think41self

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Posts by think41self

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  57

  My Story******Short Version!

  by think41self in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was raised a poor white child in the deep south...ok, florida, where i still am.

  i was the typical slightly self righteous witness, miss goody goody, left school at 16 to pioneer, which i did for 4 years, met a guy and married him.

  he had 2 kids from a previous marriage and we had 2 kids of our own.

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  think41self

  WOW Dana,

  What did I do to deserve all that love and affection? I bossed you around big time for 18 years! Sniff, Sniff...I had to open with a joke cuz I'm still sniffling over the emotional response. Dana, we make a good pair, don't we? Look Out World

  Tina, my dear sweet sister. I am SO sorry you are having a rough time. And I am not always strong either...sometimes there's just nothing like a big strong shoulder to lean on ( for my sweetie Doug). Tina, I agree with you, we need a girls' night out. Or weekend, or whatever. And a BIG YES on it being a hotel with all the amenities. If you and I and Harmony and Dana could arrange a date some time in the next couple months...Dana and I will come out there closer to you two. What do you say? Harmony, you up for it sweetie? Email us and let's get the planning started!

  Tracy, whose heart is overflowing with love right now
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  14

  Homeless "Pete"

  by Billygoat in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there is a homeless man (ill call him pete) that stands on a street corner nearby my home.

  hes been on this corner since i moved into this neighborhood almost 4 years ago.

  a staple to our community really.

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  think41self

  Hi Billygoat,

  I too have asked myself some of these same questions. Where I live, I really don't see homeless people that often. It is only occasionally that I even have the opportunity to do something, so I usually take it. I will either swing in somewhere and get them a quick meal and drop it off, or give them a buck or two.

  The way I figure is, I can't worry if every one of them is just trying to rip me off. Either way, I am only out a little bit of money. If I were so suspicious that I doubted them ALL and never helped any, then I know I would probably be denying help to someone who legitimately needed it.

  Since you've been seeing this guy for 4 years though...it does make you wonder. But it's not like he got in a BMW, right?

  think41self

  "When agnostics die, do they go to the great perhaps"?
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  29

  Newbie in the house

  by Stealth in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been lurking for a few months now.

  the only reason that i have not posted until now is because of the paranoia that comes with being raised a jw.

  my current status in the congregation is irregular, reaching out for the office of inactive.

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  think41self

  Hi Stealth and Welcome

  I loved your comment "reaching out for the office of inactive", my kind of humor.

  I too was raised a JW, stayed one for 36 years, was married to an elder, am now married to an ex elder. Needless to say, I am happy to be free. I look forward to hearing all of your story someday.

  Sleepy, Welcome to you too!

  think41self

  "When agnostics die, do they go to the great perhaps"?
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  23

  yoga class........meditation

  by Mulan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  last night i went to my first meditation class, conducted by a nice young man, teaching a yoga-type meditation.

  it is my first venture into meditating, and i thought i would share a couple of interesting points.

  i was with an old friend, who also happens to be an ex dub, but only out about a year.

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  think41self

  Hey Mulan,

  Yoga is one of the things I have been meaning to do for the last year. Your post has incited my interest in it again. What you said about the centering was dead on! I'm glad you enjoyed it. There are people who swear that yoga is the best form of "exercise" there is. I figure, any exercise I can do mostly sitting down.....is MY kind of exercise.

  think41self

  "When agnostics die, do they go to the great perhaps"?
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  40

  To Joelbear With Love

  by Maximus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  joel, i want you to know i can think of no other poster who shows as much humanity, as much compassion and insight as you, particularly when it comes to the human condition.. thank you for sharing yourself and your journey so openly; i'm grateful for that.

  you obviously have picked up many helpful tools in your recovery toolkit, and when you not only share them with us but show how to use them, how they can benefit us, we are the richer.. i need not say more, than that you are loved very much.. maximus.

  who once in a while learns from joel a leeeetle more than he needed to, but what else is new?

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  think41self

  Max,

  Thanks for starting this thread. You too are a kind soul.

  Joel, I just have to agree with what so many have said to you already. When I was newly coming out of the borg, one of the last judgemental hang ups to go was about homosexuals. You with your kindness, compassion for others, empathy and love to share helped me see you and others, with ALL of our differences, as worthy human beings. To you that may not seem much, but I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me to lose the last of my closed minded prejudices. That was a friendly kiss directed "at" you.

  Tracy
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  28

  still resisting!

  by Kat_ in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this is my first time on a message board relating to anything jw.

  i haven't posted anything in the past because i still held to the fear that it would be betraying what i was taught, betraying my family, betraying god.

  this is precisely my life as it is now.

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  think41self

  Kat,

  Welcome to the board.

  You have said SO much that is what many of us went through. The conflicting emotions, the doubts, the fears...just the plain uncertainty.

  Dont' feel bad that you are "not being honest about your feelings", you are still in the researching stage...no one is rushing you to make a decision right now. Don't do anything that cannot be undone.
  Just take a breath, keep reading and researching your own answers, and they will come to you in time.

  I am so glad that you are experiencing the exhiliration of freedom of thought. Isn't it wonderful? And you will be so glad that you saved your kids being raised in that dysfunctional way. And I certainly hope no one would bash you for wanting to have faith, or a religion, or anything. That is a personal choice for you...and no one else. So stick around please, and let us know how it's going.

  think41self

  "When agnostics die, do they go to the great perhaps"?
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  12

  My Life growning up a JW

  by WTLies in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  william's story .

  my mother received a knock at the door when i was 4 years old, that knock would alter the course of my entire life.

  it was then, she received what she and millions of others call 'the truth.

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  think41self

  William, Welcome to the board (love your signature by the way)

  What a story you have told. I can only imagine some of it...the rest of it is very familiar to me. I am so sorry that you had to suffer through the period of depression that so many have endured upon leaving. We are actually grieving, but so many don't understand that.

  I am also sorry that your wife is still "in", I know that cannot be easy. But you are rescuing your children!!! Let that give you strength. That is what I say about my kids...if I had to suffer everything over again...I would gladly do it for this end result. My kids are free...and can grow to be whatever they want. A small price to pay, in my opinion. So take heart...and thank you for sharing.

  think41self

  "When agnostics die, do they go to the great perhaps"?
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  14

  Jehovah's Witness evangelist killed.

  by Big Jim in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jehovah's witness evangelist killed.

  after hearing word man stabs sectarian with knives .

  moskovskii komsomolets, 31 july 2001 .

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  think41self

  Sunchild,

  My thoughts exactly. Shame on them if they do use it..but I wouldn't accept any bets on it. What a shame. This womans faith led her to believe that she was protected by angels in Jehovah's service, right? How many times have we seen THOSE stories in Awake magazines? Where was HER guardian angel? HUH? I'm sure the spin doctors in Crooklyn will come up with a plausible excuse..plausible to the poor brain washed ones.
  This story makes me sick. I am sorry for this woman and her family.

  OK I'm not done yet, thought I was.
  What do you wanna bet they will do with this the same thing they did with the 1975 debacle? Put the blame right back on the woman. You will hear things like: "We have always cautioned brothers, and sisters especially, to use common sense and caution in the ministry".
  Meaning...this wasn't OUR fault...she should have known better.

  But then you can find stories in the Awake and yearbooks of people going into extremely dangerous situations...intentionally!...to deliver literature or something. And again...some miracle(read Angels) protected these people. So why not her?

  Tracy
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  Wife of Jehovahs Witness

  by Totally lost in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hello, i married a wittness in 98. although i do not believe that way.

  i thought that i would be able to deal with the religion.

  but as it turns out, i can't.

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  think41self

  Wow, Totally Lost,

  First, let me say Welcome to the board, and thank you for sharing!

  Secondly, your story is a very difficult one. Knowing JW men, and their beliefs, I would assume he resents you thinking for yourself and actually (gasp) disagreeing with him. There are MANY ways spouses can work out their differences, if both are reasonable and willing to compromise. Is this true in your case?

  I have to agree with Francoise, that I too sensed some underlying oppression in your post? If that is true, please consider his words.

  Waiting gave you some good suggestions. Everything doesn't have to be about doctrinal issues...there are many many areas in which you could achieve some marital accord, even with the kids. I was raised by a JW mom, but my Dad never was one. I also had two step daughters who were never witnesses, my kids were being raised as witnesses, but we worked out compromises with them...and ALWAYS with attention to their feelings! Please feel free to email me privately if you would like to discuss some of the particulars! Take care, and let us know how it is going with you, ok?

  Tracy
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  36

  What do you think of Seeker (good or bad)?

  by Seeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  reading farkel's thoughts about being called names, and remembering my own discouragement about the same thing, and thinking about all the posts recently decrying the fighting and bad language, i'm curious to know how my "seeker" persona is perceived here.

  i know i have fought with some, made friends with others, so how i am perceived will be varied.

  i want to know it all, the good, the bad, the ugly.

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  think41self

  Seeker,

  I think you are a deep thinker who is able to respond, most of the time, without emotion getting involved.

  I think you take the time to reason on and research your answers.

  We probably don't agree on everything, which makes for stimulating debates. Rarely have I EVER seen you lose your temper...even though at times mightily provoked.

  And your Tigger tummy is so nice and soft, I love to rub it in chat. If Wasasister wasn't hot on your tail...I would be.

  Tracy