Posts by fraidycat9

134

Your Most DREADED Dub Word

by GetBusyLiving in

i wanna hear the word that made you either physically nauseous or burst out in uncontrolable laughter.

please demonstrate it in a sentence as well.

mine was 'enthused' (my fingers were shaking as i typed).

I have gone back to being a lurker and have not posted here in AGES!!! ('cause I'm a "fraidycat"and my reasons are my own) However, this particular topic sends me reeling and indicates that I am really in need of professional help!!! I have read EACH AND EVERY one of the responses so far and have concluded that there is not ONE POSTING on this topic that I disagree with. Need to send y'all some money (via Paypal) for the free therapy session. This further "ILLUSTRATES" how insidious these coined phrases and words can be. If ever there was a moment of indecision for me , it has been resolved now. I'm not going back!!! This stuff is psyche ward material and should contain a warning!!! Flashbacks can be deadly!!! I just had one. Peace. Out.

Ah, and one more thing: DO NOT underestimate your affect on lurkers. The one you save may be your own.

19

The Love of the Greater Number is Cooling off.

by gumby in

jw
friends

yes sir ee.

when i walk in anymore, seems like the ones i knew left, and some stangers showed up.

now all's i see is some of the ones i knew, but mostly these new folks.

fraidycat9

Hello all!!! I know, I know. I swore off posting. Just popping in to say: Still alive; and doing quite well, thank you. Gumby, Keep Hope Alive!!!!

12

Thanks folks! It?s been real

by fraidycat9 in

jw
friends

strange enough, this is my first and only topic started.

i've come a long way from 1 year 7 months and 8 hours ago.

word, but i do feel it?s time that i move on.

fraidycat9

Strange enough, this is my first and only topic started. I've come a long way from 1 year 7 months and 8 hours ago. I will not say the ?G? word, but I do feel it?s time that I move on. This decision comes from having read others? experiences and feeling sad and angry over and over again after having read them; I countered mostly by responding to "fluff" and "feel good" topics. I originally joined this forum because I needed to know that the things that I experienced as a JW were not ?all in my head?. I NEEDED validation. I got what I needed early on. Validation came over and over and over again, but did I leave? Naww! I never intended to stay. Somehow, along the way I got addicted to being here. Again, I repeat, I never intended to stay. While I must agree that this place has been a place of solace and healing for me; I always knew in my heart that I never really ?belonged?. I was never ?at home? here but never felt unwelcome. However, it was a nice long visit and I was treated with respect; but like any other visitor, there comes a time when you realize that it?s time to go home. That time is now. I sort of view my stay here as a lesson in understanding how having lived the JW life really affected me and my family; meant to me and my family and what it means to us now, if anything. Time for me to stand on my own two feet. How many more times can I read in heart wrenching detail the experiences of those who have been hurt time and time again and not be affected? What I?m trying to say in my own clumsy way is this: Lesson learned. You were truly the Great Teachers. Peace. Out.

8

JWs and materialism

by YellowLab in

jw
friends

been out of the "truth" for nine years now, with many family members and relatives still in.

while i was in, we were taught to be humble and put jehovah first in your life.

meetings, study and service were the most essential parts of being a jw.

fraidycat9

Funny...this thread reminded me of something I hadn't thought of in some time. At many a convention and assembly they would have interviews with those who gave up having children, gave up jobs earning X number of dollars, gave up scholarships and turned down chances to be upwardly mobile in a secular career (because, after all, that was being materialistic). Although it never was directly said that everyone should go out and do the same, they were clearly presented as "examples" to follow. When I used to be a "convention groupie", often I would go to another convention and hear some of these same people give the same retelling of what they gave up, turned down, etc;. This got me to thinking: If they are so happy, why do they have to keep retelling the story again and again? Most times a tone of regret was unmistakedly felt during some of these retellings, causing me to wonder what some of them really really thought about what they did or didn't do. hmmm....

84

Chilling experience

by TallTexan in

o.k....most people that know me know me to be a rational and logical person not prone to hype or the sensational.

nor am i infatuated with the supernatural as many jw's/ex-jw's are/were.

with that said, let me relate what happened to me at work last night.. on saturday night, we had four bad burns come in.

fraidycat9

I simply shall say: I believe. I have had a number of similar experiences. Some I have related. Some I have not. No need to try to convince unbelievers; this would be a waste of energy. Your experience, though not unique, was very special. When we all meet up with "whatever" after this life is through and after all is said and done and just before we blend into the cosmos, I believe that the unexplainable will finally make sense and I'm sure that some of the first words (or thoughts) by many have been and will be: "Damn!, so this is what actually happens!". It's a shame nobody's ever successfully come back to tell the tale. However, this fact remains: Whatever happens; happens. Regardless of who "believes" what. This is truth.

6

You've Lived a Full Life.

by Blueblades in

jw
friends

you've lived a full life; you have so many memorable experiences and so much valuable advice you'd like to leave behind.

what are the lessons that you learned in life?

what are you most proud of?

fraidycat9

What are the lessons that you learned in life? Life's short. Youth is wasted on the young.

What are you most proud of? My family and the fact that we all turned out to be somewhat decent individuals.

What are your biggest regrets? That I did not value my grandparents as much as I should have. I always thought that they'd always be around. This will torment me forever.

What are your spiritual beliefs? There is a God. I just know it.

What will you miss most when you are gone? The actual act of breathing. Touching. Communicating with those I love.

Who is the most important person in your life and what have you learned from him or her? This could never be just one person. My learnings have been collectively gathered.

If you only had a year left to live, what would you do? First, I'd cry. Then I'd take to the road. I'd tell all of those who need to hear it how much I love them and tell all those who need to hear it how I really feel about them.

47

Did You Stay as a Witness Because You Needed a Social Life & "Friends"?

by minimus in

jw
friends

recently onacruse made a comment regarding why many jws remain jws.

a lot of people look at religion as a way to get together and be social with one another.

let's face it, people need "friends".

fraidycat9

I'm still "in" because (and only because) of my family. They are my Achille's heel (especially my child). That's why I personally prefer to fly under the radar. If not for them, I wouldn't give a rat's you-know-what about how the JW's feel about me; as I already have a social life that's quite satisfying for me. I am proud of the fact that I was smart enough and had foresight enough to develop meaningful outside relationships long ago. I did this despite "the counsel" and am glad for having done so. Those awful wicked worldly people have come to my rescue more than a few times; much quicker than the loving "spiritual family". My closest friends have NEVER been JW's. In JW life, your every move is interpreted and either elevates you or dooms you. The circle is small no matter where you are. Reminds me of Six degrees of separation...too much so. You can go to any cong. anywhere in the world; start talking and next thing you know, you'll meet somebody who knows somebody. The chatter starts and someone will recall you as being a fine brother/sister or a "problem". If you are mildly popular, this chatter somehow gets magically transmitted all throughout JW world. The phone is usually the weapon of choice. It's a pity that the natural human need for a Social Life and Friends is so craftily exploited religiously. A doggone shame.

44

What is the ONE thing the world needs MORE of...

by Sirius Dogma in

jw
friends

.

besides love.... your opinion?

fraidycat9

Childrens' Advocates!

10

What do you do on tuesday and thursday evenings........?

by vitty in

jw
friends

i`m sorry if its been asked before, but now you don`t go to meetings what do you do.. i thought i would have loads of time, no more rushing around, and going without your dinner till after 10o`clock.

apart from just being at home which is nice, i`m not doing much more.

not that i`m complaining .. .

fraidycat9

Breathe! I had been spinning around so much. This "spinning" left me with very little time to sit down and actually THINK! Thinking has become a very enlightening pastime for me. For the first time I can focus on true spirituality instead of going to God-in-a-box (The Kingdom Hall). I finally realized that NO ONE can contain Him in a building and dole him out in prescribed hourly portions as they see fit; analyze me, and have the nerve to tell me that if I don't do "such and such" then I won't inherit God's kingdom. I finally realized that I am the Captain of my own soul. When I answer to God, it will be on my own merits and my merits alone. There ain't gonna be no jury of mere mortals to skew or decide my ultimate eventuality! I finally understand the meaning and import of being a "free moral agent". I'm quitting this post now while I'm ahead. I am starting to feel quite "warm" as I post this. I prefer to keep my blood pressure down.

91

~Post your favorite Conciousness Raising song lyrics here~

by FlyingHighNow in

don't we all love our freedom of speech?

i miss the days when i was growing up when rock groups, singer/songwriters and other types of entertainers spoke out against racism, the vietnam war, etc.

it felt to me like people were more passionate about making the world a better and more fair place.

fraidycat9

SOMEDAY WE'LL ALL BE FREE
(Written by Hathaway / Howard)

Hang on to the world as it spins around
Just don't let the spin get you down
Things are moving fast
Hold on tight and you will last
Keep your self respect, your manly pride
Get yourself in gear
Keep your stride
Never mind your fears
Brighter days will soon be here
Take it from me, someday we'll all be free

Keep on walking tall
Hold your head up high
Lay your dreams right up to the sky
Sing your greatest song
And you'll keep going, going on
Take it from me, someday we'll all be free
Hey, just wait and see, some day we'll all be free
Take it from me, someday we'll all be free
It won't be long, take it from me, someday we'll all be free
Take it from me, take it from me, take it from me someday we'll all be free