I was having a great chat with a valued friend and fellow forum member today on the phone.
We were discussing how deeply we all get affected by JW interactions - even years after fading or disassociating.
You know what I mean. Those days when we run into jws who we considered to be our close friends. Or "loving shepherds" who don't act kindly. Or family members who shun us because of the stand we have taken for truth and honesty.
Those who were never jws don't understand the level of impact it can have. They say things like "it's just a religion", or "my religion is not like that"
We came up with a way to describe it.
Being a Jehovah's Witness is part of our very DNA. It was like our arm or leg - integral to who we were as a very person! Not something that could easily be removed from us!
Yet we can be proud that no matter how much the cult was part of our very DNA, we have seen that standing up for truth and honesty is far FAR more important, and takes far more strength!
So if you're ever feeling overwhelmed by it all, know that you're not alone!
Bravo for being genuinely Truthful!