has anyone read this whole book yet?.
beck has always been a favorite of mine, and i bet there are a lot of similiarities here to what many jws have been through in leaving/abuse issues...but honestly i don't know if i have it in me right now to read the whole thing.. it looks like a fabulous book, though.
excerpt here.... http://www.leavingthesaints.com/excerpt.html.
(((((((((Essie))))))))))
How are you hon? You've been in my thoughts lately. Working in a garden in the spring always makes me think of you for some reason. I just planted tomatoes and peppers last Saturday and was wondering how you were. (Yeah...weird I know.)
Love to you,
Andi
well some of the same people are still here as when i was active here.. some updates on me.. i got my bachelors degree.. mitch and i are still together.
16 years this month.. i now work in market research.. i have 125 board games.. i have now visited 20 national parks.. i have gained 30 lbs that i need to lose.. hugs to all.
joel
((((((((((Joel)))))))))))
Thanks for the update! Congratulations on your degree! And congratulations on your anniversary. We all have a lot to be thankful for.
Love,
Andi
my mom as well as a few others are "hooked up by phone" to the meetings.
lately, the elders are saying in their talks that if a brother or sister could be at the meetings but instead are "hooked up", then they are hurting jehovah by not having regular association with the "friends" at the kingdom hall.
Where is the concern for a fellow bro or sis health? I just don't get it. These are people that are God's chosen ones? God's modern day organization and mouthpiece?! I know He's in heaven either getting ill or pissed over these idiots. I look back now and can barely fathom that this is where I came from. Honestly, it sickens me.
The people with no mercy deserve to get exactly what they're giving. I hope they remember how little mercy they shared as they sit there alone and without friends when their day comes.
she's in the hospital suffering seizures.
i don't know much more than that.
i'll go see her at the hospital tomorrow.
((((((Tres))))))
I'm praying!
Andi
ok, i promised an update on stanley today.
we found him over the weekend.
seems he was getting cozy with aude in california.
Rachel,
Has Flat Stanley made it to Dallas at all? I'll have a mini-fest in the honor of his presence should he be interested in coming. I promise to fuzz out all the pictures with his face in it, so his anonymity isn't blown here on the board.
Andi
i got this baby sister.
she's a dub, one of the last of my mother's brood who remains in favor of the dying cult.
or the cult of the dying.
I wouldn't drop the bomb. I know how tempting it is, especially considering her attitude towards you lately. But I'd take the high road. Which is be sweet, sweet, sweet. Her rantings will only make her look like the idiot in the end. If she truly has a personality disorder, then my belief is that she won't take your info with a grain of salt anyway. She'll deny it, say you're an apostate, and probably rant some more. Why bring out her anger when she probably isn't going to listen anyway?
Maybe you can send something to her anonymously in the mail. Maybe a spoof of questions from the readers with a question about the NGO/UN thing. You can say whatever you want because you're the author and she won't know that.
I can say that I've thought about doing something like that (the anonymous question from the readers things) with my folks, but don't know if it's worth it. We haven't been in touch in over 8 months now. My life's been pretty peaceful...and I think I like it that way. I think I'd rather let sleeping dogs lie.
Andi
i walk alot in the summer time, usually about 5 miles a day when it's nice.
i never eat too much, so i don't gain weight.
a few days ago, i bought 2 ten pound dumbells and elastic bands and hand grips at walmart... i exercise with that about an hour a day.
Talesin,
I have to eat healthy, so weight is no longer a problem for me. Just find out that you can't eat grains and processed foods for medical reasons, and see how quickly the pounds melt off!
I'm allergic to wheat. Which eliminates anything with flour in it. Pasta, breads, cakes, cookies, crackers, donuts, and everything else that tastes yummy. I miss it terribly, but I must say it makes it a breeze to watch my figure. I can eat almost anything else that I want and I don't exercise regularly. (Unless you count weeding a garden in the summer.) Also because of my ADD meds, I don't drink caffeine, which has tremendously helped my sleep cycle. I get great sleep now because of that.
Andi
i've seen how some are so burdened by the fact that they were witnesses, that literally, every day is a struggle.
are you in need of therapeutic help because you are or were a jehovah's witness?
Two elders I was very close to as family "friends" attempted to molest me. I was DFed for a sin that I went forward with. I was expecting mercy because I had a drinking problem and all they did was DF me. The only religion I'd ever really been around had abandoned me. In turn I believed that GOD abandoned me. My father pretty much disowned me because I was seeing a therapist for my drinking issues and other acting out behaviors. I was kicked out of the only family I'd ever had growing up. My parents left the town I was living in and I can count on two hands how many times they've contacted me in the last 14/15 years.
So yes. I struggle with depression. I had very valid reasons to. It is not NEARLY as bad as it used to be though. I have realized my trigger points and what sets me off into depressive episodes. I can help avoid those by three things:
Just some little tricks that work for me. But when I do have a really bad several days or weeks and I'm in a depressive spiral, I don't hesitate to get a "tune-up" appointment with my psychiatrist. Even one session can get me boostered up again. I don't hesitate to get on meds if I need to either. The bad doesn't last forever if I just do what I need to do to take care of myself.
Andi
so i moved out of my parents house..i left the thursday night meeting early and i called up my friend to pick me up and i packed all my clothes.
my parents called that night, they were upset and said they would change, but that decision was too soon.
i would give it time.
(((((tsunami rider))))))
I'm so sorry you're having a tough time right now. I got kicked out when I was about your age. That was almost 15 years ago. Really, looking back, it was a blessing in disguise. It was hard being on my own, but I'm so glad it happened. I learned to be responsible in ways I'd never been before. I hope it works out well for you too.
Andi
this is brandon bartlett, formerly 2escaped lifers here on the forum.
quick background: myself, wife, and two boys (10 and 12), left the borg together about three years ago.
were da'd a little over a year ago.
If they want to see your kids, let them come to your house and spend the time with them there. Accompanied by you or your wife.
I don't see anything wrong with this. If my parents, wanted to see my children, I'd be happy to. On my terms. They're MY kids. And honestly, it's exactly what my parents did with my regarding my worldly grandparents. They got to see us...on Mom and Dad's terms.
