I also read a lot, whatever I could get my hands on. I felt very freed when I read "The God Delusion". To be able to entertain the idea of there not being a god at all was a sure sign to me that I was healing.
I blogged about my journey. Still do. www.tallpenguin.com
I hooked up with a great therapist who has a lot of experience working with ex-jw's. It has helped me put things into perspective and understand the context for who I have become and where I'm going in my life.
Most of all, I had the love and support of my brother and a group of "worldly" friends who, although not understanding the dynamic of growing up in a cult, loved me unconditionally and were my cheering section through some very rough spots.
Every day is still part of the healing process but I find myself gaining more and more distance from it all. As Simon once said, our goal is to become ex-ex-jw's. I'm getting there.
tall penguin
tall penguin
JoinedPosts by tall penguin
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8
What would or did help you heal from the opression?
by snarf inthere is so much pain caused everyday by the wtc and from people being trapped in abusive relationships, as well as children being abused and neglected.
what has helped you heal in your path to rediscovery in life?
have you healed or are you just beginning?
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tall penguin
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Describe Your Personality in A Few Short Words or Paragraphs-Your Choice !
by flipper inso , what kind of personality do you have ?
since we can't physically see everyone here, i thought this thread might help us to know one another better !
would you describe yourself as outgoing , gregarious, or more quiet, subdued ?
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tall penguin
Sexy, sensitive and cerebral.
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Were You/Are You Oversensitive?
by minimus inwhen you were a jw, did others ever tell you that you were "oversensitive"?
how about now?
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tall penguin
Some of you may relate to being an HSP (Highly Sensitive Person). According to researcher Elaine Aron,
Being "highly sensitive" is "normal--it is inherited by 15 to 20% of the population, and indeed the same percentage seems to be present in all higher animals.
Being an HSP means your nervous system is more sensitive to subtleties. Your sight, hearing, and sense of smell are not necessarily keener (although they may be). But your brain processes information and reflects on it more deeply."
You can take a self-test and learn more here: http://www.hsperson.com/
I wonder if being a jw brings this trait more to the surface. The exposure to so many people on a weekly basis, not to mention assemblies and conventions, raises the HSP's awareness and forces us to constantly wade through more sensory information. Also, the emotionally toxic environment a jw is exposed to puts HSP's on high alert. No wonder so many of us suffered from depression and other maladies.
Yes, I'm an HSP. Have been as long as I can remember. I would guess it's genetic as my mother shows many of the traits as well. Come to think of it, so does my father. I'm learning to play to the strengths of my sensitivity instead of it being all bad. For example, HSP's have a great propensity for empathy and make great counselors and therapists and by extension, great friends. So it does have its gifts.
tall penguin -
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"A New Earth"....Eckhart Tolle
by new boy inthe most powerful book i have ever read.. many have read "the power of now"....his new book blows it away.... the beautiful thing about eckhart is he doesn't claim to have "the truth"...he isn't trying to start a new religion.... he will bring you to tears when he tells you how you have created your own ego driven personal hell.. how we have all "fallen in love" with our own personal stories...the illusion is thinking they are real.... this book will change your world....which we all know is the scariest thing anyone can ever do.. nb .
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tall penguin
I'm in the process of reading it. Loved "The Power of Now" and this follows it nicely. It's a deep read, meaning it has the ability to make you face your illusions, which is not for the faint of heart. Having left one matrix already, finding out the rest of your life is not real either is not easy to assimilate. While it's freeing to see through the veneer of our story, it's still a shock to be left without the safety blanket. The ego really hates being exposed. God, don't I know it.
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What are you doing tonight/weekend?
by KW13 intonight i am going to be driving down to st. helens (not far from liverpool) with an aunt to drop off her car at a friends garage and then coming back with her, fortunately her friend is lending her a car otherwise we'd be stuck there lol.. saturday i am going to a bon-fire with family minus mum and stepdad (don't get me wrong i wish they were there).. sunday - no idea.... .
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tall penguin
Ya, I'm a bit pissed with my date. And no, I won't be answering his call, but then again, I may answer just to tell him I've made other plans for the evening. I'm going out with my gay buddy (Why are gay men so much cooler than straight men btw? Never been stood up by a gay man. Sigh.)
bigwilly, I'll take a raincheck for whenever you can come visit my way. Be great to see you in person.
Have a great weekend folks!!!
tall penguin -
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Studying To Save Lives Again!
by KnowlegeSeeker_UK ini have served as a jw since 1986, im now nearly 30 yrs old.
i pioneered, i served at bethel then i read the bible............. oh !
hang on..... something doesnt seem right.
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tall penguin
Welcome ks. I empathize with where you are. I DA'd two years ago and am still trying to sort out my place in the universe. It's a mindf*#k really to find out the truth about the truth. I've blogged about my journey if you're interested. You may be able to relate to some of it. www.tallpenguin.com
Enjoy the board and post often. It's cathartic to have such a great group of people to share your journey with. And congrats on getting an education. It will serve you well.
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69
What are you doing tonight/weekend?
by KW13 intonight i am going to be driving down to st. helens (not far from liverpool) with an aunt to drop off her car at a friends garage and then coming back with her, fortunately her friend is lending her a car otherwise we'd be stuck there lol.. saturday i am going to a bon-fire with family minus mum and stepdad (don't get me wrong i wish they were there).. sunday - no idea.... .
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tall penguin
Ya Bigwilly. You're too damn far away!!! I'd be glad to have you as my date for the evening. Get on a plane or something!!!
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What are you doing tonight/weekend?
by KW13 intonight i am going to be driving down to st. helens (not far from liverpool) with an aunt to drop off her car at a friends garage and then coming back with her, fortunately her friend is lending her a car otherwise we'd be stuck there lol.. saturday i am going to a bon-fire with family minus mum and stepdad (don't get me wrong i wish they were there).. sunday - no idea.... .
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tall penguin
Well, I was supposed to have a date tonight but he hasn't called yet. So I may just go out and make my own fun. Tomorrow I'm going shopping. I've lost a ton of weight and need some new clothes. Sunday, I'm back to work at the bookstore. No rest for the wicked!
tall penguin -
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tall penguin
Well, I think every congregation has some issues, but I must say that the last congregation I was in was quite wonderful. The elders were loving and attentive, the publishers were open and friendly and everyone mixed well. There were no cliques. It was a very service-oriented congregation where even the lowliest publisher felt like their time in service was valued.
It had a very low rate of disfellowshipping and most people who moved in stayed as long as they could because they liked it there so much.
I realize this isn't the norm by any means, but I was grateful to be there as long as I was in. It was one of the few times as a jw that I actually felt "christian love".
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65
what song best describes your sex life
by karter insound of silence.. as my wife is a j.w all along the watchtower!
!.
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tall penguin
Closer by Nine Inch Nails