Hey @Lilly2 I was wonderding what No.7 "Experiencing spiritual manipulation" meant? I don't know if what I'm about to share will make any sense. Please bear with me as I delve deep into my core beliefs.

My late mother always manipulated me to go to church by making me feel bad, really bad, and I hated that because I was old enough to decide on not attending church. Because of the medical training of years ago made me decide I was an athiest.

And then my daughter encouraged me to go and asked me in her sweetly appealing way, especially during the seasonal aspects of her Christian faith such as Easter and Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.

So I went because there was none of that awful manipulation since mother was dead, and I was surprised I didn't have FOMO because the church warmly welcomed me, and Juni and her church friends had me sitting among their group. I recall not feeling the slightest bit awkward. far from it, I was experiencing being part of something completely different.

But I had to make that decision to go, and I was very glad to have done so. Because Juni's enthusiasm was as bright as a morning star, and that gladdened me she had this innate faith thing going on, and that made me very curious, thinking "Just what IS it that my daughter believes? Does God exist after all? And who is this Jesus my daughter is talking about?"

That same night I saw she had put her bible beside my bed. I began reading a passage she'd underlined. All this, was because my interest was piqued. Therefore the only tip I can offer you is that you plunge into Thankgiving and see how it works for you this time. Because the experience might be a lot different. It's the turning away from preconceived ideas, and keeping one's mind open.

There's no mother to hurt and manipulate me any more. Just the complete opposite in my daughter making me want to participate, and to find out more about her religion which has so far helped me become emotionally stronger. But that decision only came bubbling up inside, and that made me feel a lot less worried, or threatened. Just happy. Because in my daughter had I found my safe place.