LifesNotOver

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Posts by LifesNotOver

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  182

  Words for the Day; please share

  by compound complex in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  greetings, word lovers:.

  in my job, i work with words and wrangle them into shape, well, in a manner of speaking.

  one word might be mistaken for another, a word with either a similar or identical sound.

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  LifesNotOver

  Throughout an entire talk the brother said Adultery rather than Idolatry. HA!
  
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  34

  Have You Found Your Place in the World?

  by Rainbow_Troll in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  we were all told when we were in the watchtower that we should be grateful to be part of such a loving family.

  we were told that just beyond the superficial glamour of the world was a quagmire of despair, emptiness and pain waiting to suck us in.

  obviously, we took that part with a mountain of salt or we wouldn't be here today.

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  LifesNotOver

  No, I haven`t had any such luck. And, no, I don`t have any suggestions. What I AM exploring is the idea of stopping looking for any community or group. People tell me I need to find one, that it`s not healthy to live without one and to be without friends.. I wonder, though. I`m happy currently living my life doing what pleases me. I`m not hurting anyone. It`s been 7 months since I left any so-called friends, left my so-called husband, left my town for a new one, left the JWs. I`m most definitely an introvert. Anyone else here stopped looking to make friends or stop trying to find a group or community.
  
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  21

  I need your opinions and recommendations please.

  by bola in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  after my exit from the watchtower shunning cult, i have received tons of invitations from different churches.

  but because i am aware of religious cults, i need recommendations of churches that are not cults at all.

  after exiting the watchtower cult, i don't want to fall into another religious cults.

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  LifesNotOver

  Pete Zahut said: "The watchtower organization ruined me for religion and God." I'm taking that phrase into therapy with me, if I may. So well puts into just a few words exactly how I'm thinking and feeling these days. Even seeing "god" capitalized makes me shudder with distaste.
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  6

  Test yourself...Which Religion Best Suits You, what non religion best suits you.

  by Giordano in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  since we have had so many joining up while others have changed their thinking it doesn't hurt to see where we stand now .. this 20 question test is not the definitive test but it may be revealing or affirming....... find out where your religious or nonreligious comfort range is.. i just took it and my #1 choice was that i was a secular humanist.

  being a jw was #24........ way way down the list.. www.playbuzz.com/benjaminbirely10/which-religion-best-suits-you.

  you start by clicking on the general statement that is closest to how you think.

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  LifesNotOver

  Atheism: Error 404: God not found
  
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  36

  Sample Disassociation Letter please?

  by LifesNotOver in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i want to send a disassociation letter to the elders at my old congregation.

  how do i address it and what wording do i use?

  i know it's not something i have to do, it's symbolic for me.

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  LifesNotOver

  The way I look at it is this - if you want a divorce from someone it's not just good enough to say "I'm done with you", you need to do it officially or it isn't real. You have to "play their game", complete the forms, pay the filing fees, get your grounds, etc. And it feels a whole lot better to be the one in charge and instigate the divorce proceedings, than be the one sitting passively by being served with papers. Only when the divorce is final are you truly free and can you truly move on. See where I'm going with this? That's my opinion, anyway. So I'm drafting a letter of disassociation to send to the Elders at my old congregation, just a few lines. Thanks for all your suggestions.

  And, yes, I'm starting divorce proceedings from my husband as well. Good times all around. I only wish I could simply send him a letter and it would be done, but I have to "play their game" wink wink
  
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  36

  Sample Disassociation Letter please?

  by LifesNotOver in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i want to send a disassociation letter to the elders at my old congregation.

  how do i address it and what wording do i use?

  i know it's not something i have to do, it's symbolic for me.

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  LifesNotOver

  Thanks! Short and simple. Of course! I have this way of complicating things. I don't need to get anything off my chest, particularly. Just want to "formally" get my name off any lists or anything.
  
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  36

  Sample Disassociation Letter please?

  by LifesNotOver in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i want to send a disassociation letter to the elders at my old congregation.

  how do i address it and what wording do i use?

  i know it's not something i have to do, it's symbolic for me.

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  LifesNotOver

  I want to send a disassociation letter to the elders at my old congregation. How do I address it and what wording do I use? Thanks for your help. I know it's not something I HAVE to do, it's symbolic for me. What I'd love to do is burn down the Kingdom Hall, now that would be symbolic! How cathartic would that be, right?
  
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  12

  Guilt as Motivator

  by LifesNotOver in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've just come across this idea: i've been feeling guilty about not contributing more to this forum, given all the help i've received here.

  i feel guilty that i haven't had it as bad as so many of you.

  i feel guilty that i didn't have any jw family/friends that shunned me when i left.

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  LifesNotOver

  Reading over my OP this morning and seeing what others see. I sounded like a crazy person. Thank you, Saethydd and kpop. I agree I need professional help. I just wanted to move on with my life, kind of skipping through life and being happy and joyful and making new friends. Holding onto that high and feeling of power I experienced when I first left the JWs, my husband, and my town. And reclaimed my extended non-JW family. And moved closer to my son and daughter and grandchildren. Living joyfully is not something that can be done so easily, as it turns out, not something that can be done simply using willpower and wishpower if there is such a thing.

  I have been in group therapy the last eight weeks, this being the last week, and it's been helpful, but now is bringing up deeper issues that I'll be dealing with on my own unless I get some help.
  
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  12

  Guilt as Motivator

  by LifesNotOver in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've just come across this idea: i've been feeling guilty about not contributing more to this forum, given all the help i've received here.

  i feel guilty that i haven't had it as bad as so many of you.

  i feel guilty that i didn't have any jw family/friends that shunned me when i left.

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  LifesNotOver

  I've just come across this idea: I've been feeling guilty about not contributing more to this forum, given all the help I've received here. I feel guilty that I haven't had it as bad as so many of you. I feel guilty that I didn't have any JW family/friends that shunned me when I left. I feel guilty that I wasn't born in and had a so-called normal childhood and adulthood until I became a JW in my mid-fifties. I feel guilty that I had the strength to leave the JW's, my husband and my town. I feel guilty that I get to start my life anew. I feel guilty - not wanting to give back to this community. Just wanting to move on and live my life. Wanting to not only leave the JW's but the ex-JW's. No longer wanting to identify as an ex-JW.

  Is this part of the FOG? I don't want to live my life in reaction to my guilty feelings. I don't even know what that would look like, to live a life not reacting to some imaginary guilt. I've felt guilty for some reason or another all my life. My biggest decisions have been made as a result of guilt. This all goes very deep. What am I getting at here? I'm just starting to examine this concept. I'm opening this to discussion if anyone wants to go there. Maybe with some suggestions for books on the subject? Or some words of personal experience? Thanks!
  
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  28

  Birthday Wishes Welcome!

  by LifesNotOver in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  many of you don't know me or won't remember me.

  i left the jw's and my husband and my home last september - forging a new life in a new town.

  i haven't posted here for many months, but have been reading most days.

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  LifesNotOver

  Many of you don't know me or won't remember me. I left the JW's and my husband and my home last September - forging a new life in a new town. I haven't posted here for many months, but have been reading most days. Long story short, I'm doing great most days. This is my 71st - WOW! I'd love to hear "Happy Birthday" from you guys! Anything funny especially - I need more laughs. I haven't made any friends yet, so you're my go-to's. Happy Birthday to Me!!