I too haven't posted an intro - have been feeling so guilty about this. Same fear of being recognized by my story. Hope your journey continues in a way that benefits you....Thanks for posting yours.
Thetis
JoinedPosts by Thetis
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35
An Intro and apology.
by Slidin Fast ini have been an avid reader on this site for a few years and have weighed in on a few topics and introduced a few more without introducing myself.
for this i apologise.
the main reason for my reticence is that being a second generation born in but having been baptised in the 50s i will find it difficult to make an introduction without giving the game away.
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Intro to my book "A Soul Shackled"
by AK - Jeff inmy earliest memories of the religion begin somewhere around the age of 4. i was at least three, because i recall leading the pack around the yard on an explore of some sort.
it was a hot summer day.
our small town was always quiet, and we saw few visitors at our home, for that matter even on our block, when i happened upon a large black four door sedan parked in the edge of our lawn as the streets in our town had no curbs and were narrow.
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Thetis
Looking forward to reading your book. Very descriptive - the quiet town and the black four door sedan conveys something sinister....and it leaves one wanting more. Also, it's from your own perspective.
I'm a firm believer in "writing oneself into wellness" - even if it takes a lifetime.
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Do You Blame Your Current Life's Issues Because You Were A JW?
by minimus indo you tend to blame your problems on the fact that you were a jehovah's witness?.
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Thetis
Yes, I do now and my therapist does. Initially I would never admit this as it would "bring reproach on the Organization".
My Mother just recently apologized for her not being there for me as a child. She had a nervous breakdown when I was very young. I told her that had they not been JW's, at least we could have had some normal interaction with the world - at least a refuge for us. JW Org is a destroyer of dreams and goals in my opinion.
Of course I am bitter, although I have realized that this bitterness was destroying me. And why give them that satisfaction.
Although you cannot look back, the difficulty is always being on the back foot. How do you make up those lost years? You are always behind in everything, as you have to retrain your mind first before you can take a step forward. To be an onlooker in life, isn't easy. Hell, I'm even to scared to get too close to most people, this being the reason for my hit and runs on this forum....chuckle...for which I apologize.
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Awake Articles
by Ding ini always used to wonder about those awake articles that had nothing to do with anything like, "interesting nutritional facts" or other articles that could have just as well appeared in the reader's digest.. can someone explain the purpose of those types of stories?.
the only thing i can see is that people at the door might be willing to look at them even if they wouldn't take the watchtower, thereby giving jws an excuse to make a backcall..
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Thetis
As Lady Lee says, they are the hook in marketing. You could always think of someone who could benefit from articles that were relevant to them, such as my uncle with his problematic in growing toenail, or my neighbour with her cystitis etc. How could they refuse an answer to their problem?.. chuckle..
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Is your Intellect Pre-Enlightenment or Post-Enlightenment?
by Terry inbefore the age of enlightenment the earth was filled with many nations living under vastly differing beliefs about the world.. tribes, nations and empires possessed fanciful superstitious beliefs about their own importance in the big picture.. religion helped man find a place among fearful gods and demons.
faith and belief, ritual and performance duties, helped man allay fears by.
becoming active in appeasing the gods and shunning the evil spirits.. judaism allowed adherents a means of ridding themselves of sin (animal sacrifice) and accounting for wrongs (justice via law).. christianity removed animal sacrifice and substituted fealty to the church (catholic).
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Thetis
I think that I go back and forth over that bridge to pre-enlightenment. When I feel strong, then more towards the post-enlightenment side, but when at a low ebb, the other way. One thing I do know though, is that I do examine religions far more objectively than before. I try and examine both sides without the JW blinkers. However, not so easy to achieve. How do you erase a life time of brainwashing in a short space of time?
Initially I felt fearful when something major happened in the world - I knew I was doomed. I then progressed to accepting this fate. I now think neither...
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Resentments
by JeffT ini first heard this when i was in rehab five years ago.
i cant find the video they showed us on line may be just as well.
the speaker was a priest with some funny mannerisms but he knew what he was talking about.. .
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Thetis
Thank you! You have no idea how much I needed to be reminded of this. I have just hauled out a CD of Wayne Dyer "Inside-Out Wellness" - The wisdom of mind/body healing, that I had bought some time back. I know what I will be listening to now. Thanks for the reminder.....
Every day is a work in progress to let go of this resentment and anger. If we don't have the tools to fight it, it is so dam difficult to stop oneself from spiraling down again. I'm so glad I logged on today. Thank you Jeff.
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Thousands of people have come and gone from this site....is this part of the healing process???
by Witness 007 ini see alot of new names here lately and if you look at the log on names here there are thousands who have moved on....every 2 years the posters change.....some vent and leave, others stay on for years.
i guess moving on with your life is a good thing, i think this site helps...any thoughts?.
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Thetis
Like Tatiana and others, I don't think I will ever be completely over the JW experience but coming here has helped me so much in overcoming fear - the fear of Armageddon, the fear of actually getting a life - not living in limbo - still believing but feeling that I am worthless. Coming here has empowered me as I was always afraid to examine whether the things I had been taught my entire life, were actually true.
It's this unique history we share, that helps so much with the healing process. Having said this, I prefer to read as I am still afraid that someone will recognize my style of writing. Coward that I am......
And, I so wish that I could meet up with others and share that glass of wine......
So, Vampire, even though I am one of those that posted and then disappeared, I am still hovering in the wings... not bored at all. Just getting more brazen in my conduct. lol
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The Greatest Lesson the Watchtower Ever Taught Me
by jamiebowers inthe greatest lesson that the watchtower has taught me is to give the love that has been taken from me.
our mother shuns my brother and me to the extreme.
just this morning she told me on the phone from her hospital bed that we will have to learn her diagnosis through the grapevine.. she wasn't always like this.
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Thetis
When I read your post, I immediately thought of the Bob Dylan song "Make You Feel My Love"
"when the rain is blowing in your face
and the whole world(JW) is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love
When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love........
Your posts are so encouraging. Thank you!
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A Short Introduction............
by Night Owl ini am a former ms and have been active and inactive since i stepped down about 20 years ago.
i am currently inactive.
i may attend a meeting or two a month, sometimes none.. i have no feelings of animosity towards the organization, or anyone in it.
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Thetis
Welcome. I do agree with you about resentment being that silent killer. However, sometimes we actually have to go through the various stages of mourning - loss of a life we could have had, loss of family and friends, and this mourning stage includes anger and resentment too - if only for a while. For some of us, being positive is second nature, for others, a constant struggle. It also depends on how devastating the effect of the org. was on our life, I guess. Just my opinion! It's wonderful that you do have that attitude though.
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The pieces finally come together
by man in black inthis afternoon i got a letter stating that i was accepted to accompany a ww 2 veteran on a flight to washington dc to visit the ww2 memorial in september.. www.honorflight.org.
i also was called to check up on the health of several horses that some friends of my wife adopted, they are very underweight belgians, and these.
new owners want to make sure that they are taken care of.
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Thetis
Only yesterday, I mentioned to my Mom that for the first time in my life, I feel I have the freedom to choose my friends - especially those ardent animal lovers who selflessly give of their time to assist. This makes me happy! I have always preferred animals to humans - growing up JW, this shouldn't be surprising. Instead of waiting for that elusive new system, I can now do my part for animals and not just turn a blind eye to all the suffering.
Your dog sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing.