Now that I've thought about it, it was probably around ten years for me. I remember realizing I couldn't "stick it out" much longer if armagedon didn't come. Then my (now ex) husband got sick, I had to go to work and I made a Big Deal to my employer about needing all the meeting times off. The store arranged most of the schedule around my needs; then the co asked our family to move to a nearby cong that "needed help." My husband a ms, of course said yes. I told everyone I was not going back to my employer and ask to turn the schedule upside down again. The elders, etc, didn't seem concerned about me, didn't seem to care I was now missing most meetings. It was just a matter of time after that, though it took me about another three years.
Posts by Emma
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51How Long Were You "In Transition" Before You Left The Organization?
by minimus inweeks, months, years??
?
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29
Old Crow Birthday 7/20/03
by oldcrowwoman inbirthdays
i would like to hear from others and feelings with experiences with birthdays.
and what ways you choose to celebrate or not since being out of the org.
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Emma
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OLDCROWWOMAN!!!
Congratulations - have the best celebration!
I celebrate by accepting gifts , eating out or having someone I love cook for me. To celebrate a "family" member, I buy gifts, bake a tall layer cake, make a wonderful meal or take them out to eat. My kids tried to get me to make up for lost time when were first out and free-to-be-ourselves, but they have a grip on the idea now.
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18
Aug.1 Watchtower - Get Kids Obsessed with Death!
by metatron inthe august 1 watchtower has a cover featuring a young african -american man.
and asks "how would you like to be remembered?".
"remembered?
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Emma
Cyberguy and outnfree, I think you've both hit it! This is a way of telling the faithful, yes, you really will Die. If those on the gb have believed their "deliverance was near" they must really be shaking. My poor jw mom is terrified of dying - It's so sad to see her. Never having to face death was the main draw to the org 50 years ago. Wake-up call or new light?
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28
Do JW couples really have better relationships?
by Latin assassin from Manhattan inare jw marriages any better than the ones 'in the world' as they put it?
when they walk from door to door or mingle after a meeting they appear to be models of ideal marriages.
do you have any experiences with married couples in the 'truth'?
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Emma
They have to put up a front. I remember realizing how miserable I was and thinking about all my depressed, married friends. Of course there were exceptions. I remember when my kids wanted to "court" (they couldn't date,according to wts) and I asked them to count all the truly happy, satisfied couples they knew among the parents of their friends. They couldn't come up with enough to use the fingers on one hand! I don't imagine their "success rate" is any better than anyone elses.
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23
Ray Franz df'd , what did the society say ??????
by run dont walk ini remember vaguely, well all hell broke loose in the late 70's regarding, ray franz being df'd, and the witch hunt at bethel.
i was just a little kid at the time, and didn't pay much attention.. i know ray's point of view, from what i've read on this board, and also ordered myself his book "crisis of conscience"(should be a good read).
i think back now, i remember the event happening, and the speaker talking about it at our circuit assembly, but i don't recall the reasons (bs) he gave.
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Emma
I've wondered how the older men who were forced out ot Brooklyn are doing. If they were Bethel lifers there would have been no Social Security for retirement (not the SS is enough to live on). Does anyone know what the situation is?
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21
Who'da thunk it? I mean...really
by arrowstar inthere are days in our lives that make you think maybe we're not in this alone.
a higher power....or just sheer, blind luck?
don't know...don't care...but if i had any sense i would be buying a lottery ticket.. now that y'all are thinking..."what is that crazy redhead up to now?
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Emma
Arrowstar, I'm glad things worked out for you. I a divorced mom and am still learning to trust that things will work out. Reading the end of your post gave me a great reminder for my own situation. Let us know how things go.
Emma
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34
Do you remember your last meeting?
by freedom96 inlast meeting i ever went to was a memorial, 6 years ago.
i remember it well, and it wasn't even my own hall.
it was so boring.
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Emma
I remember sitting there with my teenage daughter. The previous week or so we'd finally been talking about doubts we'd had for a long, long time but had never voiced them to each other. We sat and listened to a couple of the elders lie to the congregation outright; the longer we sat, the more we felt as though we were being suffrocated. During the meeting, we plotted our escape from the KH. We would go out the back door (as it was closest to the car) the instant the final prayer ended. At that point we bolted for the door as if demons were after us! Neither of us has been back. I wish I remembered the date - it would be something to celebrate!
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My Parents are visiting tomorrow
by Bendrr ini talked to my mom on the phone monday.
they're going to be at the district convention this weekend so since they'd be in macon and pretty close to where i live, i suggested they drop by.
it's been a hard 11 years, a lot of bad times.
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Emma
I'll be thinking of you, too. I don't really have any arguments except to say that in my own case, the shunning actually made it easier to stay away. A little contact every once in a while would have pulled at my heart more than the slammed door.
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64
Did anything a householder said ever make an impression on you?
by Alleymom incoming at this as a householder rather than an ex-jw, i'd love to hear from any of you about comments from householders that made an impression on you, back when you were active in the door-to-door work.
since the jw's first knocked at my door 13 years ago, i've done my best to give them something to think about every time they knock at my door.
i always introduce myself by name and try to get their names.
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Emma
I think for me it was consistently seeing really good people, people who had genuine happiness (I realized I was not truly happy). I remember saying to myself one day, "I'm never knocking on another door; I will not hound these people again." Householders who were mean just reinforced the persecution complex; I didn't listen to logical arguments, either, as my brain was numbed. But the good, happy public made an impression.
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new life..........
by markemark inim newly drifted from the j.ws and has any one any ideas how to survive life out side!
as you know we are not allowed worldly friends!
thanx 25 male london uk
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Emma
Welcome!
You may have been told there are no true friends outside of the org. How wrong! You'll quickly make new friends who will stick with you through anything, unconditionally. You'll find help and encouragement on this forum, so continue to ask.
Emma