Posts by Effervescent

16

It's a small world

by Why Georgia in

just a quick note.

i started my new real grown up job yesterday at a bank.

i just wanted a break from ebay, i wanted set work hours and a set amount in a paycheck each week.

Congrats on the awesome new job! I know what you mean about the seperation of home/work. I started working from home about 2 years ago and it's really hard. On top of having to juggle your entire life around bringing in income, people just assume you have all day on your hands because you don't leave the house to work. Sometimes I feel like I have to carry my business license around with me to prove I'm really busy when I say I am.

Thank goodness you are able to be there for a kindred soul in pain! That's some kismet there!

You have every right to be frustrated with people who have no respect for your personal space and wishes. I'm not sure how many times you have to tell them to stay away short of getting a restraining order? These people are abusive and should be kept as far away as possible. A little righteous anger when it comes to protecting your family is entirely appropriate!

30

Okay, here's my story.

by sundawn77 in

jw
friends

hey all.. first of all i want to say that i am really impressed by the warm atmosphere that this board provides.

i remember when i was little and we learned about non-witnesses, and they were portrayed as children-eating, blood-drinking criminals.

okay, i exaggerate, but the connotations were there!.

Effervescent

First of all- *big hugs*

I've been in your shoes as far as being on the hamster wheel of parental approval and affection. It does get better with time, but the pain never really goes away completely. It's just very important you surround yourself with the one's who will support and love you no matter what, and try not to dwell on your family's hateful actions. Blood is not thicker than water. Your friends are for real, family is just a trick of genetics. That's my excuse anyways!

You are much stronger than you know. You've already come so far! Realize that you are above their pettiness now, and you have your whole life ahead of you... whereas they do not. Personally, I've realized my JW family are a bunch of emotional leeches, and I refuse to subject myself to their abuse. Any of them who are still speaking to me don't even know much about my life. I don't open it up to their scrutiny. I actually have a sign in the entryway to my house that sums it up- "Friends Welcome- Relatives by Appointment Only".

YOU know you're a good person, we know you're a GREAT person, and your friends LOVE you. Build on that and it will take you far!

31

How would you describe yourself since leaving the borg?

by hambeak in

jw
friends

for me i found myself more involved politically and in community and business affairs.

not as cynical as i once was and not as judgemental as when i was a jw.

also more empathetic about people and finally able to see some beauty in the world.

Effervescent

Can I choose "D"- All of the Above?

I identify with what everyone else has said, and also... an even bigger thing for me... is the absence of FEAR. I used to be so afraid every second of my life because I knew I wasn't measuring up to "Jehovah's" standards. I knew I was going to die soon and it made me horribly sad because I hadn't done anything with my life, it revolved around making other people happy and hiding who I really was. And I didn't even do that very well... making others happy with me, that is.

Now, I don't obsess about my own death and with measuring up to someone else's unreachable standards. I live a moral life, do my best to help others in need, take care of my family and pay my taxes. It's so nice to walk around without the world sitting on my shoulders.

49

What kind of perfume/cologne do you use?

by purplesofa in

jw
friends

i have lots of perfume.....love to smell good.. estee lauder.......pleasures.

eternity summer.

jessica mcclintock.

Effervescent

Organza Indecence by Givenchy- bottle looks like a naked woman, love it! It has a heady oriental fragrance, it's my night time "Mama needs some TLC" choice.

Happy- my everyday scent... citrusy and fun...

25

Oh Brother....

by mama1119 in

this morning my doorbell rang, and i usually never answer my door unless i know someone is coming, because this is thick jw territory, but i did, and low and behold, its a lone jw.

he was working on the construction site across the street and was trying to locate the owners of a cat he kept seeing.

he didn't recognize me at first, he was looking at my halloween decorations, and then back at me like he knew something was off...so finally, he asked my name.

Effervescent

Oh gosh... this brought back great memories of my Dad saying to me "You're a smart girl, you' know what's right and will figure it out".

Yeah... I figured out a lot more than he would have ever dreamed....

26

Which did you fear more as a JW, God or the Elders?

by JH in

jw
friends

i felt that god understood if i missed meetings or didn't go out in the field service very much, but the elders wouldn't.. bottom line, i feared the elders more ...... that's pretty sad.

.

Effervescent

What Restrangled said...

Mostly I feared my Dad, but then he was an Elder so maybe that counts?

The only time that it actually entered my mind to fear the Elders was when I had to go to a Judicial Meeting. Then I was shaking in my boots.

38

Girls/ ladies, were the sister`s competetive in your congs?

by dido in

jw
friends

i don`t know about your congs, but the ones i were in became like fashion competitions between some of the sisters.

i noticed how some of them would look you up and down, very obviously, then the following week wear something identical.

i hate being the same as other people, so it used to p... me off, but i couldn`t believe how competetive they were.

Effervescent

I don't remember the congregation I left from being competitive like that. It was an older majority though, and it seemed like everyone was related somehow. One big happy disfunctional family if you know what I mean.

I had family that was in a different congregation about 100 miles away that was very much like you describe though. Very much about appearances and who was wearing what. It was all silliness and pettiness. They spent more effort worrying about what everyone else had on than "partaking of the spiritual banquet" that's for sure!

41

Disfellowshipping for Gluttony?

by Smoky in

is that possible?..have there been any cases like this?.

my family have been on my case about me hanging around with people (non-jw family) that like to drink alot.

they went as far as to call me "a drunk"...now i do admit that i have been gotten drunk before on occasion, but i am not a drunk or an alcoholic.. so, i told my mother (obese) that if i were "a drunk" for getting drunk from time to time (not every day), then can she be considered "a glutton", for eating to much, obese, having health problems, all because of the way she eats?

Effervescent

I think the waistlines of quite a few Elders is a main reason this subject isn't touched.... not to mention Elder's wives.

8

Dirty Little Tricks...

by Justice-One in

jw
friends

dirty little tricks...that i might add help keep me sane.

one of the things i like to do when my "true-believing" wife leaves her new "study aids" and stuff on the kitchen table, is to take a few of them and burn them in the stove.

funny, she never seems to miss them.

Effervescent

Too funny! Sometimes it's therapy for the soul to have a naughty sense of humor about things.

19

You should not expect justice!!

by Gill in

the watchtower org does not believe that 'justice and equality' should be pursued nowadays.

justice and equality or only to be expected in a never neverland that will never come.. november 1st watchtower on page 14, shows how the borg uses ecclesiastes to teach it's slaves to accept oppression, poverty and injustice.. page 14 it discusses ecclesiastes 1:15 and explains it under:.

lessons for us:.

Effervescent

1:15 It is futile to spend time and energy trying to correct the oppression and injustice that we see today. Only God's Kingdom can do away with wickedness. Daniel 2:44

This is self-fulfilling. It reminds me of my struggle with my 5 year old to teach her to tie her own shoes. She gets exasperated easy and gives up before she even tries. We have conversations that go like this- "I've shown you over and over how to do it, now at least try, I'll help you if you need it" "But I can't" "You haven't even tried yet!" "But I CANT DO IT!"

Efforts are only futile if you've convinced yourself its no good to try...

Cultural activities, such as architecture, gardening, and music, as well as luxurious living are 'striving after wind' because they neither make life truly meaningful nor bring lasting happiness.

This is absurdity in it's finest.... I can't think of a more spiritual activity than cultivating life and beauty from the soil. What do they think God created flowers for? I can remember a couple sweet widows and retired couples from the congregations I attended that had beautiful gardens so lovingly tended. I would think it would break their hearts to tell them something so dear to their hearts is all for nothing and a waste of time.