Polly: Welcome to freedom! You seem to have the intelligence and innate decency to come through this transition in fine shape. You are NOT alone! Please remember this: those 'elders' have only as much power over you as you give them. Here is Mommie's best advice: keep doing what you're doing. When they call, be polite, and thank them for their concern, and tell them you will call them if you want to talk. If they 'drop by', don't invite them in, but simply say 'sorry you caught me at a really bad time, I'll call you when it's convenient for me," and close the door. Then don't ever call them.
You're on the right track hon. Don't let them discourage you. Life is not to be feared. As Professor Dumbledore told Harry Potter, "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." JWs live on a thin gruel of promises of better, future times. Or to paraphrase Auntie Mame, "Life is a banquet and those poor bastards are starving to death."
One more quote, from Baba Ram Dass, "Be Here Now."
You may lose the conditional love of poor deluded JWs, but you will find true friends and a meaningful life outside that small closed community.
The real world, warts and all, is a fine fine place. Welcome to it Polly.
As always,
Mommie Dark
