Posts by happytobefree

47

How did you break the news to your parents?

by tootired2care in

jw
friends

so one of the things both me and my wife are faced with is breaking the news that we've stopped going to meetings to our parents.

my wifes parents could go either way, they have made several critical remarks of the wt over the years, while my parents are die hard jw's.

i tossed the idea around of sending a letter or doing a phone call or just not saying anything.. we've decided that were just tired of having to hide our true feelings and play pretend.

happytobefree

tootired2care I suggest that you don't tell them until you absolutely have to. But even if they come and visit...just say you have something else planned and you make arrangements for them. Or you can go with them ad act like nothing is new...if you have say something...just say you have been very busy with work, school, distressed (they don't have to know it's distressed over the WTBS).

It's JW thinking when we feel we must confess stupid ish. People in the normal world...don't feel a need to get parents, friends, etc. approval or the need to confess about your life. This is really JW thinking. Because at the end of the day...you are responsible for your life PERIOD!!!

Your family had the choice to become JW's or to stay JW's without your consent....so why do you feel you need their consent.

34

If you are fader, how do you handle assignments etc.

by Slidin Fast in

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happytobefree

Blondie...my mother has not been on the TMS for over 25 years and my father is an elder. I always wondered how she was able to pull this off. But she also only attend the meetings on Sunday...and alot of Sundays she is saying she's sick.

Being an eleder wife is definitely a privilege in the hall.

20

I like the Christmas lights, but not the Commercial part of Christmas

by Quarterback in

jw
friends

it's that time of year, again.

neighbours competing with each other for the best display of christmas decorations.

some are tackyy t, and some are very tastefull.

happytobefree

I love the religious part of Christmas, I love the commercial part of Christmas, I LOVE Christmas. I love the spirit of Christmas.

I loved the commercial part of Christmas when I was a JW and now...the stores are open late (convenience for my busy schedule), great sales, unique finds, and alot of joyful people (yes most are joyful).

This is one thing that bothered me as JW and with non JW. Very few things should bother you or stumble you. If you don't like the commerical aspect of Christmas...then celebrate it without the commerical aspect. But being a scrooge to the others enjoying their choice is just not right.

16

How does it feel to be reinstated ?

by Pitchess Co-Gen in

i've been disfellowshipped for about 2 years now and i was wondering whats it like to be reinstated ?

.

happytobefree

I wish I had not read this thread and Hoffnung story and the threads she posted.

I'm literally crying...I had no idea that people had to go through this ish to come back...and I was a born in JW.

I knew this religion was awful...but not to this degree.

My father is an elder and a liberal one. But I had no idea they are horrible like this. WOW!!!

...the next time my mom mentioned that my sister need to write a fricking reinstatement letter...I'm going to break my silence about speaking about the JW organization. I've said to her before that my sister don't need the fucking JW religion...she need to visit a Therapist.

No wonder most JW/exJW are so screwed up!!!! Now I understand why after I read an article on PTSD...I related to everyone one of the symptoms. God help us all who have suffered and continue to suffer because of this AWFUL RELIGION!!!

26

Redhorsewoman from DriveslikeJehu

by Antioch in

hi redhorsewoman,.

i doubt you still log on here but i wanted to try.

i just wanted to thank you for arguing with me all those years ago on beliefnet.

happytobefree

Wow DriveslikeJehu...I remember you.

And I use to love love Rehorsewoman's post.

Congratulations to your Freedom!!!!

10

Just wondering about the slangs used to describe disfellowshiping

by 20yearfader in

happytobefree

Riding on the Ship

64

Have You Changed Since Getting On To This Site?

by minimus in

jw
friends

are you the same poster/person now?

i have seen many posters mature here.

some still act like jws but others have shown recovery and progress from the witness mentality..

happytobefree

Thanks Simon!!! You just do not know that you LITERALLY SAVED MY LIFE!!!

Your are the one that is doing Life Saving Work!!! lol

64

Have You Changed Since Getting On To This Site?

by minimus in

jw
friends

are you the same poster/person now?

i have seen many posters mature here.

some still act like jws but others have shown recovery and progress from the witness mentality..

happytobefree

I have grown so much since first finding this site. I don't know if I started lurking in 1999 or 2000 (when did this site start). But I remember lurking a long time before I had the courage to post.

When I first started I definitely knew that the WTBS was not for me...but did not know why. Well when I started reading post from Simon, Redhorsewoman, Larc...cannot remember all of the names. But I was amazed that people all over the world had the exact same experience. So this gave me the courage to read COC (didn't even know about the book prior to visiting the site). After that the blinders fell completely off...my suspicions about the Borg since I was a 5 year old child feeling awful in kindergarten because the teacher gave me a stupid clown to color instead of making beautiful Xmas trees. I really always HATED being raised a JW.

....well now I really cannot remember all of the JW beliefs, when I'm around them, I cannot believe how corny and juvenile they come across.

I'm now a churchgoing, casino loving, mother of a Army Soldier, gun owning, business owner, divorcee, proud grandmother faded JW. And I'm loving life. I have 2 sons in College, my nephew is Class President, on the soccer team. My neice is on the dance team, just had her first kiss @ 13, another niece just received a scholarship to attend a great private catholic school. Yes...this sound like normal stuff to Worldlies...but to a faded JW this is FREEDOM!!! AND PEACE!!!

And I thank Simon for this life changing site!!! My family is so grateful...you changed the course of the next generation for my family for the BEST!!! Bless You and your wife (I forgot her name..sorry) and everyone who help make this site GREAT!!!

I am truly a CHANGED BLESSED WOMAN!!!

31

What is up with the influx of electronic readers at the Kingdom Hall

by wannabefree in

jw
friends

crazy!.

the local publishers seem to be jumping on the e-reader bandwagon.. sisters even in their 70's are showing up at the hall with ipads loaded with publications for the meetings for crying out loud!.

a couple of these elderly sisters are having me get theirs ready ... should i add coc and captives of a concept ... perhaps studies vol vii ... to the library for them.

happytobefree

Wow...that would have been wonderful when I was going. Instead of reading the JW crap...I could have been enjoying a great novel, completing my homework, playing games.

I'm going to have to invest in purchasing devices for my parents. It may help loosen the grip of the Borg.

86

WHAT ARE YOUR MOST VIVID, ODD, or FUNNY Memories of Conventions and Assemblies of Jehovah's Witnesses?

by Balaamsass in

share with us memories of the bizarre, funny, strange, what you hated, what you miss...we all have them.

(question..why the big to do between terms- convention and assembly .

happytobefree

I have a wonderful fond memory of chasing boys at the convention.

I don't know if any of you know...but Eddie Levert of the O'Jays was married to a JW. So when I was 13 years old...his sons Gerald and Shaun Levert were at the Richfield Convention, in Richfieldd, Ohio. So anyway...my cousin and couple of my JW girlfriends were on the look out for them all day. Well we just so happen to come upon them and Gerald Levert sent someone over to ask about me. I was so giddy and lost my mind...I told them I wasn't interested in him...I came to the Assembly to learn about Jehovah. My cousin said, tell him I interested in getting to know him and then the two of them took off to the parking lot to make out.

...anyway...I missed my opportunity to make out with Gerald LeVert. And she still enjoy telling everyone that she had the honor...lol