Posts by HappyGal

24

Has waking up ever made you physically ill?

by fizzle in

jw
friends

has waking up ever made you physically ill?

perhaps because of the emotional strain etc..?.

if if so what were / are the symptoms?.

HappyGal

When I first realized it was not the truth I felt shock. The first month I walked around in a daze. The more I learned I felt anger. All the years gone. Opportunities lost. Friends gone. Important developmental opportunities missed. Learning from scratch how to live in the world.

It can be scary when the foundation of one's belief system is cracked. What to believe in? How to go forward.

Definite stress in the transition. Change is always stressful. And this was one BIG change. Once I got through it -doing research- it got easier. Alot easier.

There are still minor emotional moments. Like when I spotted the JW cart at a craft fair this month. All I can think now is what a waste of their time and I'm so glad I'm not standing by a cart today.

18

My mother's treatment. Unreal.

by quellycatface in

jw
friends

i disassociated myself 3 years ago but have never told my mother, as she lives quite a distance from me in the uk.

i've have told her that i no longer go to meetings, neither does my son, who is 16.. i haven't seen her for 3 1/2 years.

i offered to come visit this week but she was incredibly offhand with me and said she couldn't meet with me today as she was on the ministry!!

HappyGal

Where is the love? We know it is a cult but it still hurts doesn't it? I'm so sorry you were treated that way.

28

Did you ever experience true kindness in the Org?

by HereIgo in

i remember when i was about 17, i started shunning an older brother because he was disfellowshipped.

when i graduated high school, he pulled me aside and said " i know you are not supposed to talk to me, but i want you to have this" it was a gift that he had custom made for me.

i was so blown away, we never even had a real conversation before.

HappyGal

Yes we did but unfortunately it was all conditional love. Once you leave the borg, they are done with you.

That was my experience too.

103

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

by Simon in

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.

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.

25

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

by ttdtt in

jw
friends

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

HappyGal

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

4

Something to laugh about

by HappyGal in

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.

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

4

Something to laugh about

by HappyGal in

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.

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

12

Do you feel regret?

by HereIgo in

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.

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.

12

My 1st Unwitness

by HappyGal in

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: .

HappyGal

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

12

My 1st Unwitness

by HappyGal in

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: .

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.