I was born into the borg, and I can honestly say from that first day in kindergarten when I realized I was different and had to stand in the hall for the pledge of allegence I hated the borg. I hated it for everything I had to miss as a child, sports, holidays, birthdays, etc. I remember my mother getting down on me because I didn't hide my hatred for the whole thing, ever.
Did you enjoy being a JW?
by JH 32 Replies latest jw friends
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BlackSwan of Memphis
Did I enjoy being a witness???
No.
Raising 2 kids and kicking my ass to get us to the kh (my husband is not a witness), only to be made to feel like I wasn't doing enough?
No, I can honestly say I didn't enjoy that.
There were certain friendships that I enjoyed and that I miss, but I didn't enjoy being a witness.
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Honesty
Did you enjoy being a JW?
Yes... until I woke up.
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Dimples
Raising 2 kids and kicking my ass to get us to the kh (my husband is not a witness), only to be made to feel like I wasn't doing enough?
Ditto my friend!!!
DIMPLES
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sonnyboy
Hell no. I hated every single second of it.
Yes, I too put on the plastic smile and acted like I was in the best place on Earth. I didn't know what else to do besides rolling my eyes and walking in the other direction. That just didn't seem appropriate at the time.
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Quotes
A potentially very deep question.
As a kid, when I was at school, ostracized, standing in the hallyway every day during the national anthem (like as if I couldn't hear it out there!) I did not feel "happy".
As a kid, when I would remain seated at a Major League Baseball game during the National Anthem, and could hear people around me say "what the f*k is their problem? Don't they know people died for this country" I did not feel happy.
When Public School had a Halloween or Christmas assembly, complete with plays or movies or dress-up or whatever (I don't really know because I was always safely in the library reading a book) I did not feel happy -- especially the one year I was sharing the library with a kid that was being *PUNISHED* by not be allowed in the school assembly.
When I was at the meetings, I felt..... sleepy.
When I was at JW Conventions, I felt (depending on the venue & seating location): hungry; bored; hypothermic; sun-stroked; acrophobic; painfully cramped and uncomfortable; cushy and comforable and... sleepy.
Except at lunch. Dad gave us the WTS "Monopoly" money (I guess they didn't want to actually use cash for buying the -- now discontinued -- hot meals, but didn't you have to get the fake money from money changers? (And we all know what JC thinks of money changers...) I would get a Soyburger (whoops, did I reveal the secret? I know they were called hamburger, but if there was one molecule of meat in there I'm sure it was by mistake); a pudding (Vanilla or Chocolate -- never any strawberry, I guess there was too much possibility of them using blood to make it the red color); and a Cream-sicle: fake orange on the outside, fake cream on the inside. And them I felt happy.
Seriously, they drudgery of being a JW (meetings, prep, service) was simply something you had to do. I felt zero emotion for it. Your question, for me, would be similar to asking if I feel happy brushing my teeth.. I just do it (brush) 'cause I have to.
~Quotes, of the "Pearly Whites" class
P.S. I am happy with the results of my brushing: solid teeth. If only Watchtowerism had some results -- any results! -
Robdar
I totally loved being a JW. But then I started reading the Bible on my own, without the aid of any literature. It opened my eyes. After that, I couldn't stomach it anymore. I still miss the friends though.
When I visit my home town, I try to see them. It's always good. We hug and laugh and kiss. Nobody asks me to come back to the Hall anymore. They know I wont and so we dont discuss it. I am glad that I slipped away instead of d/a myself. Earlier this year I was thinking of sending my letter to the cong but decided against it after my last visit home. I want to keep those people in my life. If it means not mentioning the obvious, I will continue to do just that.
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thom
As a kid I really enjoyed it. The meetings were boring, but I quickly got some responsibility (adjusting the volume for the microphones and playing the records) so that made it fun. That's where all my friends were.
I was never bothered by what I missed at school because I was a jw. When I was depressed I actually looked forward to meeting nights and it would get me out of the depression.
But as an adult, I was bored to death. Then once I had a child it was terrible. Only then did I see what it does to a child. My daughter didn't take to it like I did at all. She hated it. She was so happy when I said that it's over, we're not going to do this anymore. -
PaulJ
No it was hard work. I enjoyed having the friends I had as a witness and thus the association.
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Toronto_Guy
Every time I went to a meeting, book study, or whatever, the great majority of people looked as if they were truly happy to be a JW. Their smiles looked genuine. They seemed to love talking to each other.
I agree that some seemed like this, but there were others who didn't seem happy, they just seemed to be "faking" it. They would never have admitted that though.
The more I attended meetings and did personal study, the more doubts I had and the more I wanted to give it all up.
I found this too. When I started having doubts, I tried really hard to do more study, and pray more, etc. But it seems the extra study just made the doubts worst. Finally, I just tried to suppress and ignore them.
I was born into the borg, and I can honestly say from that first day in kindergarten when I realized I was different and had to stand in the hall for the pledge of allegence I hated the borg. I hated it for everything I had to miss as a child, sports, holidays, birthdays, etc. I remember my mother getting down on me because I didn't hide my hatred for the whole thing, ever.
I guess I was a strange kid, cause I was the exact opposite. My most enjoyable years as a Witness were as a kid, up to the age of 12. I liked being different at school, and I really liked service. I think to be honest part of it was the fact that I was well respected in my cong as a kid b/c I was looked upon as a good example. I think it was the positive attention that I liked, being able to impress others - although I was sincere in what I did.As a kid I really enjoyed it. The meetings were boring, but I quickly got some responsibility (adjusting the volume for the microphones and playing the records) so that made it fun. That's where all my friends were.
My thoughts as well.
I was never bothered by what I missed at school because I was a jw. When I was depressed I actually looked forward to meeting nights and it would get me out of the depression.Then once I had a child it was terrible. Only then did I see what it does to a child.
Interesting point! I wonder if I will feel the same way one day when I have kids... Toronto_guy