Posts by Winston Smith :>D

2

Thank you Winston

by TheListener in

jw
friends

i just wanted to say thank you to winston smith for all the fantastic posts he's made over the last year and a half.

for anyone who is new to the board or if you're just beginning to lurk you simply must check out his topics.. winston updated us on his situation in life with clarity and feeling.

he is the poster that really made me realize i was in a cult.

Thank you for those heartfelt words. When I was posting here on a regular basis I was just awakening from my slumbering, comatose cult life and needed to vent and heal my soul. I fully believe that this forum "fast-tracked" my healing process from the high-control publishing company. Thanks are due to Simon and others for forming this venue and keeping this halfway house of healing available for all of us. Truly a labor of love.

When posting, one doesn't think of, or even fully comprehend, the permanency of one's conversations that are held here in a public forum. It's great to know that the healing process that benefited me can help others as well.

Love truly is reciprocal , isn't it? It's one thing that I am learning in the world, that the Love you sow truly comes back to you one-hundred fold.

I'm touched that you found benefit from my exit, and with your kind words and heart I have no doubt that you will be aided in your healing as well.

Winston

...April..I have no idea how your ass managed to escape me. From what I hear, you may have been one of the lucky few that night

30

Child abuse or consenual relationship?

by pratt1 in

a few years ago my brother - law admitted that at 14 he had a sexual relationship for 5 years with the wife of an elder in his congo.. he was at 19 dfed for an affair he had with a fellow student.. he never told any one about the affair with the married sister, but now 10 years later, this sister and her unsufferable husband are planning to become assistant co. .

my mother - law, who is still in the"lie" now knows about this affair and has made the statement that she has probable asked for forgiveness in her heart therefore the elders do not need to know of the affair.. my brother - law is going through his own issues and because of the way he has been treated ie.. shunned, basically disowned by most of his family, he wants to expose her and her husband who he believes knew about the affair.. i've recommended that he discuss this with his therapist and that he should think about why he feels the need to expose her now.

by the way this sister is 2 year younger than his mom.

Winston Smith :>D

I'd do the same thing if this prospective CO elder had a 5 year relationship with a 14 yr old little girl...

..like IT said, report it to the police.

All kinds of Q's are racing through my mind:

Is this the first time she has done this with a minor?

Does her elder husband know about his wife's abuse?

Does he condone it?

Does he participate in similar behaviour?

They are about to be placed in a very powerful position exposing themselves to thousands of defenseless minors.

Get this addressed ASAP!

33

New to Board

by Harpy in

jw
friends

i am somewhat new to board.

i am member of a few yahoo email groups, but this is my first attempt to chat with so many ex witnesses.

i have no idea where to being and would like a few pointers.. there is so much here...

Winston Smith :>D

I am realizing it was THEM not ME... SO here I am at 33 not knowing what to believe or who to trust
Harpy

Welcome harpy.

You hit on two CRITICAL points that need to be addressed in an x-JW's recovery IMO.

1 I am realizing it was THEM not ME

1. You are not bad. There is no need to put on the "New Personality" In fact, strip any of that "New Personality" crap off and discover your TRUE personality, it is beautiful. Your True Self is Love and Light, so let yourself discover it and shine for everyone to see.

2. not knowing what to believe or who to trust

2.

Trust your True Self, that's all you need to do. Your True Self was smart enough to never get baptized, your True Self was smart enough to find supprt groups, and your True Self is smart enough now to ask questions of other x-JW's to Heal and Grow your Soul.

I'm a 30s chick

Not familar with 30's chicks, but 20's chicks, well, I think Flappers kick ass.

2

My favorite comics pull an April Fools

by Winston Smith :>D in

i love "get fuzzy".

here's todays strip for get fuzzy:.

and the author of "get fuzzy" is good friends with the author of this strip, pearls before swine :.

Winston Smith :>D

I love "Get Fuzzy"

Here's todays strip for Get Fuzzy :

And the author of "Get Fuzzy" is good friends with the author of this strip, Pearls Before Swine :

And I also like reading FoxTrot, and both of the above authors I have read are friends with the author of this strip as well

28

My DA letter!

by Spook in

the moment arrived.

i have sent out my first three letters: one to the local congregation, one to the governing body (right, right, like i'll get a reply?

), and one to my family.

Winston Smith :>D

Wonderfully worded letter.

It comes across with a tone of optimism and love, with you giving your best wishes, and free of ill intent to anyone.

I hope you feel empowered for taking such a noble stand!

Paul

41

I've avoided the elders so far...but could this all change on SATURDAY?

by logansrun in

jw
friends

well, it has been almost three years since i silently and dramatically vanished from the world of the watchtower.

moving an hour away from my congregation's territory and not answering phone calls was all i needed to avoid having to wear the letter "a" on my chest.

but, that could all change this saturday.

Winston Smith :>D

Have fun Bradley, it's great to show them that they can't intimidate you.

But like everyone has said, and you are likely aware, this could easily turn into a trap and your undoing if you are not careful.

Keep conversation light to avoid any chances of implicating yourself in their eyes.

This bears repeating for you:

Keep conversation light...Keep conversation light ...Keep conversation light

Three times for emphasis [Holy, holy, holy]

I'm sure you're going to love this,

...but this song laid out advice that helped me when I was covering my ass from nosy elders until I was ready to fully exit:

INCUBUS: Blood on the Ground

I don't wanna talk to you anymore
I'm afraid of what I might say
I bite my tongue every time you come around
'Cause blood in my mouth beats blood on the ground

Hand over my heart

I swear I've tried everything I could
Within all my power, 2 weeks and 1 hour
I slaved and now I've got nothing to show

Oh if only you've grown taller than a brick wall
From now on gonna start holding my breath
When you come around and you flex that fake grin
'Cause something inside me has said more than twice
That breathing this air beats breathing you at all

Hand over my mouth I'm earning the right to my silence
In quiet discerning between ego and timing
Good judgment is once again proving to me
That it's still worth its weight in gold

From now on I'm gonna be so much more weary
When you start to speak and my warm blood starts to boil
Seeing you is like pulling teeth
And hearing your voice is like chewing tin foil

I'm fast to a better judgment
By saying less today I will gain more, gain more
No cheers to you my, my fickle friend
You, you brought the art of silent war

I don't wanna talk to you anymore
I'm afraid of what I might say
I bite my tongue every time you come around
'Cause blood in my mouth beats blood on the ground

Paul

28

a card came yesterday...

by bavman in

....from my mom.

i hadn't heard from my parents since last summer after 2 fiery letters and me da'ing myself.

they even mentioned to my df'd sis how i "went apostate".

Winston Smith :>D

Bav,

That is Emotional Blackmail on your parents part. Your repsonse, IMO, was appropriate.

They, as many JW's, would benefit from a reread of the Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, free of the WTS filters.

Unconditional Love is quite simple, free of any conditions.

Is that so hard to understand?

***Trying to remember the list of conditions and the timeframe that the Prodigal Son had to abide by to receive his father's love***

31

What did you learn as a JW, in all those years?

by JH in

jw
friends

after all these years of going to meetings, what did the average jw learn?

(add to the list).

1. god's name is probably jehovah or yahweh .

Winston Smith :>D

no one has all the answers and those that claim to are probably the least trustworthy. doogie

I reread that about 5 times thinking on how to expand on that, but I can't. A precious lesson learned!

55

Update on my disassociation

by Dustin in

jw
friends

i went to the kingdom hall for the very last time.

i went in the door in my guns n roses t-shirt and ripped up lucky jeans, new earrings and goatee.

i went up to the po of the congregation and told him i needed to talk to him.

Winston Smith :>D

Great letter Dustin!

Glad that you empowered yourself, that you wrote yourself a ticket outta the cult, and now are living Life the way you are intended to walk it.

Paul

51

Is Organized Religion Something You'd Be Involved In Again?

by minimus in

jw
friends

do you believe in christianity, the bible, god-----or are you in the "i'm not sure what to think" class?

Winston Smith :>D

Never.

I now consider myself a "spiritual" person, but never again "religous"

To me, the difference between a "spiritual" person and a "religous" person is similar to the sun and the moon.

True Light eminates from the sun. The moon can only hope to reflect such Light, and the moon is never the source of Light.

True Light shines forth from our hearts and is within each one of us.

All we must do is let go of our ego, becoming childlike, and take the time to listen.