Leave the Past and Live for the Future...141 things JW's cant do

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday with their families.  As a former Jehovah Witness, although I have been out and shunned now for 17 years , holidays are still the hardest. It is like a Holiday Seasonal Depression. I recently saw a post that said "If you don't leave your past in the past it will destroy your future, Live for what today has to offer not what yesterday has taken away" Words so ,so true, but yet so, so hard , when anyone has a past that has scarred them so much emotionally and psychologically . The individuals who say "Leave the past alone, get over it .." these are the individuals who most likely  had a good stable relationship with their parents. They most likely have memories of their parents at holidays , birthdays and even may have some wonderful memories of going to church together. I am learning  through blogging and help--- I am learning how to not keep letting my past define me . Its kind of like when a soldier goes off to war and they see all the blood shed etc, or a person who has been physically abused or tortured, they have trauma from that , they want to let go of those memories because they hurt so bad, but the inner conscience will bring triggers back up . So in my case, oh my , don't I want to just forget about everything absolutely, what I am learning is that my past of being a Jehovah Witness will always be my shadow, but I don't have to let that shadow control my actions and reactions. Another former JW , made a list of 141 things that Jehovah Witnesses aren't allowed to do .. now this is just 141 things he came up with. Now within, Jehovah Witness individual families , there are even more rules and things you cant do. Now, for one moment , those individuals who make the statement "it your past get over it " try for one moment living 30 years with having to try and remember every one of these rules  and in my case I can remember our own family rules along with these 141 . I coudnt watch Casper , Scooby Doo, The Wizard of Oz, even when ET came out in the 80's I was not allowed to view that .No concerts, no posters on your wall of celebrities that was considered idol worshiping. I was taught to fear everything . Even my blogs, Im In fear of my parents , getting hold of these blogs and reading them , for fear of being called more names , but this is a way for me to let go and stand on my own and live for what I have now and be thankful for the life I do have. Its only been the past three years that I have even put up a Christmas Tree, last week when I put up my tree, most people like to decorate it by listening to Christmas music. I cant .. it makes me sad , it makes me think back growing up while others were enjoying family time and eating turkey , I was out knocking on your door and then went home and had a bologna sandwich. This year I decorated while listening to some 80's music ..smiles.. I avoid the stores as much as possible this time of year due to the Christmas Music , it makes me sad and to be quite honest , I don't know the words to the songs . This year, I have decided , I am going to watch the Charlie Brown Christmas special with my Grand son Raleigh and make a new memory . I will not let my past define me, I will let the Lord guide me and take my burdens , I will let those individuals that love me , love me and I in return will do the same . Here is the list of 141 things JW's cant do : Take a gander and think for yourself if you would be able to remember and abide by all these things and most not truly understanding the why and you are never allowed to question it , one day at a time Im trying to break the chains.

141 Things Jehovah Witnesses Can’t Do

141 Rules. Things Jehovah’s Witnesses Can’t Do.

1.Belong to another organization or club for the purpose of socializing with nonbelievers.
2.Have best friends and activity buddies who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses.
3.Associate with people outside their organization when it is not necessary.
4.Attend social functions sponsored by their employer unless attendance is required
5.Associate with coworkers after business hours in a social settings
6.Disagree with their organization’s rules and code of conduct.
7.Disagree with their organization’s doctrines.
8.Contribute to the Presidential Campaign Fund on their tax return
9.Join the armed forces and defend their country
10.Say the Pledge of Allegiance
11.Salute the flag
12.Vote
13.Run for leadership in their organization. (JW’s are ‘appointed’ and invited to be leaders.)
14.Run for leadership in any organization 15.Take a stand for any political issue inside their organization
16.Take a stand on any political or ‘worldly’ issue outside of their organization
17.Campaign for a political candidate
18.Hold political office
19.Discuss politics
20.Be a union steward or shop steward
21.Actively be involved in a union strike
22.Use a gun for protection against humans
23.Become a police officer if a gun is required
24.Wear military uniforms or clothing associated with war
25.Take yoga classes and practice the discipline of yoga.
26.Smoke tobacco and cigars 27.Work full time selling tobacco and cigars
28.Attend Alcoholics Anonymous
29.Donate blood
30.Have blood transfusions
31.Read books, magazines, publications, and literature from other religions.
32.Buy anything from a church store
33.Buy something at a church garage sale
34.Donate items to a church run store
35.Shop at the Salvation Army
36.Work for the Salvation Army
37.Work for another church
38.Play competitive sports on a school team
39.Play competitive sports professionally
40.Run for class president
41.Become a cheerleader
42.Go to the school prom or school dance.
43.Attend class reunions
44.Be hypnotized
45.Accept Jesus as their mediator
46.Join the Boy Scouts
47.Join the Girl Guides
48.Join the YMCA
49.Serve on jury duty
50.Study psychology, philosophy, sociology, and viewpoints that might shake their faith
51.Attend other Christian churches
52.Attend nondenominational churches
53.Attend non Christian churches
54.Get married in another church
55.Dating non believers is discouraged
56.Casual dating is discouraged
57.Dating someone without the intent of getting married
58.Having sex before marriage
59.Breaking an engagement, separation, and ‘unscriptural’ divorce may result in disciplinary action
60.Marriage to non believers is not recommended
61.Be gay or lesbian. Homosexuality is not acceptable.
62.Throw rice at a wedding
63.Get divorced unless the reason is adultery
64.Can’t remarry unless their ex commits fornication first
65.Toast drinks
66.Buy a raffle ticket
67.Play bingo
68.Gamble
69.Sing any holiday songs
70.Sing the National Anthem.
71.Celebrate Christmas – Why?
72.Celebrate New Years Eve – Why?
73.Celebrate Easter – Why?
74.Celebrate Mother’s Day – Why?
75.Celebrate Father’s Day
76.Celebrate birthdays – Why?
77.Celebrate Thanksgiving
78.Celebrate Flag Day
79.Celebrate Veteran’s Day
80.Celebrate Independence Day. Why?
81.Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day
82.Celebrate Valentine’s Day
83.Celebrate Halloween – Why?
84.Celebrate Hanukkah
85.Accept holiday gifts – Why?
86.Celebrate any holiday except the death of Jesus – Why?
87.Partake in the bread and wine that represents Christ unless they are part of the 144,000
88.Make holiday artwork for school
89.Engage in holiday parties at school
90.Take on a leadership role in school
91.Porneia
92.Do suggestive and immodest dancing in a public place
93.Attend a class, workshop, or seminar, sponsored by another church 94.Attend social events or fund raisers sponsored by another church
95.Use of bad language (curse words) is discouraged
96.Wear blue jeans, shorts, and overly casual clothing at the Kingdom Hall. See Dress Code
97.Wear pants at a Kingdom Hall if you’re a woman
98.Wear revealing clothes or skirts that are too short (looked down upon)
99.Wear long hair or facial hair if you’re a man (depends on the local customs of the country you live in)
100.Body piercing are discouraged
101.Tattoos are discouraged
102.State or imply that the Watchtower is not run by Jehovah God.
103.Have discussions and express Bible based viewpoints that contradict the organization’s beliefs
104.Say anything negative about their organization. JW’s must ‘speak in agreement’ and be ‘like-minded’.
105.Consider other religious beliefs as valid and truthful.
106.Acknowledge any prayer spoken by a non believer as valid
107.Take another Jehovah’s Witness to court (with exceptions)
108.Wear or own a cross
109.Own any religious picture
110.Own any religious statue
111.Engage in idolatry
112.Believe in miracles (except those found in the Bible)
113.Believe in ghosts
114.Witchcraft
115.Black magic
116.White magic
117.Consult with a psychic or become one
118.Study tarot cards, get a reading or give a reading
119.Study numerology or get a reading
120.Dabble in ESP (extrasensory perception), dowsing, or divination
121.Use a tool such as a pendulum to access information from the spiritual realm
122.Attempt to communicate with departed spirits.
123.Attend a seance
124.Believe in good luck or say things such as ‘Good luck to you’. Why?
125.Believe or say anything superstitious
126.Prophesy
127.Speaking in tongues
128.Laying on of hands
129.Energy healing such as Reiki
130.Read their horoscope
131.Study astrology or zodiac signs
132.Combat training, boxing, or martial arts
133.Go to heaven unless they are part of the 144,000
134.Worship Jesus as God
135.Idolize any celebrity or love and admire them to excess
136.Women can’t be elders
137.Women can’t be ministerial servants (assistants to the elders)
138.Divulge secret information to enemies and those not entitled to know.
139.Greet or talk with disfellowshipped persons (with some exceptions)
140.Associate with disfellowshipped persons except for immediate family living in the same house
141.Keep secrets from the organization. Jehovah’s Witnesses report friends and family members breaking the rules