Posts by troubled mind

40

First Time Post - Long time reader

by Samaritan At the Well in

today is my first post on jwd, i was one of jehovahs witness for almost 50 years of my life, i was born into the religion.

i was baptized at a young age and once i got married i was a very spiritual woman as they would call me.

my husband and i served as full time pioneers, we traveled abroad and went to international conventions, did some special pioneer service in other states in the us.

troubled mind

I too laughed when you described looking over your shoulder at the bookstore ! Because I did the same thing . The fear you described is so real at the time ,and so sad when I think back on it . I just read your account to my husband ,and told him how I hid my internet searches from him ,afraid he would turn me into the Elders .

Welcome to you and your husband . I think it is interesting and encouraging to see others like us (born in and in our 50's) awakening and finding freedom from the Watchtowers hold.

I wish you the best on the journey and discovery from here on out. Someone here told me to take it slow ,and remember we may never have all the answers ,and that is OKAY ! Best advice .

So did you and your husband just stop attending or did you DA yourselves ? How has the exit gone for you ? Looking forward to reading more of your story .

27

Memories. .. share the earliest or most favorite childhood memory

by MissFit in

my daughter tells me that experts say children tend to have false memories.

apparently their brain tends to fill things in that may not be totally accurate.. i refuse to believe that my favorite and comforting memory might not be true.

so here is to fond memories real or not.. the earliest memory i have is being put in a crib at a preschool.

troubled mind

My first memory is of going to a circus ,and really wanting a monkey . My Mom bought me a toy monkey on a stick that moved like a marionette .My memories start at about age four. We lived on a Military base and I remember quite a bit about living there . My best memories in early childhood are linked to smells....my Grandfather lived on a dairy farm ,and his wife grew fragrant flowers and herbs along the path from the house to the garage .Marigold ,herbs,evergreens,and ceder smells bring back a wonderful feeling of sunshine and peacefulness.

I am curious about how much we do fill in memories from childhood . My husbands perspective from childhood wildly differs from his sisters,and they are only 2 yrs apart.

23

Do you have someone you trust?

by myjourney in

jw
friends

hi, i'm a newbie around here.

i've been reading the posts, but reluctant to step out of my safe zone.

i definitely see how coming to a safe place to ask questions, vent, etc.

troubled mind

Welcome myjourney ! It was very lonely at first when I began questioning what I had been raised to believe . Family and other JW were so defensive when I raised even innocent questions . I found a friend in someone at work that was a great listener ,but I think the greatest help was coming to this forum for venting ! Any time day or night I could post on here and have almost an immediate response .

Please feel free to vent ,but also realize this is a huge group of personalities and the responses you get may not all be what you expected . Many times in the beginning of posting I was offended by comments ,they felt raw and harsh . Over time though I began to realize that is how real people talk to each other honestly ,no more fake telling you only what you want to hear .

I hope you will find the support you need . Some can come from online ,but it is important to reach out to others for face to face time . Your workmate is a great choice ,also consider local ex-jws you may know but have lost contact with . Join a club or sport related group ,something outside of the religious aspect to broaden your social contact .

24

Christmas Eve Afternoon

by Joe Grundy in

jw
friends

well, it's christmas eve afternoon here now in the uk.. traditionally a time when all the panic shopping is over, what's done is done, what you've forgotten you've forgotten, time to raise a glass (or two) and relax.. so may i wish all members/readers/posters a very happy xmas, whether you celebrate it or not, and extra 'get up and go' for 2015.. best wishes to all.. .

troubled mind

A very Happy Xmas to you too Joe !

My day is just beginning here in the Mid-West of the USA. I will be cooking ,and cleaning this morning ,and afternoon .Two of my sons, and one daughter in law wil be arriving this evening for a family dinner of ham,turkey ,and all the trimmings. We will then skpe with our oldest son and his wife that live out west ,and open our Christmas presents together .After the gift opening we will have a few after dinner drinks and probably watch a movie .

Have a wonderful holiday no matter how you decide to spend it !

16

That's what's missing from our family

by dissonance_resolved in

tonight as i was putting my son to bed, we were looking out his bedroom window from his bed, down upon the neighbors' house across the street.

they have a beautiful, big sparkly christmas tree in their front window and my son gazed at it and said, "that's what's missing from our family.

" talk about daggers through the heart!.

troubled mind

It used to be the policy with the Witnesses that the unbelieving mate had the right to celebrate their beliefs in their own home . I remember a Watchtower saying something about 'allowing" the unbelieving mate one room in the house to decorate . Maybe you could research that and share it with the husband . Or if you are like me ....just do it anyways ....and tell him it is your house too ! He gets to share his beliefs with the children you should be given the same respect .

I understand how shakey it is and you don't want to rock the boat ....I have been there . I started out slow with neutral winter decorations ,snowmen,white lights ,deer. Then it was a very small table top tree (the potted kind you accent next to your door) ,and gradually my husband started coming around until I had the real thing . My situation was a bit different in that he had stopped attending meetings too ,but he was still a believer .

Something I have learned over the years is that all the horrible scenarios I imagined would happen if I did what I really wanted to do ,never really happened .

Life is SHORT enjoy every moment ,make happy memories for your children .You have every right as he does to follow what you believe in ,it is not all about keeping him in some kind of comfort zone .

Be careful of supporting the mind set that the husband is the head of the household and dictator of your life ....it is another lie we were told to believe . Marriage is a partnership with give and take on both sides .

Well that is my 2 cents worth take it or leave it ! But for goodness sakes be happy and enjoy life to the fullest !

32

Want to hear something funny ?

by troubled mind in

jw
friends

my husband just won the city wide holiday light display for christmas i am so proud .

just a few short years ago i was the one that put a strand of white lights around the porch railing ,and a couple of lighted deer in the yard ....that brought the elders around real quick (after three years of silence ) at that time my husband was still holding onto the notion his faith was not bond to a cult .

it didn't take long after the 'loving sheparding call' for him to see things in another light.

troubled mind

We suffered an attack from squirrels last night ! They chewed through wires on one of the side bushes and the tree net lights . It rained on top of that and tripped the circuit box off . But he got it fixed enough for the light show tonight . Now we need to find something to repel the varments from chewing on the wires . I told him to mix some cayanne pepper up with salad oil and spritz that on the wires . Any other ideas ?

skeeter - I will have to se what I can do

32

Want to hear something funny ?

by troubled mind in

jw
friends

my husband just won the city wide holiday light display for christmas i am so proud .

just a few short years ago i was the one that put a strand of white lights around the porch railing ,and a couple of lighted deer in the yard ....that brought the elders around real quick (after three years of silence ) at that time my husband was still holding onto the notion his faith was not bond to a cult .

it didn't take long after the 'loving sheparding call' for him to see things in another light.

troubled mind

http://youtu.be/Ni7b6w_Lk-Q

Sorry the sound is not very good ....

32

Want to hear something funny ?

by troubled mind in

jw
friends

my husband just won the city wide holiday light display for christmas i am so proud .

just a few short years ago i was the one that put a strand of white lights around the porch railing ,and a couple of lighted deer in the yard ....that brought the elders around real quick (after three years of silence ) at that time my husband was still holding onto the notion his faith was not bond to a cult .

it didn't take long after the 'loving sheparding call' for him to see things in another light.

troubled mind

Prologos > the candycane pinwheel on the house is really actually pretty cool .....

We are re-doing our childhoods as fifty yr olds ...never to late to make up for lost memories . Our kids are grown and gone so this is for neighbor kids and well US ! The roof was a bit harder this year ,but one of our sons came home and helped . I will go out and make a video and try to post it later !

32

Want to hear something funny ?

by troubled mind in

jw
friends

my husband just won the city wide holiday light display for christmas i am so proud .

just a few short years ago i was the one that put a strand of white lights around the porch railing ,and a couple of lighted deer in the yard ....that brought the elders around real quick (after three years of silence ) at that time my husband was still holding onto the notion his faith was not bond to a cult .

it didn't take long after the 'loving sheparding call' for him to see things in another light.

troubled mind

My husband just won the City wide Holiday Light display for Christmas I am so proud . Just a few short years ago I was the one that put a strand of white lights around the porch railing ,and a couple of lighted deer in the yard ....that brought the Elders around real quick (after three years of silence ) At that time my husband was still holding onto the notion his faith was not bond to a cult . It didn't take long after the 'loving sheparding call' for him to see things in another light. Now he is all about Holiday lights . He has the lights in-sync with computered aided music and movement that he programs himself .

37

If you don't have an "electronic device" you aren't ready for service!

by LostGeneration in

from the feb 2015 km, page 2:.

have a publisher demonstrate how he.

prepares for the ministry by reviewing the tracts,.

troubled mind

I wonder how my Aunt and Uncle are coping with all this technology . They are in their late 70's have always been poor ,but he has always been an Elder and both pioneered on and off for years. They don't even have a computer or internet . I can't imagine they can afford an ipad ....