I probably should not bring the subject up. At all. Ever. But, I have not figured out how to avoid the topic yet. That could be because I am only 29 years old and a very large portion of my adult life (age 19-26) was monopolized by the event. So, there are not very many things to refer to in my adult life outside the circumstances of the cult. The problem could also lie in the fact that I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. That’s a nice way of saying I have no filter between my brain and my mouth. I think it, I say it. Not the best way of communicating, but we all have our faults.

I’ve heard from some of the families that were in the cult that they have been told time and again by various significant individuals (like school guidance counselors, therapists, etc.) to not tell anyone about their cult experience. They believe it will ostracize them and cause more harm than good. Sounds like good advice.

So far, none of my friends (even new ones) have run screaming away from me, though. Nor has anyone recommended a long vacation at the local loony bin. People are just too reserved for that. No, seriously, outside the initial reaction, my cultic history has yet to adversely affect my personal relationships. I guess, my shining personality wins in the end!

People who don’t know me personally, however, are another story. For instance, some people who have seen the movie or heard our story but don’t actually know me seem to hang on tight to their initial reactions of disgust, pity, and suspicion. That makes sense though. They don’t know me or anyone else who has been through this type of experience to be able to relate.