great feeling isnt it 23 years for me and counting it was the memorial, I attended the 1996 DC for about an hour.
13 year anniversary
by gerry 25 Replies latest jw experiences
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fulano
Welcome Gerry. Good you left that cult. Waist of time. I regret all those hours, months and years of full-time service and meetings and hassle with congregations. But it is never to late to start living.
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DesirousOfChange
Thanks for sharing the details of your exit.
Yes, anyone who has been an Elder can relate to the politics of the office. It's real basis is the "old boys club" -- who ya know and who ya blow.
I only wish I could say I woke up 13 years ago. I'm evidently a "slow learner".
Doc
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eyeuse2badub
Amen brother!
My story is similar to yours except I was a jw for over 50 years before I moved over to "the dark side"! One of the hardest things for me to now accept is how long it took me me to finally take a unadulterated look at the wtbts. It still bothers me that they had that much control over my thinking.
Quoting otwo;
"Make sure you walk under a ladder and let a black cat cross your path. Maybe break a mirror on the next Friday the 13th (January).
I am always finding another milestone to celebrate. "
Yea today I'm voting (first time ever) in the California primary for Bernie! 15 years ago I would have wondered if jehober would send a lighting bolt to strike me if I went into a voting booth! LOL How could an adult mind ever accept some of the fear mongering sh*t they fed us? I'm embarrassed quite frankly!
just saying!
eyeuse2badub
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Phizzy
Just over eight years out for Mrs Phizzy and me, it still amazes me how long it took me, I was always a rebel and sceptical of the wild claims of the G.B.
It is the best thing we ever did ! we now enjoy a far closer relationship with our never-JW children and grandchildren, enjoying being part of their Christmas and Birthday celebrations, buying them presents for these is such a joy !
We celebrate each year the day we ceased being controlled by the JW Mind control machine.
We love our freedom and our life !
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gerry
you know reading all your responses highlights how similar our stories are. past and present.
and that is what makes this site so great. I know more about what is going on now than when I was a JW.
I take my hat off to Jookbeard and other long time exjw's like Blondie who post on a regular basis.
Despite the joy of being an ex, I never new how damaging watchtower policies were until you can actually unplug yourself.
and that knowledge has made me angry and sad
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wannaexit
Good for you! and congratulations to both of you. I seems that many of us were afraid to look at ex jw forums. I also remember my first time. I kept looking around the room. It was as if I was expecting someone to tell me what a naughty girl I was. We've all come a long way.
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smiddy
I think the first time i ever had a doubt was when the Borg tried to distance themselves from 1975 .
The next was when they printed the Revelation Book about the seven trumpets starting with the Cedar Point Ohio convention ? I couldn`t get my head around that one .
I /we never left until 1993 , however with the internet it still took me a few years to shake off the influence the JW religion had over me.
Welcome gerry , thanks for your post
smiddy
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skin
Hey gerry, thanks for your thoughts. I also know of an ex elder and po, who left WT about 13 years ago. I would be excited if you were that same one. Can you share what country you are in?
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fleshyheadedmutant
Aren't you glad you don't have to deal with the smirking, holier-than-thou elders anymore?
My husband and I were "in" for over thirty years, and we weren't born in, so were over 50 when we left. We went through depression and misery when we finally realized that we'd given the major years of our lives to an organization that was like a great grinding machine that uses people up and spits them out.
At least we can breathe the fresh air of freedom now!
Glad your wife is with you!