Posted by:
Mother Who Knows
(
)
Date: November 18, 2020 09:22AM
I celebrate my freedom anniversary, every year, too, in December. It's fun to try to do the opposite of Mormonism, if you know what I mean. I used to volunteer in person in the schools, the Assistance League, or the center for battered women and children, and I scheduled volunteer work for the day of my freedom anniversary. Anything but Relief Society and those grumpy gossips! Volunteers are the nicest people on the planet!
Recently, I'm too busy to go in person, so I donate to causes of which the Mormons disapprove. I won't name them, but these are women's rights groups, environmental causes, human rights, UNICEF, directly helping people of other races (not phony Mormon ploys to get new members) helping animals, whatever I feel like. Be sure you donate to something legitimate. You can do this and still be safe from covid.
I don't know exactly why, but I think of doing REAL good deeds as being against Mormonism. Maybe it's because of Mormonism's false claims of "serving others", when it's only self-serving--and grabbing people's money without telling them where or how it's being spent.
The first anniversary, I celebrated by throwing out all my Mormon recipes. Some were from pioneer days, and included lard or gobs of crisco and butter, fried fatty meat, pastries, tons of sugar. Too much of that stuff made me sick. I learned to cook healthier food, and ethnic food. To celebrate that first free Christmas Eve, we went out for Chinese food, an idea stolen from the movie "Christmas Story." The next Christmas Eve, we went to Olive Garden. We used to get ribs from Tony Roma's, Mexican food is our favorite, now. You might feel safer having a TV dinner, to be outrageous, or cook yourself a thick steak--whatever is your favorite. If you are an ex-mormon woman, celebrating means not having to cook.
The kids and I started celebrating not having to go to the ward Christmas party, which always turned out to be unpleasant. We finally ditched out, when we were still members, and ordered a pizza and made popcorn and drank Coke (which was considered against the WOW, at the time), in our pajamas, by the fire and Christmas tree, and we watched "Christmas Vacation." This is still a family tradition, on the same night the ward has it's Christmas Party. Out our window, we can see the cars gather in the church parking lot, and we smile with happiness!
--Watch a good R-rated movie.
--Go for a hike, ski, snow shoe, or walk your dog
--Call or Facetime a friend or two.
--Buy yourself a gift online.
--I would like to celebrate by resigning again, every year, but I don't think that's possible. I do have some ex-Mormon friends who go to the organized mass-resignation event at Ensign Peak every year.
Whatever you end up doing, be in the moment, not in the past. You can anticipate a bright future of more freedom and joy. Congratulate yourself!
Now the kids have moved out and gotten married, I like celebrating my anniversary by myself, with no one else knowing what I'm celebrating. Most wouldn't understand. My joy is deep inside. I have learned to value solitude and independence. I have no need of those Mormon relatives and so-called "friends" who shunned me 12 years ago.
This works best if you balance it by seeing your family and good friends as often as possilbe--which is difficult during this period of social isolation. Oh well, back to texting.