW - I've always appreciated you calm and balanced posts. You made an impression on me when I first joined this board and since then I've tried to emulate your style! Thanks!
Greetings J2L,
It has been too long since I said "hello" to you and to your lovely wife, Joy.
I dont come here as often as I once did, but I do read sparingly and you are among the posters I try to "catch." Thank you for your caring and balanced comments.
Two individuals who have devoted untold time and effort to the x-JW cause are not likely to be mentioned in threads like this one. The first man Id like to mention is Dr Muramoto. He never posts here and probably never will, but he has devoted countless hours to the blood issue. He helps JWs and former JWs immensely through his efforts to educate the medical community about the problems unique to the JW world.
Many of you are aware of some of the articles he has been able to get published to prominent medical journals. He has also taken many hours away from his own patients to stand around medical exhibits talking to physicians about the JW-blood issue. He is one of the more brilliant, yet caring persons I have had the pleasure of knowing.
The other person I want to mention in this thread is Lee Elder. He has almost single-handedly setup AJWRB.ORG and kept it going. His efforts were of immense help to me after I personally faced the blood issue. I faced what some JW will eventually face: take blood or die. I thought I was all alone in my fight. I felt hopeless. When I later discovered LEs site I was dumb-founded. Here was another JW with views similar to mine. It was of immense help. I know he has helped thousands of others. He brought Dr Muramoto and others together in a common cause: helping JW and x-JWs cope with the murderous WTS blood policy.
My best to all,
Sam B.
Hi Jst2laws:
Mrs. Shakita here. You have spoken with my husband by phone and helped him out since learning the "truth" last year. We both are very grateful to you and Amazing for giving of your time to help us with some of the questions and concerns we had/have. We still have problems that we are dealing with, but with such wonderful support from caring people like yourself, it makes our journey a little less painful. Right now, we are dealing with the family issues that come from exiting the org. with family you love still in. But, we have hope they will come around some day.
And, Ashi, you know how much you have helped us! But, looks like you still have work to do!
My husband and I lurked for quite some time here on Simon's board, reading all the "apostate" postings. We have thanked Simon before, but here's another Thank You! And, to all the posters since our lurking days who contributed to our new "realization", Thank You, too.
Mrs. Shakita
Edited by - shakita on 13 December 2002 11:51:7
