Posts by longgone

i have, for about 6 months now, been trying to watch every single movie that was "cool" or interesting since 1960.it started out with a desire to watch as an adult all disney movies.

then it morphed into all bond movies (except for the non-canonicals).now it's turned into pretty much any and all movies.

here is my list, scratched out are ones i have seen, green are recent next-in line.turns out there was a lot i had never seen before, about 70% because of the cult restrictions!

I'm also catching up on gradually on movies and books that were disapproved by the cult leaders. Racing around trying to keep up with the "theocratic routine" didn't leave time for much of anything else anyway.

I'll find your lists helpful as I didn't really know where to start. Thanks! 😊

23

Cart Witnessing On Their Wedding Day

by pale.emperor in

this photo is doing the rounds on jw inspirational on instagram.

although the brothers and sisters think this is "oh so amazing" and "so cool" it's actually very sad and quite shocking.

what, people cant even enjoy their wedding day without the cult invading their special day.

longgone

I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't even their idea. They were probably pressured to do this by "the friends."

7

Thank you!

by longgone in

jw
friends

i want to thank everyone for the support you give in this forum, i know i'm just one of many who feel this way.

i'm not just talking about feedback about my issues but overall i have leaned so much from what is said to help others who have/are leaving the wts.

i also want to add the ripple effect that what help one person here goes forward to everyone else in our lives!

longgone

I want to thank everyone for the support you give in this forum, I know I'm just one of many who feel this way. I'm not just talking about feedback about my issues but overall I have leaned so much from what is said to help others who have/are leaving the WTS.

I also want to add the ripple effect that what help one person here goes forward to everyone else in our lives! 💙💜

19

Back again to say hi! Life update after walking away from the cult.

by Darkknight757 in

i hope all is well.

my last post over a month ago was going to be the last considering i wanted to get away from all things jw but this place is much harder to ignore than previously thought.

life has taken some very interesting turns since late last year.

longgone

I'm really happy for you, epecially babies on the way. Congratulations!

10

Picking up the pieces

by longgone in

just needing a listening ear, so in advance thanks for being here, no one other than ex-jw's could understand.

they may try, but i think only a person who lived through it could know what's its really like.. i wish i could be supporting others here but i'm so broken myself i can't seem to do that yet.

i hope that will come in time though.. for now, i'm trying to undo the damage done to my family by the wts.

longgone

Saethydd, thank you for your input, I'm making small steps in making new friends, also I started volunteering at one of the elementary schools helping second graders with math. We have fun together and I'm happy to do something for them in a small way. Great suggestions, thank you.

10

Picking up the pieces

by longgone in

just needing a listening ear, so in advance thanks for being here, no one other than ex-jw's could understand.

they may try, but i think only a person who lived through it could know what's its really like.. i wish i could be supporting others here but i'm so broken myself i can't seem to do that yet.

i hope that will come in time though.. for now, i'm trying to undo the damage done to my family by the wts.

longgone

Thank you Ding, I'm trying to let go of the guilt, they aren't blaming me. It's just me working through it. I hadn't thought of my therapist being able to advise. I can call tomorrow, thank you.

10

Picking up the pieces

by longgone in

just needing a listening ear, so in advance thanks for being here, no one other than ex-jw's could understand.

they may try, but i think only a person who lived through it could know what's its really like.. i wish i could be supporting others here but i'm so broken myself i can't seem to do that yet.

i hope that will come in time though.. for now, i'm trying to undo the damage done to my family by the wts.

longgone

Just needing a listening ear, so in advance thanks for being here, no one other than ex-jw's could understand. They may try, but I think only a person who lived through it could know what's its really like.

I wish I could be supporting others here but I'm so broken myself I can't seem to do that yet. I hope that will come in time though.

For now, I'm trying to undo the damage done to my family by the WTS. At least now that I'm out I won't be creating any further disasters.

I have so much guilt that I raised my kids in that crazy cult. Because I was third generation, I knew nothing else. But that doesn't change it, the damage is already done. Fortunately, they all left before they were reached twenties. It may appear that by leaving so young they would be OK. But, those early years is when the personality is formed, education choices, the whole thing. Everyone here is healing.

Yet, at this moment my youngest only 19, recently married, and now expecting a baby is in financial crisis. As in, the power was shut off today at their apartment. $600.00 to get it back on. Past due rent, $500.00. And both of them possibly coming to stay with me tonight. They can't stay here for any length of time, my lease doesn't allow it.

Yet, it's so easy for people in general and even some family members to say it's her own fault. They say she made bad choices and there is no point in me trying to defend her to them. I've tried. I'm the cause, I think. She has some mental health issues, as do I. I'm much better now after years of therapy. I'm down to only one medication. I've been stable for two years.

Is this because of being raised in a cult? Hmm, well if anyone outside the organization were to view the video on JWFacts called something like "Growing up as a Jehovah's Witness" (not sure exactly) they could see the potential psychological effects. It's a crazy religion. All of my years in therapy I never suspected it was the root issue. Who would? But, now that I've left, talked with my psychiatrist, therapist(s) it's all come together. They were appalled by the video, it mirrors my life. The teachings, attitudes, everything I was taught and believed is incredibly twisted. My doctor, and therapists are attributing my problems to it. But, it's in the past, already I've become so much better. After only one month out last April, there have been no more anxiety attacks. I can think clearly, I'm not afraid of dying at Armageddon, I'm not being constantly lectured that I'm not doing enough, and the list goes on...

I can think for myself at last instead of hoping Jah would do something useful, knowing he never had. I no longer believe in God, what a relief! I'm not helplessly in someone else's control.

I'm actually able to at least help my daughter figure out how to get out of this disaster, and hopefully prevent it from happening again. Though I don't know how really. She has walked away from an ideal situation living with a good friend, her second Mom. Much better than me. But she returned from there, Florida, to a not so great city in the Midwest. No opportunities. Friends who are dysfunctional, like herself, like me. That's not sound thinking. It's illogical. No one would choose chaos of they really understood what was going on. I gave/give love, but how to live in the real world, I didn't. I'm barely learning now myself. I'm receiving SSI for my mental health issues. No, it's not visible, I'm not socially odd. But, I'm just now learning how to keep myself intact. This little daughter is everything to me, and she loves me, we'll get through this. I know we will. Every day is a step forward. We're learning. So glad my other two are alright.

Just pointing out that though the religion may not be entirely at fault, it's a major reason. Thankfully, it's rare for JW's overall to get to this extreme point.

Also, I am embarrassed to admit the above, about my mental health, or lack thereof, but it is part of the subject I stated with. Just how difficult it is to pick up the pieces after the influence of my lifetime and my family's in the supposed "Truth." I would appreciate any advice related to how to improve this situation going forward. I'm done with lamenting to myself and therapists about the past, it's gone. It's over, it's all a matter getting on with living.

Thank you for listening and any thoughts/suggestions.

26

Do you think I should get something for my wife for her birthday?

by schnell in

jw
friends

my wife is still nominally in, but only because it "makes me (her) happy".

there is nothing academic about her beliefs and when i try, she interprets me as negative.. but then she cusses like a sailor and watches certain movies with me.

her birthday is coming up and it's also right around valentine's day.

longgone

I agree with wrapping it up really pretty, she'll love it!