I think one of the major head in hands blows post-jw was realizing my own mortality. The fact that I wasn't going to live forever, that in fact my life was finite was a difficult realization after 30+ years as a born-in. But was I had my moment, or rather several moments, I actually felt relief. It meant that I could live my life for now - breathe laugh work help others - all now. I was no longer just biding time until some vegetarian lions and panda hugging fantasy world. I can't imagine the emotional turmoil of my parents nearing 70 who have spent their whole lives in expectation, or my grandmother in her 90's who used to tell me as a little kid (when she was not much older than I am now) that it was just around the corner.
jesscd
JoinedPosts by jesscd
-
43
If this system goes on.
by karter ini heard my hard out jw sister say that for the 1st time in many years and i'm hearing more and more jw's saying that.
years ago when i was in they talked about the new system coming any minute..
-
-
jesscd
-
29
You know it's time to give up the JW religion when your route call tells you to
by jambon1 inlasting memory of the latter period of time in the organisation:.
i had a route call with the magazines whom i'd called on for a number of years.
eventually when i become a parent i became consumed with negativity, doubt (blood issue) & depression.
-
-
jesscd
I spent most of my adult life struggling with bouts of depression - over and over I would be told pray more, go out in service more (was a pioneer), more personal study, etc etc etc. Those were the nice comments. Then there were the ones that were less nice like "oh you must be doing something or have done something to block Jehovah's spirit". Guilt guilt guilt.
When I left there was some rough times as I transitioned after 30+ years as a born in to a "worldly person". However, slowly the overwhelming depression lifted to a very manageable content life. I graduated college, became a mom, settled into the cliche PTO middle age career mom thingy. Not perfect but I'm relatively happy.
A few years ago I ran into a close relative who is also an elder. He actually talked to me for quite awhile. Because he is a relative he had heard through the grapevine how well my life was going and he told me everyone (The congregation/friends) were actually kind of angry/perplexed because I was doing so well - so much better. I outright told him when all the needless constant guilt and unreal expectations went away do did my depression. As a witness I had been born to fail. He had no reply. He didn't get angry. He just got this look in his eye like "yeah, I get it". I found out shortly after that through the grapevine that he had been dealing with his own issues with internal elder politics.
Shortly, after that I ran into another elder, one who had actually been on my judicial committee. He was always a very sweet older brother and said that I looked like I was doing really well. I said yes I was. He said he and his wife missed me, but obviously things were going well for me and left it at that.
Deep down I think a lot of those in really really know it is not a healthy environment. -
35
What age were you when you were counted as a publisher?
by OrphanCrow inthe wts has always included minors and adults in the same categories - publisher and baptized.. i am interested in knowing how many minors, approximately, are included in the publisher count.
and, at what age a person started publishing.
what age was the youngest publisher reported?.
-
-
jesscd
5 or 6
-
15
Yoga pants parade to protest a mans comments on women's wear.
by ToesUp inyoga pants parade.
i guess tight pants tony isn't the only man that needs to get a life!.
-
-
jesscd
I am totally giving myself up by saying this - but I lived in the above town many years ago for years and I really can't believe this has made national news. If you knew the town it is kind of a bit uppity and known by the local kids as Borrington - and this has just made it just that much more of a joke. Us locals are having quite fun with it.
As a mom of two small children - yoga pants are so so comfortable, convenient, and my saving grace - I just might join in the march, but with my own personal anti-TTP agenda. -
32
What would be the perfect song to introduce a JW comedy sketch?
by usualusername1 ini have no idea.... .
any ideas will help.... .
-
-
jesscd
Hotel California - Eagles
Handle With Care - Traveling Wilburys -
32
In the paradise JWs will have a standard uniform
by RodrigoGuerreiro inanyone else notice this on the last video of the regional convention 2016?.
frame stills:.
conclusion: it seems that the paradise will not be only the end of wickedness but also the end of the jws typical cheap polyester suits :-p.
-
-
jesscd
Notice all the women have long hair also.
-
83
what buzz word from the jw's do you hate & why?
by Sabin inso my hubby has been on a bit of a roll about the jdubs, we were talking a lot about them & he said the buzz word he hate's the most is "worldly" why?
because he say's "with that one word they have condemned (according to their believes) a person as being worthy of nothing but death.
".
-
-
jesscd
stumble
bad association
worldly
-
16
Even Now, You Haunt Me...
by Garrett ineven after leaving the organization, it still lurks in the background like a shadow.. as some of you know, i met a wonderful girl a while ago (which i'm going to need your help with).
she is a catholic and i am open and very respectful of her beliefs.
however, i know there will be a time where i will have to tell her that i once was a witness... and to be honest, i'm quite scared of that.. i don't want things to be ruined between us because of a disgusting cult that i was in.
-
-
jesscd
My husband was raised a catholic. It will but won't matter. She will never totally understand - and that is why forums like this are vital to connect with those who do understand. Don't expect her to understand, but let her know. Honestly it mostly gets you sympathy points. : ) If you are serious and pursue to marriage and children that might make a difference. I fought to not have our children raised as catholics or any religion - and not to be baptized, even though his family were pretty adamant. When I explained my reasoning and my plan of educating the children in all beliefs and letting them make an informed decision as adults he relented and now is totally on board with the concept. -
155
Survey: How long were you in the cult vs what year you were baptized
by ILoveTTATT2 inhi people,.
i want as much data as possible on the effect of the internet on the time captured by the cult.. please answer the three following questions about yourself or about someone you know (for example, if your parents or grandparents were jw's and left).
1) were you raised as a jw, or did you convert?.
-
-
jesscd
1) were you raised as a JW, or did you convert?
Raised (3rd generation)
2) when were you baptized/started seriously being with the witnesses? (Date please, i.e. 1997)
Started taking seriously being witness very young, but wasn't baptized until 1985 (a couple days after I turned 13).
3) when did you leave/woke up completely? (date please, i.e. 2013)
I was physically out - disfellowshipped in 2005, but wasn't completely mentally out until I started doing internet research when I was pregnant with my daughter in 2010.
-
47
YMCA ? Are we allowed to go there or not?
by Quarterback inhalf of our congregation goes there to work out because of the good pool facilities and prices, and the other half think that it's wrong due to it's old charter.
but no one is enforcing the wrong or right of it.
i'd be interested in knowing how this is being applied worldwide.
-
-
jesscd
I was told by the elders in my congregation when I was in that even if you received a free membership from the YMCA you would be disfellowshipped or disassociated because it was pledging membership to a false religious charter. You could take individual classes there, but you could not join the Y as a member to use their facilities on a regular basis as it was considered apostasy. I believe this is still upheld.