HappyGal

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Posts by HappyGal

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  103

  My life ... and how JWD came to be - Part 5

  by Simon in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 1. my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 2. my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 3. my life ... and how jwd came to be - part 4. i swear, i thought it was only a couple of years at most since i wrote part 4 of "my life and how jwd came to be".

  i re-read it after someone posted to it and brought it back on active topics and it was kind of prophetic in a way ... well, i had the 5 years part right if nothing else:.

  it would be nice to visit the site (or whatever one is around then) in 5 years time to let people know how we're doing and find only a few of the same people still around.

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  HappyGal

  Thanks Simon for all your hard work and time spent over the years.

  There is no other forum out there like this site.
  

  It has truly helped me see I'm not alone as an ex-JW.

  Many thanks to you and best wishes to your family.
  
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  25

  Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

  by ttdtt in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i hope you are all having a nice day with family and friends.. :).

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  HappyGal

  Happy Thanksgiving to all of the friends here. I'm grateful to Simon for making this possible and for each of you.
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  4

  Something to laugh about

  by HappyGal in

  1. social
  2. humour

  when you've been in a cult and then get out what should you do?.

  laugh about it!

  find the funny.. that's what the ex-jw in this you tube video did.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r60wd-k0nc.

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  HappyGal

  As serious a topic it is, and in spite of all the damage it's done to countless lives, it's a good thing not only to expose it in a serious manner but also to laugh about it and mock it, because comedy and humor can allow people to explore concepts that would otherwise trigger their defenses.

  Totally agree with you OneEyedJoe
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  4

  Something to laugh about

  by HappyGal in

  1. social
  2. humour

  when you've been in a cult and then get out what should you do?.

  laugh about it!

  find the funny.. that's what the ex-jw in this you tube video did.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r60wd-k0nc.

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  HappyGal

  When you've been in a cult and then get out what should you do?

  Laugh about it! Find the funny.

  That's what the ex-jw in this you tube video did.
  

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R60Wd-K0Nc
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  12

  Do you feel regret?

  by HereIgo in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  to help me move on after leaving the org and to maintain my sanity, i have worked on not regretting the time i spent in it.

  granted, i have only been out 6 years and was 22 when i left, i still was an active jw from age 16-22. those were prime times of my youth that i will never get back.

  i wanted to play high school football and basketball but couldn't.

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  HappyGal

  Lots of regrets about the wasted years and the lost opportunities. I was baptized at 16 and left at 28. Like you Herelgo I feel like the prime years of my life were gone. Very important years to learn and grow as a person.

  I did go to college after I left and it took 10 years but I got my degree. (working full-time and college part-time)

  Schnell, best to you in the pursuit of further education. It is wonderful that you have the freedom to make that choice now.

  One thing I don't regret. I never regretted leaving.
  
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  12

  My 1st Unwitness

  by HappyGal in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i have seen the witnessing carts pop up around our city.

  there were no such carts when i left the jw's in the 1980's.

  since leaving the organization i have survived (and thrived) by: .

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  HappyGal

  No worries. The van was right there. The kids were not in any danger - except maybe of boredom.
  
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  12

  My 1st Unwitness

  by HappyGal in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i have seen the witnessing carts pop up around our city.

  there were no such carts when i left the jw's in the 1980's.

  since leaving the organization i have survived (and thrived) by: .

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  HappyGal

  Thanks SafeAtHome. In answer to your concern, It was 7am and 75 degrees. The van was in the shade. It was still very cool here in Hawaii. Otherwise there would definitely be cause for concern. They usually pack up their carts by 8am. Thanks for caring about the kids.
  
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  12

  My 1st Unwitness

  by HappyGal in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i have seen the witnessing carts pop up around our city.

  there were no such carts when i left the jw's in the 1980's.

  since leaving the organization i have survived (and thrived) by: .

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  HappyGal

  I have seen the witnessing carts pop up around our city. There were no such carts when I left the JW's in the 1980's. Since leaving the organization I have survived (and thrived) by:

  1) educating myself about the organization on the internet (thank you apostates!)
  

  2) finding people who truly care about me

  3) avoiding all JW's (fortunately I had no family still in). However seeing the carts I wanted to share a little of the information I learned. It took awhile to get up the courage.

  Here were my goals:

  1) Maintain calm at all times.

  2) Do not get confrontation as the JW's would shut down and stop listening.

  3) Get over my fear of talking to JW's.

  4) Share a tibit of what I've learned

  Today was the day. As I approached the cart I noticed something that has never happened before. The cart was being manned or rather womanned by one sister. Alone. Perfect!

  I greeted her and started studying the literature on the cart. I picked up the booklet The Secret of Family Happiness. I took my time and looked through the chapters. I told her how concerned I was when I learned about the Australian Royal Commission, 1000+ victims of child sexual abuse and the two-witness rule. I then asked her what she thought about that. She had never heard of it before. We continued to talk to a few minutes more. We listened to each, was respectful so she didn't shut down her mind. It was a short conversation but I accomplished all my goals. She may or may not ask someone about the Australian Royal Commission. (hopefully she will) I do feel better having done it. I feel it is part of my healing.

  Additional note to share: While we were talking about the importance of family she mentioned she has two children. Then she pointed to her van and said they were sitting in the van. My heart just dropped thinking of those two kids having to spend so much time waiting in a van while their mom is at the cart.
  
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  38

  How have you felt since you learned TTATT?

  by tornapart in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  it's been 4 years since it happened to me.

  an almost overnight experience.

  i read ray franz coc in 3 days and that was it.

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  HappyGal

  Like Desirousofchange I sometimes feel angry and sometimes feel stupid at not seeing it sooner.

  But then I remember that we were not allowed to read anything, watch anything, or talk to anyone who would have another viewpoint on Jehovahs Witnesses.

  Once my eyes were opened and critical thinking kicked in it was amazing how quickly the truth about the truth sunk in. There was no going back to the naiive person I once was.

  Give yourself credit for what you have already accomplished. It is truly amazing. It is a process and it takes time.

  I hope your family wakes up soon and can join you in this journey.
  
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  18

  How was it for you when you had to shun someone?

  by Anator in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i remember a good friend when i was in and active who was d'fd.

  when he started coming back, for me at that time is was gut-wrenching not to say 'hello' or at the very least encourage him to continue.

  i thought even at this time, does this act of shunning really effective?

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  HappyGal

  A good friend of mine had been disfellowshipped but then was trying to get reinstated. I would see her at he kingdom hall but of course couldn't say a word to her. At the time, I didn't question anything so I just thought that was the way it was suppose to be. Later, after I faded, I felt bad about the whole thing. Like a really bad friend. I still think back on it and wish I'd had the guts to at least call her at home and talk to her as a friend without the "come back to Jehovah" message.