I was fed up with the organization for quite sometime before I made the final decision to leave . I started planning my exit though . First I began making friendships with the people I worked with so I would have some support . I also started looking into the internet websites I had always been scared to look at before ...mainly this one . I lurked for a while then started posting so I could have people to vent to about my situation . It gave me much needed courage .
I stopped going in field service first . I just could not be two faced ,telling people at the door one thing while actually feeling the opposite . Then I began missing the book study ,really didn't like some of the people there and was tired of putting up a false pretense . I stayed long enough to give a scheduled talk ,and to fulfill a booked Wedding shoot I had promised for a young Witness couple .
The very next Sunday after that was over ,I just told my husband during the public talk that I wanted to go home . Once we were home I told him I no longer would be attending meetings that I was done . It was quite a shock to him ,and looking back now that is the only thing I would have done differently . I should have eased him into the idea and shared more of my doubts earlier . To his credit though he stopped going to meeting the day I did ...he just did not want to go alone . Our youngest son was starting to miss meetings already and was more than happy to stop all together . Our two oldest children lived on their own and were both still active . Slowly over about two yrs they also quit going for their own reasons . I did not try to influence them ,but I did share how unhappy I had been and why I felt better .
We had been in this same congregation over 30 yrs . None of the Elders called to see what was wrong . Not until over three yrs later did they show up to my door ,because of winter decorations on my porch . They started out with 'Oh we miss you ' , but I reminded them how LONG it had been and that I did not feel they had any right to intrude into my personal life . They then started calling incessantly and stopping by unannounced trying to ask me questions about holidays and Youtube videos I had viewed (guess my youtube account setting was not on private and someone narced about my viewing habits ) So I let them know in no uncertain terms my life was NO longer any of their business .Sent a registered letter to cease and desist all harassment and filed copies with the Police department . When they sent me a JC invitation the Police called the Elder and explained more clearly what cease/desist means ......sense then I have heard not one word Which is all I wanted .... I don't know if any announcement has ever been made at the hall ,most Witnesses avoid me so I can assume there was ,or at least enough gossip . The JW in laws call once a year ,but my husbands Elder brother and family shun us completely ,as does one of my brothers and his family .
Now I openly decorate for Christmas ,vote , attend parties ect....basically live my own life .