when you left the meetings..

[jj]

Nov 8, 2010 18:15:05 GMT -5 apple said:

-did you dye your hair purple and pierce your nose?
-did you get counselling?
-did you feel lost?
-did your family and friends avoid you?
-did you cut your hair?
-did you send your meeting clothes to a charity shop?
-did you smoke pot for a while (and forget to wash yourself)?
-did you try to get others to leave too?
-did you feel relief?
-did you enjoy not being at conventions and meetings?
-did you dump your hymn book in the attic?
-did you church hop for a few years?
-did you join the Baptists?
-did you write an exit letter for your family?
-did you go to the cinema?

Not sure if it was intended or not but these questions made me smile I enjoyed reading through the thread. Now the questions...

-I used henna on my hair (which by the way is a fantastic conditioner and strengthens hair). I repierced my ears
-I did get counselling for social anxiety and mild depression which I believe may have been related
-In a way I felt lost, but I also felt very sure and confident in Gods leading, no matter what He would be my help and strength.
-My family isn't professing, so they were a wonderful support for me. The true friends I made in the meetings didnt really avoid me, although I did move towns.
- I haven't cut my hair much, just trimmed a little as I prefer my hair long as it suits my face shape better.
-I have sent most of my meeting clothes to Vinnies, and today I own only one long maxi skirt I bought in France.
-I haven't ever smoked pot, but I do now appreciate the very occasional fine wine or pear cider . Certain times I felt down I didn't want to take too much care if myself.
-I didn't try to get others to leave as I read a great book about cults and mind control which convinced me that it takes careful thought and planning to help people in those situations
-I felt incredible relief
-I don't really miss meetings or conventions
-I don't use my hymn book anymore.
-I haven't church hopped as I just can't bring myself to begin searching again yet.
-I didn't have to write an exit letter to my family, as they're not professing but I didn't write one for the friends either.
-I don't go to the cinema much anyway, though I do go occasionally. I saw 'Winter's Tale' the other day which I enjoyed.

I guess I was living a double life most of the time, since I watched TV at home regularly, wore pants to work etc. It feels good to have done away with all that now.

[Deleted]

Nov 8, 2010 20:45:20 GMT -5 open mind said:

Who says you have to leave to do all of those things apple?!

[br

I took all the make up tv radios slacks goodness knows what else to the op shop 5 years ago when we professed and bought us all bibles and bags and hymn book new clothes - lots of meeting clothes concordances all the bells and whistles. We left Last Sept so it all went in the bin and we have bought new clothes slacks, TV , radio makeup first thing I did get my ears pierced and hot pink steaks in my hair. I can't believe my husband hasn't said anything about how much this has cost. Very patient man!

[iam]

Nov 13, 2010 23:54:10 GMT -5 shushy said:

Nov 9, 2010 9:22:29 GMT -5 apple said:

There's no need to be so snarky.I want to know how others the exited.I know people did do some of these things.I had to get counselling for it.

As for pot smokers every single pot smoker I know is a dirty creature from lack of washing.

I found this highly amusing. Ratz snarky? Nooooooooooo never!

I actually appreciate that about rat. Seriously.

[iam]

Mar 24, 2011 16:47:58 GMT -5 anewday said:

Psalm 119:165

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

But when they offend others....not so peaceful.

[iam]

Jun 3, 2012 15:47:20 GMT -5 calleduntoliberty said:

Jun 2, 2012 15:17:33 GMT -5 emy said:

You forgot to mention the many (f&w) people who believe that Jesus is the Son of God (as opposed to God, the Son).

"The Son of God" is not opposed to "God, the Son". All Christians believe that Jesus is both the Son of God and God, the Son.

I don't. I'm not a christian then? Probably not in your books.

[ellie]

Nov 8, 2010 18:15:05 GMT -5 apple said:

-did you dye your hair purple and pierce your nose?

No and no

-did you get counselling

Yes

-did you feel lost?

No

-did your family and friends avoid you?

Mostly no

-did you cut your hair?

No

-did you send your meeting clothes to a charity shop?

I still wear them

-did you smoke pot for a while (and forget to wash yourself)?

No and no

-did you try to get others to leave too?

No

-did you feel relief?

Yes and much happiness

-did you enjoy not being at conventions and meetings?

Mostly yes

-did you dump your hymn book in the attic?

I don't know where it is.

-did you church hop for a few years?

No

-did you join the Baptists?

No

-did you write an exit letter for your family?

No, but there was an exit talk and messages to some before the gossip hit.

-did you go to the cinema?

Probably less than before but I did see 2/3 of a movie this week.

[iam]

Nov 9, 2010 10:18:32 GMT -5 Scott Ross said:

As for pot smokers every single pot smoker I know is a dirty creature from lack of washing

How many do you know?

Just curious as the facts seem to point to us all knowing quite a few pot smokers.

How Widespread is Marijuana Abuse?
National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)***
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2009, 16.7 million Americans aged 12 or older used marijuana at least once in the month prior to being surveyed, an increase over the rates reported in all years between 2002 and 2008. There was also a significant increase among youth aged 12-17, with current use up from 6.7 percent in 2008 to 7.3 percent in 2009, although this rate is lower than what was reported in 2002 (8.2 percent). Past-month use also increased among those 18-25, from 16.5 percent in 2008 to 18.1 percent in 2009.

drugabuse.gov/infofacts/marijuana.html

Now how many of those were people that had left meetings isn't in the survey, but I am sure that there are some of them....

I've known quite a few personally. Some were those who were dying of cancer and used it to stimulate their appetite.

Scott

I bought some for someone that was in very great distress once. So then the person was stoned and that didn't look much better 😒