things to do before you die

by teejay 15 Replies latest jw experiences

• 

  teejay

  My mom and sister came for a visit this past weekend. It was a good weekend.

  At one point, I asked Sis about the new tattoos I noticed that she now has. "What prompted you to do it?" She said it was something she always wanted to do, that it was on her list of "things to do before I die."

  My mother thought the line about the "list" was funny, so Sis asked her, "Don't you have a list of things YOU want to do before you die?"

  Mom reacted as though the question was just about the silliest thing she'd ever heard. "Girl, for one, everything I want to do I'll do in the New Order. And second, I ain't gonna die."

  She was dead serious. I didn't say a word. Didn't even look up.

  I just thought: which is worse

  a) living out your entire life in mindless, never-ending "theocratic" pursuits, never getting to pursue ANY of your dreams because you actually believe in your heart of hearts that you *will* get the chance when god does his thing, or

  b) being totally happy--totally at peace--about that very fact, like my mother is.

  I don't know, but despite her total acceptance of the state of her life, I couldn't help but feel very, very sad for my mother. Then again, she's probably happier than a lot of the rest of us. Who knows.
• 

  LDH
• 

  BeautifulGarbage

  Teejay,

  What is there TO say? She is completely submerged.

  It brings to mind the saying "Ignorance is bliss".

  Andee
• 

  Swan

  There is an episode of Star Trek The Next Generation that this discussion reminds me of. It is called The Outcast and it focuses on the conditioning (brainwashing) of people to accept societal norms. IMHO, it was one of the best episodes of the series. I guess that was because I could relate to it on some level.
• 

  LB

  An older brother who lived up the road from me died a couple of years back. Before he died I visited him in his wood shop. He was a handy guy and had been a witness for over 60 years. But he was getting very angry. He pointed his finger at me and ask me "when do YOU think the damn system is going to end".

  I told him not in my lifetime either. He said "damn right!". The society has lied to us.

  Imagine living a life where all you do is wake up hoping this is the day it ends but it just never ends. Giving up so many decent things. My son very easily could be a professional athlete. His first contract offer was for over 6 figures. He works for 12 bucks an hour repairing RV's. One day he will regret many things too.
• 

  teejay

  LB,

  The Old Timer's realization is what keeps many "in the truth."

  Facing the fact that they have bought a bill of goods and wasted their entire life (or most of it) is a REAL truth most Dubs would rather not face. Sad.
• 

  lauralisa

  Hey teejay,

  I'm glad you had a cool weekend with your mom and sister.

  You don't know how many times I have wondered, when listening to a true believer such as your mom: "how can this be happening"? WHAT HAPPENED to cause this person to acquire such an efficient trigger-response, the likes of which do not exist except within seriously dysfunctional social systems, which sends them immediately to "default key mode"?

  I truly wanted to have that much "faith" at one time. I yearned for it. I wanted it to be true SO MUCH

  But... there is a point at which one has to stop and question whether an investment they've made is a sound one. It is a healthy, normal and advisable thing to check out the credibility, legitimacy, etc. of any major investment, whether it's a financial one, emotional one, etc... The WTBTS does NOT hold up under scrutiny - even if one employs the most lenient, clouded credibility checks imaginable. And while I would say your mother is admirably strong in many ways, I wonder, I mean really, about whether she can really be 'happy'...

  Maybe there is such a thing as being "blissfully unaware". Hey, maybe they're ON to something here! Wow. Let's see... my brain, in exchange for a life-term of repeating the same old lame apologetic - like on a totally daily basis -!- except I will be 'happy" - if I wait long enough - do all things better - wait long enough...
  hmmmm... that's tempting........

  Well, teejay you know where I stand on this thing, I guess? But is it not totally awesome that you got to spend some good time with people you love, and (I presume here), I think that YOU get to be the happy one in this story! And I'm truly glad about that.

  lauralisa
• 

  gsx1138

  I also have a things to do before I die list.

  Some of the biggest things are already crossed off but I have a ways to go.

  Done: Drag Race, Skydive, Surf, and take a Martial Art

  To Do: Visit Europe, get a house by the water, buy a boat, get my mother out of the WTS

  As for your story. Ignorance can be bliss.
• 

  Dismembered

  It's so sad that some have put all their "stock" in the idea that they will not die, and as a consequence have not chased after what their dreams were/are.
• 

  Wolfgirl

  Got my tattoo that I always wanted but wasn't allowed to have.

  Married that naughty "unbeliever."

  Travelled the world, lived in Hong Kong, now living in France, happily not going to meetings.

  Use whatever language I want to use.

  Study what I want to study. Listen to the music I want to listen to. Watch whatever I want to watch.

  I could go on, but I'm sure you're bored enough already.