Look at it this way. You have the opportunity to discard a family who doesn't care about, or want you.
It's a chance to build your own new family. Filled with people who actually care about you, and what happens to you. They may not be blood relatives, but blood is overrated anyway.
True, now why don't you live in the UK again? I need a hug, a big man hug.
I know exactly how you feel Berbs...
no matter how long you've been the black sheep there are always moments that sting as bad as ever. With me its beginning to have a take on my sanity, I need to do something about that
Exactly. It just doesn't get much easier it seems. I know I hace kids of my own, and a chance to have a family that way, but the little girl inside of me wants her parental love still to this day and I can't shut her up sometimes.
I knew when I made the first post that many here would identify with these feelings.
Berbs,
I can relate. I've been an ex-Muslim for about almost two years now, and I already feel the "outcast" vibe. No matter how much I emphasize that being a Kaffir doesn't mean I'm a Muslim hater (like Hesperado), I'm still branded as such. Perhaps not always literally, but I can sense the change in people's attitude-especially my family. I don't like imposing my beliefs on others, but hell, I have an opinion, and I like to demonstrate it. When I let go of faith, I felt very free, and I still do. I'm free to express my opinion about anything and not have to worry about who I hurt. Although, hurting anyone is never my agenda. Even still, because of such freedom, I'm always told by people that I'm somehow a derailed individual. Someone who will become the most inconsiderate person in the world. When you say "why does the things I do make me anything less of a person I was yesterday," I ask the same. It doesn't make sense to me either.
But, considering everything negative that people think of me, there is one fact that keeps me sane: I can't change what others think, I can only change myself.
As long as I'm not hurting anyone, and I respect others- people have no business paying attention to my personal life. If they'd rather befriend me because of the fact I'm true to myself, then well, they are not much of a human to begin with.
Thats' just my two cents.
Yes, I still feel free inside and I love having that weight lifted off of my shoulder, the weight of faith. I just wish it didn't have to be replaced by a new weight, albeit a lesser one since it only stings sometimes.
Same here too, I hold onto my belief that I know I am a good person and I know I have done no real wrong, it makes it easier knowing that I am not the one to blame here.
This is for all of you ex muslims who feel alone
I feel your sadness like it is my own, it makes me proud though, to know that we are here together, no matter how hard the road feels sometimes.