Posts by Deidra

11

thinking of starting a radio show

by seagrl in

hi, my name is lori.

like many of you, i was involved with the cult of the jw's for many years, and it has taken many years to recover/.. i am a member of blogtalkradio, and my info page can be found here:.

i have been a guest speaker on two shows so far speaking out on the subject of cults, and in particular, jw's.. the link above will lead you to where you can hear my one hour segment... i am presently considering hosting my own show and having variuos guest speakers to discuss on air the things we are all talking about in the forums.

Deidra

Sounds good to me! I'm down.

9

Happiness versus unhappiness

by jacethespace in

for those of you who have left the watchtower have you experienced greater happiness since leaving than when you were in.especially a feeling of all that pressure lifting of conforming to the tower that you didnt realize originally made you misrable and was blamed on satan.thats how ive feel these days since leaving.i feel more natural and mentally stable than when i was a conforming jw.. on the other hand have you noticed these days when i bump into my ex congregation associates they look quite unhappy and depressed.then again it could be because some of them dont know how to deal with me knowing that ive left watchtower land..

Deidra

JWS- they all look like a bunch of depressed mindless morons when I see them. Unfortunately, my parents look like they could run off the side of the road any minute. Seriously, they have no idea how they look. No smiling, laughing or just that look of inner peace and happiness. It's so sad. It really does hurt my at times to see my family so oppressed by a man-made organization.

9

Happiness versus unhappiness

by jacethespace in

for those of you who have left the watchtower have you experienced greater happiness since leaving than when you were in.especially a feeling of all that pressure lifting of conforming to the tower that you didnt realize originally made you misrable and was blamed on satan.thats how ive feel these days since leaving.i feel more natural and mentally stable than when i was a conforming jw.. on the other hand have you noticed these days when i bump into my ex congregation associates they look quite unhappy and depressed.then again it could be because some of them dont know how to deal with me knowing that ive left watchtower land..

Deidra

WOW. Life has been so wonderful since leaving the organization. Growing up as an elder's child I:

never played sports, therefore never developed social skills

never interacted with wordly kids or weak ones in the hall (so I had very little friends)

never belonged to any school clubs, attended events or functions

never slept in on Saturdays

never watched cartoons on Saturday (had smurfs and cabbage patch dolls taken away - demonized - traumatizing)

always had to come in from playing outside (riding bikes, etc. in summer) to go to weekday meetings or constantly study for them

knocked on the doors of my classmates and was embarassed

thought that life all hinged on the impending armageddon

felt that at any day my parents wouldn't love me if I didn't do as they said - a puppet on a string

TODAY:

I'm involved in sports - I enjoy my gym membership and physical activities to the fullest

Make new friends often and enjoy them with no beer limits!

sleep in on Saturday mornings

enjoy time outside with my husband and daughter

my daughter goes to christian school

don't care if my parents don't love me anymore; god gave me more blessings to be thankful for

we go to church. I learn, worship and praise God, heal, cry and leave my worries there - God takes care of them for me

I laugh and smile constantly

I live, laugh, and love

It's wonderful. I never understood what it meant when people say "life is what you make it." It sure is. With God's help and blessings, life is good.

78

Why do you put up with crap off your JW famlies?

by dawg in

i see where many of you have jw family members that give you a ration of crap once in a while; i've heard many rationalizations as to why some of you refuse to speak out.

as many of you know, i wrote a series of letters and exposed my apostasy formerly; in the letters i told my family they had better beware of shunning me of treating me like a pile when they run into me, i realized that i couldn't make them accept me into their houses, but in public was a different matter.

i basically told them that in public, especially at funerals, that i would rain down a load of crap on any family member that shunned me or treated me badly in anyway.

Deidra

Hallelujah DAWG!!!! You said so eloquently what I couln't have said better. I got so tired of tip toeing around my family. I had to take a stand for what I believed in - and it wasn't the JWs. I felt so much better once I did. They are wrong and I let them know to this day. I do not give in to them and God has blessed me for it. We'll never get anywhere with JWs if we have some people that accept the way they're treated. I call them out - in public - wherever. The way they treat DFs is downright ugly. They can't treat human beings worse than dogs and make the world think that they're such a great group of peole. NO!!!!!!!! It's their turn to be embarassed. I tell everyone I can so that they don't give the JWs the time of day when they come to their door, etc................

30

Ever Since I Stopped Speaking to My Parents and Sister...

by cognac in

jw
friends

i haven't needed to take my ptsd meds.. i've quit drinking altogether.. i stopped drinking coffee (just decaf).

i'm eating a lot healthier.

i just feel a lot more calm and so much happier its not even funny.... i know that i've had to stop taking my meds a lot because i haven't had to deal with them, not sure if the other things have anything to do with it or not... i just think it's a bit sad that i feel so much happier with them out of my life... i feel like i can grow as a person so much more.

Deidra

I think it's wonderful. I had to cut off my family too. I agree that my relationship with them proved to be very toxic. Although it sometimes still hurts, my life is much better now. I can breathe and I feel free. I rather hurt a little without them and enjoy life then to live with them and be miserable.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It takes a strong person to put their foot down when it feels like everyone is against you. Good for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life will only get better. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

40

hi newbie to this great place

by freespirit67 in

sorry this has turned out longer than i thought.anyway i lived the life of a single mother fell away from the organisation,and eventually met a (worldly) guy who is the most loving guy i have ever met,my best friend,lover and soulmate.i was disfellowshipped 4 months ago because we live with each other and plan to get married in september,unacceptable to the society hence my disfellowshipping.it has broke my mum and dads heart and im so so sorry for this,i love them so much,but no longer want or believe in the jw beliefs.

i still believe in god but dont know where im bound as regards my faith,i really do want to have something.

apart from my mum and dad and the shunning arrangement im so happy,the happiest i have ever been in years,and my 2 youngest ones are happy as well..my eldest daughter is 16 and planning on getting baptised in july which is tearing me apart,she is so like me,but is being brainwashed by a certain crowd of witnesses,need i say anymore...my eldest son who is 18 isnt in the truth and feels the same way i do... anyway thanks for this forum and hope to hear from likeminded friends soon.

Deidra

Welcome. Your story a familar one for many on this board. Stick around and find some healing here.

32

A Touching Heartfelt Experience at The ATM Machine!

by caliber in

a touching heartfelt experience at the atm machine!.

it was a very touching experience that i had this last weekend at the atm machine.

it was about half an hour discussion but what follows is the highlights that i remember most vividly.. it begins with a once a upon a time pioneer partner of my wife (h4o) coming in to the atm.. jw says....how are things going?

Deidra

Beautiful. I'm touched nearly everyday by people who show me love (not JWs).

73

The 70 years of devastation--as revealed by the Bible

by AddaGirl in

watchtower teachings say this period is from 607 bce to 537 bce.

most of the documentation relating to the seventy years indicates that period to be 609 bce to 539 bce, the rule of the babylonian empire.

i wrote to headquarters, because as a bible study student i knew i could ask questions about certain doctrines that those baptized cannot without consequence and some of the information i received from them was very helpful especially when it was used to verify the chronology of the kings of judah and israel through the bible.. the bible says there are actually (2) 70-year periods.. the first being one of servitude to the babylonians of both israel & judah from 609 bce to 539 bce.

Deidra

JCannon

Get a life

14

I have to go to a JW funeral

by Mrs Smith in

a very good friend of mine's brother passed away yesterday.

the funeral is on friday and i really feel i need to be there for my friend.

she lives out of town and does not have many friends here that can be with her in her time of need.

Deidra

As long as she continues to be your friend, you must do the same. Support her. I agree, it's all about her. One day, hopefully she will sacrifice something for you. As much as you hate to step into a KH, you have to.

15

OHIO

by IP_SEC in

jw
friends

what is round in the ends and hi in the middle????.

i'll be there next week if anyone is around..

Deidra

You're really not coming? I'm in Columbus Ohio and was hoping to connect in person with some exJWs

Not funny.