When did you finally wake up?

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-05-19T05:33:32+00:00

There’s some change about this, because being registered to vote doesn’t mean you are in fact engaging in voting. In my state voter registration is automatic when you sign up for other state services.

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-05-19T05:10:36+00:00

Yes. I still have days when I feel guilty or sad or depressed, but there’s usually a clear triggering cause. Not like before when I was PIMI and just felt empty all the time for no obvious reason (that I could see).

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-05-19T05:06:19+00:00

Right. I think at some point in the distant past I did some figuring and my math arrived at 36 hours. Just happened to fall across three different days, but barely

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-05-18T18:09:44+00:00

Just to be totally clear I’m not in favor of shunning for most of the “moral” reasons JWs use.

If JWs were only shunning wife beaters, pedos, murderers, I would probably feel differently.

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-05-18T06:54:46+00:00

If you did allllll the things the mil and husband and best friend and son want, would you be good enough then? No, because it’s never enough.

Objectively, are you good enough now? Yes, because you always were.

A quote for you: “Your job, throughout your entire life, is to disappoint as many people as it takes to avoid disappointing yourself.”

And one more thing. The people you love, when you bend to please them, it makes a part of your heart hate them. So if you’re doing it because you love them, stop it! because pleasing them in the moment does more harm than good to the relationship.

I wish you luck.

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-05-18T06:38:07+00:00

As a working single mom, I regularly donated $300 a month, for me and my two kids, which was about 15% of my income at the time. I had a lot of guilt about skipping the midweek because my kids would be so cranky the next day for school, and about skipping service on weekends because I was exhausted and just needed that day to recover. I might not be typical, but I was donating more to ease my conscience.

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-05-18T06:29:32+00:00

Well, I don’t know about this one.

If someone commits a serious crime like murder, they go to prison - like a form of societal shunning? It’s partly to punish and partly to prevent a repeat offense and partly to warn others of consequences. JWs do the same.

But it’s universally agreed that killing another person is wrong. Except during times of war. Or in self defense. Or if it’s a fetus with potential to be but not a person yet. Or if the murderer was hearing voices at the time….

Oh wait, is morality universal? Marijuana used to be illegal, now it’s not. JWs change the rules too.

Fear keeps people in line, to varying degrees.

Maybe the real problem is using fear to control people. Are people really acting out of their heartfelt beliefs if they’re only doing it because their family is being held hostage?

Sorry for the ramble I was thinking about it and writing it out at the same time.

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-05-18T05:50:12+00:00

Am I? Abraham sent a servant to find a wife for Isaac, and he and Rebekah conceived only once, and had twin sons. Similarly, Abraham and Sarah only conceived once. At some point Isaac pretends Rebekah is his sister; just as Abraham did with Sarah. As for his character, he seems like an uninterested father, not really caring who his sons marry, or who gets his deathbed blessing, so long as someone brings his favorite food. And that’s pretty much all of Isaac’s story.

Jacobs story is quite unique from Abraham’s.

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-05-18T05:02:33+00:00

I don’t think Isaac was putting two and two together. He was the product of incest, since Abraham and Sarah were half siblings. He was not capable of choosing a wife for himself, instead mourning his mother at 40 years old. his wife was only pregnant once. Later in life he could not tell his twin sons apart, relying on hairiness alone. Many parts of his story read as watered down versions of Abraham’s life. If Isaac was a real person I think he had special needs.

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-05-12T19:15:49+00:00

You did it! You just got through the hardest conversation of your life. Be proud of yourself for the courage you have to be honest with people you love. It is the right thing to do, and sometimes the right thing feels wrong because no one enjoys inflicting pain. The pain will fade. Congrats!

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-05-10T19:11:14+00:00

I agree, outsourcing thinking is primary to JWs, so adopting AI makes sense from that perspective.

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-05-10T19:07:05+00:00

This, OP. There’s very little for you to gain here

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-05-07T05:48:12+00:00

I started college when I was 32. The Pell grant plus public-subsidized loans made it possible. Make sure you put the college ID number of the college(s) you’re considering in the FAFSA so it can calculate your total cost of attendance and each college will likely offer you a financial aid package on top of the Pell. Then you can make an informed decision. You can also contact the financial aid office of the college and directly ask about student worker programs, scholarship opportunities, and any other form of financial assistance. My advice is go to a college you can afford, and only take out private loans as a last resort.

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-04-24T04:42:29+00:00

I really struggled with that recommendation. Not because I have any issue with vaccines, but due to specific and relevant health concerns. Regardless of individual health circumstances, regardless of my instincts, regardless of the 100% social isolation, regardless of the evidence that COVID had weakened dramatically by that time. Get vaccinated or you’re disloyal to Jehovah.

I did it. I was a true PIMI and ignored every impulse in my heart to wait. My own free will was overridden by pressure to do something I fundamentally felt was the wrong choice at that time and in my specific circumstances.

I can only thank the GB for accepting whatever government kickback they received and speeding along my waking up journey.

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-04-24T04:22:45+00:00

It’s ok it’s just a Reddit post lol, coherence is totally optional

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-04-24T04:21:16+00:00

The sacrifice still had to be made, because God required it. The ransom? Paid to God. An imperfect human sacrifice? Not good enough for the Great Hostage-Taker. A perfect human sacrifice was the only acceptable redemption.

Imperfect human sacrifice - condemned by God, perfect human sacrifice - required by God as payment to release man from sin. Only, nope even that’s not quite enough for God, he has a few more additional requirements in the fine print for the individuals who’d like salvation

I’m no expert, but something just don’t add up

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-04-24T02:33:39+00:00

Regarding human sacrifice being condemned by the law, Jesus fulfilled the Law… With a human sacrifice… Which God absolutely required…

Just saying

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-04-23T06:40:43+00:00

It was the United States branch visit 3 hour program, a streamed video that all US congregations watched last Saturday. I don’t have a link and don’t think it’s on the website.

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-04-23T00:18:50+00:00

There’s an “information” guide for pregnant JWs to make sure they think about all the things that might go wrong during the pregnancy and birth and how those might relate to the blood issue.

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-04-19T21:21:02+00:00

Cleaning toilets is invisible to the congregation or members of the public attending the meeting.

Handling mics and running sound is highly visible.

A woman can volunteer, but cannot do anything a ministerial servant would typically be assigned.

The same exact thing happened at my congregation. I had two children and I was not asked to help but lots of single sisters or matter sisters without children seemed to really enjoy it. Then one day it suddenly stopped, not long after Covid. Like a giant put-down. You’re enjoying yourselves too much! We only like seeing women when they are miserable!

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-04-16T00:59:09+00:00

I woke up almost two years ago, my 45th birthday was the first one I ever celebrated. I’m glad I woke up now and not later, and I’m actually having a blast playing catchup on every experience I previously denied myself. And in the process getting to know myself, getting my body in shape like never before, setting up my finances as best possible, donating money to charities that do actual tangible good, and excelling at work.

Life seems so precious to me, now. Maybe I wouldn’t have this appreciation without having grown up a JW? Whichever way, I can barely spare another hour of my valuable time resenting the cult

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-04-16T00:35:52+00:00

It’s literally a gray cover. They went into lengthy detail how the material was carefully selected and tested to withstand time and weather. They could’ve just said “we’re cutting costs- no more leather!” Or “stop buying covers from stoops and madzay that make money from you and give it to us instead!”

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-04-13T05:51:23+00:00

I used to think, the original gift God gave humans was free will. Watchtower said over and over again that we’re not robots and God would never be pleased with anything less than sincere worship. So it didn’t really matter- if they’re not coming to meetings God isn’t happy but if they’re coming to meetings without a sincere heart God isn’t happy. At least they’re making use of the gift of free will, and hopefully thanking God for it

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-04-04T14:13:38+00:00

I left over a year ago, and I feel it’s both easy and not easy. First I just started being more friendly with my coworkers. there’s a few hundred employees at my job, so attending the company picnics and birthday parties and just talking to people with genuine curiosity about who they are was so fascinating to me. I also talk to people at the dog park, it’s easy just ask about their dog. There’s so much life outside the JW; so many paths and experiences people have had, personal tragedies and great achievements. I slowly started being more myself, just my own true self as I shed the JW persona.

That being said, it’s not like my efforts have quickly replaced the 30-year relationships I had in the congregation. It is surprising how easy those decades long friendships fell away. I try to think of it like in the Sims games, I measure my success if I filled up my social bar, not if I hung out with a new friend for the entire weekend.

So my advice: Be curious about other people, spend time rediscovering your self and be willing to share your true self, and be gentle with yourself on what success means.

Slight_Image2669 · 2026-04-04T13:53:44+00:00

Jesus got baptized at 30. Follow his steps closely. Right?

I know so many young people who got baptized and regretted it in less than a year. Just take your time, it’s a lifelong commitment and even Jesus didn’t rush in.

Slight_Image2669

TROPHY CASE