Posts by terafera

But let me tell you, it didn't bring me happiness. In fact, what it has done is make me very resentful of having lost out on a normal teenage life. Yes, I'm glad that I didn't get pregnant or an STD, etc. But I'm not even talking about "the extremes." I would have loved to have been able to be more focused on learning in high school, getting good grades, and using that as a launching pad for getting into college, possibly on a scholarship, so that I would not be trying to eke out two classes a semester while working full time now, with my degree a looonnnnng ways away. (I'm 31.) I would have liked to have gone to a few rock concerts. I would have liked to have been able to explore who I was inside without fear of being punished if I had thoughts considered "wrong," such as evaluating my programmed values and beliefs in light of my own experiences, etc., which is something that we should all have the right to do.

You said it!!!! I wanted to say that my whole life! THANK YOU THANK YOU! I had wondered if I was the only one who had parents who never pushed academics. My mother never asked if I did my homework. She barely glanced at my report cards. Now I'm 28 and entering college, knowing my B.A. is years away. I feel much more prepared now, knowing that I want to study and learn. But in high school it simply wasnt encouraged.

Your words really encouraged me and let me know I'm not alone!

7

New York Islander fans lack class

by Jigrigger in

jw
friends

...it was evident when they booed during the canadian anthem.. jerks!.

jrig

terafera

this was talked about, done that, kicking a dead horse.

26

For those who left: Are you better persons now?

by caballoSentado in

jw
friends

hi friends,.

i've read the thread "how many left over the un issue?".

i know ginosko, he is the elder, a very good friend of mine, i told you about when i wrote the threads about the un and my congregation.

terafera

Do you feel that you are better individuals now?...Do people around know the difference? Do you help people in need?.

I am a much happier, less paranoid, kinder person now. Everyone that knew me back as a jw has shunned me, so I cant get much feedback from them. I DO know that I can maintain friendships now, something that was hard when I was a Witness. I dont distrust people anymore... too many positive things to even mention.

Do I help people? Hmm... I volunteer about 25+ hours a week at an elementary school and an animal shelter. I had no time to do this when I was a jw. How many jw's do you know that volunteer? I havent met one. And dont say field service is volunteering!!!!!

28

hi it's katie- i miss you guys

by airwlk149 in

jw
friends

hey guys it's katie.. for those people who do not know me, i am an inactive lesbian 18 year old jw, who was df'd & reinstated.

well, i don't consider myself a lesbian- i am just a female dating another female.

call me what you will.. ok- so anyways the other night i was sad and lonely.

terafera

So if you want to marry and have kids, why are you dating a girl?

Seriously, though. I understand what you're saying. That vision of a perfect life is not an easy one. The thing that perfect girl didnt tell you was that she was an empty shell...she did everything for mommy and daddy. I knew that girl, she was my sister's best friend. Everything was perfect about her.. regular pioneer, beautiful, married a gorgeous MS, had beautiful kids, had a perfect home, everything. Later she told my sis that she had a hard time living up to the image people had of her.

I would rather follow my heart and live a useful life than chasing the pot at the end of the rainbow... only to find out (too late) that the pot isnt even there, nor is the rainbow.

35

train up a child...with a squeegee...

by wheelwithinwheel in

jw
friends

while relaxing with my morning java at the local coffee joint i suddenly noticed window-washing equipment moving across the glassed surfaces of the restaurant.

yes, there was one of the local j-dubs hard at it.

the strange thing was the height of his helper ... about the height of an 8-year-old.

terafera

I have a ton of respect for the parents who are successfully homeschooling their children. It is a tough, thankless job that will produce rich rewards in the future.

In the very beginning, when my son was 4, I fleetingly thought of homeschooling him. I couldnt stand the thought of some obnoxious bully snatching his sandwich during lunchtime, kids pushing him around or teasing on the playground. Then I realized how much he would suffer socially and changed my mind. I'm so glad I did... the teachers said because he is an only child, he was very shy and this year (first grade) he has come out of his shell alot. His teacher is wonderful and tells me he loves being around other kids.

I dont look to public school as the main source of teaching for my child. I look at it as a 'social' thing for him. If he learns anything in public school, great. I try to teach him everything at home, not in a strict or structured setting... just make it fun and interesting. When he was 3 he could read and he will be in a gifted class next year. The main reason was because I teach him things at home and dont rely on the teachers to do it.

A funny thing about (some) homeschooled kids though.. I knew a family that was ultra-spiritual (or so they thought) and wanted to protect their son and daughter from the evil world. Those poor kids never knew how to relate to kids their age. During the assembly you could see them talking to adults, they didnt know how to talk to kids their own age. They were a little ..... um.. different. They didnt act like 'normal' kids.

3

Update on girl with leukemia who needs blood

by terafera in

got this in an email from a 'sister', thought some of you might want to know the latest on this sad case:.

> http://www.ab.sympatico.ca/news/fullstories/n0418269.html.

>april 18th 2002 .

terafera

aww shoot, the person who sent it said 'latest breaking news!' So I just figured this had just happened, LOL.

Oh well.. thanks for the update Hawk .

26

Misconseptions JW's have about us

by terafera in

jw
friends

i was talking to my jw sister the other night, long distance.

she, like me, was raised a jw.

she is a sweet, sincere and wonderful woman.

terafera

lmbue,
Thanks for a different point of view. True, I do agree that her comment was probably more dealing with her marriage than anything else.. but it does seem that in many of our conversations there is talk of how 'wordly' people fail miserably at everything.. so I guess I'm a little sensitive to it. Your point is well taken and I will try not to take it too personally the next time I talk to her .

Reborn,
AMEN!!! That has always been the way I saw things as a JW.. there was always an answer. Exactly!

Ajax,
I know what you mean. A sister once tried to get me to marry a brother I had no remote attraction to. He was not my type at all and had the personality of a paper bag. She kept telling me that if I didnt marry him I would probably marry a worldly guy, and it would be better to be in a passionless marriage in the 'truth' than a passionate marriage to a worldly man, since worldly men cheat and beat their wives!!!! [8>]

26

Misconseptions JW's have about us

by terafera in

jw
friends

i was talking to my jw sister the other night, long distance.

she, like me, was raised a jw.

she is a sweet, sincere and wonderful woman.

terafera

I was talking to my jw sister the other night, long distance. She, like me, was raised a JW. She is a sweet, sincere and wonderful woman. But I've noticed that sadly, she seems to put all trust in the Org with no thought of her own. She said something that really floored me.

We were talking about marriage and it's tribulations... she said that if it werent for her husband or herself being Witnesses, they would probably be divorced by now. When her son questioned her why, since it really shocked him, she said that it was a well known fact that worldly people have no reason to stay together. She said if her husband was worldly, after a fight he would just pack up and leave. But being jw's, they have a standard to live with and dont want to risk being df'd ... so they get through any problems.

This floored me. She knows that I am not a Witness, nor is my husband. I know she meant no ill will towards me at all... she is absolutely a kind and dear woman. What hurts is that she really believes this because it is taught to her at the meetings!
This makes me wonder what other crazy things do they (jws) think of us (non-jws).

Do they really think all non-Witnesses are all unhappy and live horrible lives? Or do they have to believe it so their mundane lives seem a little better?

Just wondering.....

3

Update on girl with leukemia who needs blood

by terafera in

got this in an email from a 'sister', thought some of you might want to know the latest on this sad case:.

> http://www.ab.sympatico.ca/news/fullstories/n0418269.html.

>april 18th 2002 .

terafera

Got this in an email from a 'sister', thought some of you might want to know the latest on this sad case:

~~~~~

> http://www.ab.sympatico.ca/news/Fullstories/n0418269.html
>
>April 18th 2002
>
>Alberta court to fast-track teen Jehovah's Witness blood transfusion case
>
>CALGARY (CP) - Alberta's highest court is fast-tracking the appeal of a
>Jehovah's Witness girl forced to undergo blood transfusions to treat
>leukemia. Justice Carole Conrad of the Alberta Court of Appeal said Thursday
>that a three-judge panel expects to hear and decide the 16-year-old's case
>before the teen receives more chemotherapy and blood transfusions in two
>weeks.
>
>"This is a very tragic case," Conrad told a packed courtroom.
>
>"We have a sick child as I understand it. What I'm trying to do is to get
>this in front of a panel quickly."
>
>The girl wants Alberta's top court to overturn a provincial court ruling
>granting the province temporary custody of her and ordering she undergo
>blood transfusions.
>
>The girl, who by law can't be named, has received several state-imposed
>blood transfusions and another 12 are scheduled.
>
>The girl has gone to court a dozen times in her effort to stop the
>transfusions.
>
>She maintains she doesn't want to die but that it's within her religious
>rights to refuse the medical treatment.
>
>Jehovah's Witnesses say the Bible prohibits consuming blood.
>
>The girl's lawyer, David Gnam, said his client will be "ecstatic" to hear
>that the appeal court is trying to accommodate her wishes.
>
>Gnam said the primary argument to the appeal court will be the right of a
>mature minor to make her own medical decisions.
>
>"Obviously my client would like the opportunity to get alternative treatment
>that's medically acceptable to her in terms of her conscience," Gnam said.
>
>The girl's Calgary doctors say the treatment gives her a 40 to 50 per cent
>chance of beating the cancer but without blood transfusions, she would
>likely die.
>
>The girl, who has been in remission for about a week, became ill in hospital
>Wednesday with an infection and a fever. Her immune system is extremely low
>and any illness can be dangerous.
>
>The two-month battle has split the girl's family, with her mother and two
>sisters giving their support to refuse transfusions, while her father
>consents to the blood treatment. The family moved from Belleville, Ont., to
>Calgary three years ago.
>
>Last week, a Court of Queen's Bench denied the girl's appeal to overturn the
>provincial court ruling.
>
>Outside court Thursday the girl's father told reporters that he is
>financially broke from the legal battle and has set up a trust fund for his
>lawyer's fees.