Dearest Dog,
I am very sorry for your pain and know exactly how it feels. I grieve off and on over the years. I can’t understand how I found this site last night. I was on an article and it led to another and then here I am. But grateful I am not alone! Even though it’s been years...every part of my upbringing and belief system and idea about the world was from the Kingdom Hall. I am grateful to be away but still feel a deep loss. I miss my family, my congregation and the feeling of belonging. I feel it’s much harder for those raised from birth sometimes because it’s all we ever knew. I also feel that after leaving, I have never found my place in another community and feel isolated and alone most times. It’s not easy to heal. Everyone has a different experience. I have hope for you and all of us. There are many of us experiencing the same grief and wishing it would end. You are not alone! Leaving creates a huge, deep, painful hole in your soul that is often difficult to recover from. We all deal very differently with the grief process. Take care of yourself. No advice really just know that I truly care even if we don’t know each other.
nicole