Posts by ShaunaC

30

An ancient poster stopping by to say HI!

by ShaunaC in

jw
friends

hello al!

i am an old poster from this websites early days.

i was here a lot during 2001-2003. during the days of posters like:.

ShaunaC

Hello al! I am an old poster from this websites early days. I was here a lot during 2001-2003. During the days of posters like:

Englishman, Welshman, LDH, Simon, Prisca, Joelbear, logical, SixofNine, somebody, Ozziepost, unanswered, Gopher, Norm, JanH, Kent, somebody, AlanF, Amazing, Silentlambs, Hillary-step, minimus, ISP, bigboi and many others.

If any of you are still around, thank you all for your part in helping me deprogram myself all those years ago. I've been free for almost 10 years and am truly happy. I recently married a wonderful man and we're hoping to get pregnant with our first baby very soon. I was just 26 when I first posted on H2O, Freeminds and here. Now I'm turning 34 next month! How time flies by!!!

[IMG]http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg88/sb2nsf/DSC_00791crop.jpg[/IMG]

I still have no relationship with my parents but have fully come to terms with that. I re-read posts from those early years and see that I had so much hope that the rift would be repaired at least a little bit. But that never did happen and now we go years in between any communication. The pain over that has now subsided to disappointment. I focus now on creating my own family and vow to show my kids the unconditional love the JW org prevented my parents from showing me.

To any of you who are newly out, it does get better if you look at life as a set of experiences to teach you something about yourself, the world and those around you. Don't be bitter, don't carry the anger. It will only hold you back from becoming the truly remarkable person you already showed you are when you decided to leave the JW's. It takes a lot of strength to do that and you'll continue to use that strength (even though at times you'll doubt you have any) to learn who you really are apart from that organization, your family, and those brainwashed ideas. You can do it and you will be happier for it.

I hope you are all doing well and are happy in your freedom. Freedom of thought really is worth any cost we have all had to pay.

Much Love,

Shauna

fomerly ShaunaC (Shauna Titterington-Collins from Fresno, CA)

46

How Does One Just Go Back To Family & Friends After Leaving The "Truth"?

by minimus in

jw
friends

if you've left all your family and friends for "the truth" and then you realize how everything you did was for nothing, how do you just go back, especially, if it's been 25 years???

my wife is going thru this dillema right now.

my daughter just went to a family member's birthday party for the 1st time yesterday and my wife feels as though she is unable to be involved because "what will the family think of her after all the birthdays and celebrations" she missed?

ShaunaC

The first time I attended a family's celebration after leaving the JW's was my cousin's 21st b-day party at my aunt's house. Us girl's ended up in the bathroom discussing the situation. I apologized for my stupidity (one that I was ingrained with since birth) for all those years which kept us from being close like we were when we were little kids (my aunt was raised a JW too but left when her kids were little). I cried and they embraced me. They related how odd it was to have me there too. They had spent their whole lives almost pretending to be someone else around us JW family. They too felt wierd at now being able to break down those walls and act naturally around me, to talk about their lives, to use certain language, to drink and party in my presence. I realized we both had to adjust.

It may be uncomfortable at first, but she needs to appreciate that they will need a brief time to adjust too. However, that's not because they don't accept and love her, it just that the bond needs to be reacreated to some extent after being away for so long. But she shouldn't expect that to take too long. They are just as happy to have her back as she is anxious and happy to have them back in her life.

I wish her well!

38

Drugs?

by be wise in

jw
friends

i think this is my first debatable topic.

for anyone who has experimented with recreational drugs or who knows about someone who has how do you think they can change you for the better as well as for the worse?

i know a few ways in which they really changed me, i was very shy and never felt compfortable around people until i had my first experience and felt totally unhibited around a room full of people (talking in retrospect) and i never forgot what that felt like - it opened my mind and i learned to become much more confident.

ShaunaC

Valis, could you please describe your experiences with mescaline and peyote? What are the effects while taking and the after effects the next day? Price and availability?

Thanks!

39

Exotic Vacations: your favourite places on the globe

by RAYZORBLADE in

jw
friends

ok folks, honestly, i know many of you have travelled some, and a few have ventured into some pretty exotic far off places.

where did you go on your last vacation?

where is the most exotic place you have visited?

ShaunaC

Hey LB, where in Maui will you be? I'll be at the Whaler in Kaanapali from May 24 - June 1.

40

Do you have a favorite work of art?

by Aztec in

jw
friends

this is mine:.

it's by georgia o'keefe, one of my favorite artists.

my signature pic is also one of my favorites by giger.

ShaunaC

My boyfriend, Nick's, mother has her own gallery in San Diego, CA. From her I've learned to appreciate art in a way I never did before. I am very partial to abstract work. My favorite artist is Joseph Maruska. Mom lends us many works of art. Sha gave nick a very large Maruska for his office, that is until we get a house and I steal it away. I have two little ones in our apartment now.

http://www.dnfagallery.com/exhibits/1002-6artists/maruska/_pricepages/new%20star.htm

If you'd like to look at more artists from my mum-in-law's website, it is http://www.susanstreetfineart.com/home.html

46

Recovering from shunning

by Elsewhere in

jw
friends

how does one recover from being shunned?

my family is shunning me.

so is everyone i grew up with since i was raised in the borg.

ShaunaC

(((((Elsewhere)))))

I appreciate everything you said. My time frame is the same as yours, 4 years. Most contact, although little, was always instigated by me. We have not spoken since Feb.

I've come to understand what kinds of people I want in my life. Besides the JW issue, I've come to learn of other things about my parents (especially my dad who is a PO & has allowed, even praised a servant in his congo he knows is a pedophile), that has caused me to lose most all respect for them as human beings. For so long I excused their behavior cuz it's all they've ever known. But now it goes way beyond that.

I'm in the process of writing a very detailed and intense letter. I've been mulling it over for months & months cuz I want to express myself with as little anger as possible (although it's there) and represent myself in the most respectable way. But I don't intend to prance around the issues. This letter is my one shot to firmly say I WILL NEVER BE BACK and show the many doctrinal reasons of why. I will also be quite candid as to my disappointment as to the kind of human beings they've shown themselves to be.

My intentions are many....

To finally speak up for myself loud & clear.

Such action will either cause them to quite their shunning cuz they realize it does no good (yeah right) or they will cut me off once and for all.

To take my shot at exposing the JW's for what they really are. I don't feel they will ever leave, BUT if there is at least 1% chance to open their eyes, I need to take it.

I've become quite accustomed to not having them in my life. Hearing that my own parents don't want me to be happy in the least bit makes me want to cut them out of life completely. They do not deserve to be apart of any happy occasion in my life. I used to wonder if they would come to my wedding. Now I have no intention of ever inviting or telling them.

I understand how hard it is. I was extremely close to my family. We did everything together. But my freedom has been so worth giving them up. I have new family that love & adore me. They can't even fathom doing to me as my parents have done.

I wish you the best in your recovery. And yes....see a therapist. I intend to as well to help me continually work things out. And it is good to tell them everything. It will be quite a cleansing process for you in itself.

Shauna

18

Should I go Decorate my old KH? GRIN>

by NaruNaruChan in

jw
friends

.

so this morning at around 5am, my girlfriend and i were driving in north fresno and we noticed that there are two huge christmastree like trees in front of the hall, outside of the oh-so-welcoming gates... and so i got to thinking... and... hmm.... should i???

in the words of ts eliot, "do i dare disturb the universe?".

ShaunaC

Ahh, that's the hall my ex goes to and so many people I grew up with. Yes, please decorate....and pictures please! haha

Shauna (Titterinton) Collins

3

Looking for Mike Miranda from Central Valley, CA

by ShaunaC in

i'm looking for a long lost friend i can't forget.

his name is mike miranda.

we attended pioneer school together in 1991. we had an instant connection but i was immediately engaged & married so our friendship was never allowed to flourish.. he was to attend my wedding in june 1992 but never showed.

ShaunaC

bttt

BTW, Mike was from Porterville. I would appreciate anyone with any info. Thanks!

3

Looking for Mike Miranda from Central Valley, CA

by ShaunaC in

i'm looking for a long lost friend i can't forget.

his name is mike miranda.

we attended pioneer school together in 1991. we had an instant connection but i was immediately engaged & married so our friendship was never allowed to flourish.. he was to attend my wedding in june 1992 but never showed.

ShaunaC

I'm looking for a long lost friend I can't forget. His name is Mike Miranda. We attended pioneer school together in 1991. We had an instant connection but I was immediately engaged & married so our friendship was never allowed to flourish.

He was to attend my wedding in June 1992 but never showed. Although choosing not to take pictures with every family member I had, my friendship with Mike was important enough to plan to take wedding pics w/ him if he came. I was very bummed he didn't.

The summer of 1992 was the last time we saw each other & spoke at the District Convention in Fresno, CA. A month or two later police called my parents home looking for me for questioning. Mike's truck had been found abandoned. Foulplay was suspected. They had found letters from me in his room and wanted to question me on my possible knowledge of where he was.

I never found out the outcome. Months later, even up to a year, I heard accounts saying the some towns people had thought they saw him. I have no idea if he is dead or if he was recovered in any way.

At the time he was 18-19 years old. He lived w/ an abusive psycotic JW mother and younger siblings. Although a dire situation he felt the need to help his younger siblings.

Mike....if you are out there anywhere, PLEASE contact me. I think about you all of the time. Or if anyone has any information I would greatly appreciate putting my mind to rest. My email is [email protected]. Mike would be about 28-29 years old now.

I have on many occasions thought of doing a more extensive search for him. Thought I would try this first just in case.

Thank you!

Shauna (Titterington) Collins

61

Describe Your "STATUS" In The Congreg...

by minimus in

jw
friends

if you were to describe what your status was in the congregation, what would it be?

were you viewed as mature?

in "good standing", a pain in the rear?

ShaunaC

I was the "Shining Example." Always called upon to give impromtus, pioneer.....the daughter everyone wished was there own. Then all of the sudden I was outta there and I hear the rumors from past 2nd dads and grandmas that they never really liked me anyway! haha