.
now that i am no longer a jw, i can associate, and celebrate holidays and other family traditions with my non-jw relatives.
however i am sometimes bitter because i missed so many experiences as a child with my relatives that they seem almost like strangers rather than relatives.. does anyone else feel this way, and how have you bridged the gap?
fleur,
I just read your post and I need to say that family bonding after the WT is beautiful.
Even when I was IN.......there were a few times I visited "worldly" friends homes around the holidays and saw the family bonding and wished I could have the same thing..........Oh what we have missed!
HapyDad
.
now that i am no longer a jw, i can associate, and celebrate holidays and other family traditions with my non-jw relatives.
however i am sometimes bitter because i missed so many experiences as a child with my relatives that they seem almost like strangers rather than relatives.. does anyone else feel this way, and how have you bridged the gap?
Hi Pratt1,
Don't know how I posted before I answered but here goes................yes......I have missed decades of interacting with all of my "worldly" relatives. They're not too many of them left now so I call them frequently to let them know that I love them. The "I love them" consists of an aunt and uncle in California and an aunt in Pittsburgh. I let them know that I am no longer associated with the JW's and we are ok with the loving relationship. \
The ironic part is that THEY always loved and cared about me........but in my JW fog......I could care about nobody.......why they were dead people...............what a mistake I lived............
But, you know what? I have learned to "NOT FEEL GUILTY" It wasn't my idea to not love them........it was the idea of Brooklyn to "encourage" me to not associate.
HappyDad
.
now that i am no longer a jw, i can associate, and celebrate holidays and other family traditions with my non-jw relatives.
however i am sometimes bitter because i missed so many experiences as a child with my relatives that they seem almost like strangers rather than relatives.. does anyone else feel this way, and how have you bridged the gap?
Hi pratt1
i'm just wondering what everyone's thoughts on this are.
do you feel that it is possible to obsess about the past (in particular about history as a jw) to the point that it hinders you from living a full life?
if you think this is possible, how do you know when the past is taking over?
I think it's called ruminating...........like chewing the cud over and over.
That is what I used to do. Not anymore. I just wish I had the ability to write like most of you guys do! Everything that is said here makes sense.
Blondie...........you have such a wonderful way with words. Keep talking to me.
Danny............In my book, you are on top with insight. I appreciate you.
All the rest.....I don't want to slight anyone..but all of you are an inspiration to me.
HappyDad
so there i was, slaving away in a customers front garden, cutting fascias and guttering to size prior to affixing them to his home.
like all window and gutter fixers, my clothes are covered with a hundred finger marks where i have used my forefinger to point in the mastic and then just wiped it on the nearest thing to hand, ie, me.
i look like i have been the victim of a 1000 seagull bomber raid.
Englishman,
What a crock!
You want to take away from her the suport network with which she is surrounded. You want to take away her social life. You want to take her away from the many friends which she will have accumulated.
In my experience of over 30 years of this org...........I have never seen "support" for anyone who had to stay in a care home or lengthy hospital stay. What I saw was a short burst of seemingly concern....but then shorty after that......any "concern" interfered with their "field service" time.
And FRIENDS? What friends? Shallow......conditional friends! I'm fuming!
HappyDad (Quite pissed now)
this is my first post, and i'm so excited (i've been reading posts on this site for over a year now; i tried to register back in october 2003, but had some problems.
i decided to just go ahead and use my "real" work e-mail address, which seemed to have worked.
just for a short introduction- i got baptized at 14, on september 1, 2001. and on september 1, 2003, the last day of our district convention, i decided i was never going back.
Welcome Littletree,
And congatulations on your trip "out"! The old saying that "Time takes time" can be applied to some of us who left. It just gets better and better each day .........and I'm not talking about "New Light".
HappyDad
im borrowing it from the library and am almost half way through.
at times i have to put it down because it makes me so furious.
i had a difficult time getting into it at first because its definitely not an uplifting book.
I said it before and I'll say it again that Cricis Of Conscience should be mandatory reading for all current JW's and those studying with them.
If it wasn't a "crime" punishable by death to JW's for reading something contrary to ....and the TRUTH about the "so called "Truth" .......could you imagine the exit that would take place?
This book was a real eye opener and turning point in my exit and yes........I had to put it down and digest things at times. I have utmost respect and admiration for Ray Franz for doing the right thing.
HappyDad
im borrowing it from the library and am almost half way through.
at times i have to put it down because it makes me so furious.
i had a difficult time getting into it at first because its definitely not an uplifting book.
I said it before and I'll say it again that Cricis Of Conscience should be mandatory reading for all current JW's and those studying with them.
If it wasn't a "crime" punishable by death to JW's for reading something contrary to ....and the TRUTH about the "so called "Truth" .......could you imagine the exit that would take place?
This book was a real eye opener and turning point in my exit and yes........I had to put it down and digest things at times. I have utmost respect and admiration for Ray Franz for doing the right thing.
HappyDad
hello,forum.my name is dallas and i live in oklahoma.i left the jehovahs witnesses in 1998 after a former member showed me the 1925 false prophecy.i knew circuit overseer william osbeck very well,he left my circuit only to be replaced with brother"if you knock the society i will scream"boatz.he was nothing but a first class coward.he wouldnt even meet with me after i had disassociated myself.i have no regrets about leaving,why didnt my conducters bring up the 1925 failure while i was studying?they failed to mention it.anyway i am glad to be free.god bless you all.-dallas
Welcome Dallas,
You'll be glad you came to this site.
HappyDad
old happydad here!.
i've been on this board for less than two weeks and have met a lot of great xjw's.
this board is a good way to vent and share what is on the mind from what we have experienced.. my question is.........has anyone ever met anyone online or an ex jw whom you have so much in common with...on this board in particular and made posts that led to pm's .....that led to e-mail..........that led to phone calls...............that led to personal visits......that led to a real loving relationship.......and beyond?.
Hi Everyone,
Old HappyDad here!
I've been on this board for less than two weeks and have met a lot of great XJW's. This board is a good way to vent and share what is on the mind from what we have experienced.
My question is.........has anyone ever met anyone online or an ex JW whom you have so much in common with...on this board in particular and made posts that led to PM's .....that led to E-mail..........that led to phone calls...............that led to personal visits......that led to a real loving relationship.......and beyond?
Am I going crazy or is reality finally coming into my life?
HappyDad (Bill)
