Isn't life a wee bit strange? If I had written this a year ago, I would be writting different comments about my observations.
Yet, that is the pivotal point for me. That is the reason why I could never have remained a JW. My point? - Life changes your opinions. You don't always have the same opinion about something now, that you had when you were 18.
But the WTS asks you to take an oath. To 'swear' to believe something forever. Isn't that a bit silly?
When I was 18 and new in the truth, you couldn't stop me. I really felt like I believed it at one time. As I progressed, I pioneered & became a m/s. I was zealous.
But, very quickly, as my responsibilities changed in life, I started to change my views on certain matters. And, because the WTS dictates your views on almost every tiny little matter in life, I found myself having inner conflicts all the time. I was having to give talks on the platform, to say words that I started to question, to doubt.
At the time this was very difficult. In actual fact, my mental stability was on the rocks because I was thinking so deeply about lots of different matters, My opinions and views were changing and there was nothing that I could do about it.
But that is what I have come to accept about life. You change! And rather than fighting it, you should embrace it.
At the moment, I can look back at how I thought as an 'inactive non-returning person' & I can honestly say that my views have chaged between then & now. It's only 2 years. But I am learning & changing all the time.
The important thing is to make the changes positive ones.
I have been down a very rocky road in the last 2 years & I have only been emptionally stable for about the last 6 months. Its only in recent weeks that I have reached a sort of epithany regarding how I should properly deal with my family circumstances as an ex-JW. It has been hard. But after reading this site (and others), doing a lot of thinking & a lot of crying & arguing, you eventually get there.
After that wee ramble, I suppose I am saying that my main observation of life is that you should never say never. My thoughts & opinions now will not be the same when I am 70. But as long as I am living by being true to myself, I will be happy. Don't be something you don't want to be.
Trying to be something that I couldn't? It almost killed me. Literally.
PS - Can I just add that humour & not taking youself too seriously are other major factors.
I wish you the all the bst on your journey.
Slainte!