Hi Abigail
I have just followed you on Instagram.
I live in NSW but come from Melbourne and have non-witness relatives there. We may meet up one day.
I agree so much about not wanting hate in our hearts. All my life as a JW I followed to the letter the rules on disfellowshipping as did my parents who are now deceased. It does make you cold and distant to not only the world, but to others in the org. One of the things that woke me up was the lack of love shown to me, my mum when she was old and hubby's sister who has mental illness and is DF'd. The teachings did not even come into it until I discovered these forums, I was so shocked and still recovering. I always thought it was the absolute truth and had no real idea of the history of the org.
Welcome to no longer being a lurker. I'm not afraid of being found out either. I am not DF'd but am being shunned a bit at shopping centres, etc. Can't wait to hear the greatest story in the world. I will tell you my baptism story one day, you won't beat that!
On Instagram I am Hawkstorm13 as I go for Hawthorn in the AFL and the Melbourne Storm in the NRL. The 13, well it is supposed to be superstitious, isn't it?