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How Asking Too Many Questions Saved Me | Claire Ashman | TEDxNorwichED


[Applause]

[Applause] the eviction notice was stuck to the

the eviction notice was stuck to the

the eviction notice was stuck to the windows of the house where my family and

windows of the house where my family and

windows of the house where my family and I lived everything seemed to be tumbling

I lived everything seemed to be tumbling

I lived everything seemed to be tumbling down ostracized by everyone I knew an

down ostracized by everyone I knew an

down ostracized by everyone I knew an uncertain of the next step the sheriff

uncertain of the next step the sheriff

uncertain of the next step the sheriff came to escort us out of the house I

came to escort us out of the house I

came to escort us out of the house I thanked him profusely why because today

thanked him profusely why because today

thanked him profusely why because today was my escape I persisted in the belief

was my escape I persisted in the belief

was my escape I persisted in the belief that the kids and I would be free and

that the kids and I would be free and

that the kids and I would be free and today we were free of barbed wire fences

today we were free of barbed wire fences

today we were free of barbed wire fences locked gates and people watching our

locked gates and people watching our

locked gates and people watching our every move how why what happened there

every move how why what happened there

every move how why what happened there great questions your wondering now and

great questions your wondering now and

great questions your wondering now and these questions save my life and correct

these questions save my life and correct

these questions save my life and correct an opening in one of Australia’s largest

an opening in one of Australia’s largest

an opening in one of Australia’s largest doomsday cults I’ll share with you today

doomsday cults I’ll share with you today

doomsday cults I’ll share with you today how questioning everything can help save

how questioning everything can help save

how questioning everything can help save your life and possibly even your soul I

your life and possibly even your soul I

your life and possibly even your soul I was brought up in a strict religious

was brought up in a strict religious

was brought up in a strict religious sect that later was deemed a cult I was

sect that later was deemed a cult I was

sect that later was deemed a cult I was cut off from the world formal education

cut off from the world formal education

cut off from the world formal education and news I wanted freedom so after I was

and news I wanted freedom so after I was

and news I wanted freedom so after I was 18 I married the school that taped the

18 I married the school that taped the

18 I married the school that taped the tutor that was teaching my siblings and

tutor that was teaching my siblings and

tutor that was teaching my siblings and I he was 31 a few years later he sold

I he was 31 a few years later he sold

I he was 31 a few years later he sold the house from underneath us and moved

the house from underneath us and moved

the house from underneath us and moved us to a religious community where we

us to a religious community where we

us to a religious community where we were praying eating and sharing

were praying eating and sharing

were praying eating and sharing everything with a hundred and eighty

everything with a hundred and eighty

everything with a hundred and eighty other people and where I went on to

other people and where I went on to

other people and where I went on to birth nine children behind barbed wire

birth nine children behind barbed wire

birth nine children behind barbed wire fences and locked gates in what turned

fences and locked gates in what turned

fences and locked gates in what turned out to be my second cold so I went from

out to be my second cold so I went from

out to be my second cold so I went from one street into another but that was to

one street into another but that was to

one street into another but that was to be expected it was the way I had grown

be expected it was the way I had grown

be expected it was the way I had grown up and it was the only thing that I knew

up and it was the only thing that I knew

up and it was the only thing that I knew so that’s what I did so I fell into

so that’s what I did so I fell into

so that’s what I did so I fell into familiar patterns which is not unusual

familiar patterns which is not unusual

familiar patterns which is not unusual when I speak about cults around the

when I speak about cults around the

when I speak about cults around the world there are many people that tell me

world there are many people that tell me

world there are many people that tell me about their friends family and loved

about their friends family and loved

about their friends family and loved ones that are in cults are you aware

ones that are in cults are you aware

ones that are in cults are you aware that 70 percent

that 70 percent

that 70 percent of cult members are women and here in

of cult members are women and here in

of cult members are women and here in the UK there are some 500 cults which

the UK there are some 500 cults which

the UK there are some 500 cults which equal about 100,000 people who are

equal about 100,000 people who are

equal about 100,000 people who are members of cults and whilst that may not

members of cults and whilst that may not

members of cults and whilst that may not seem to be a significant number among 62

seem to be a significant number among 62

seem to be a significant number among 62 million population that’s the size of

million population that’s the size of

million population that’s the size of Wakefield in Yorkshire in the u.s. there

Wakefield in Yorkshire in the u.s. there

Wakefield in Yorkshire in the u.s. there are like five thousand cults and in my

are like five thousand cults and in my

are like five thousand cults and in my country of Australia there’s like three

country of Australia there’s like three

country of Australia there’s like three thousand so for me following all the

thousand so for me following all the

thousand so for me following all the rules of praying fasting working were

rules of praying fasting working were

rules of praying fasting working were nothing short of a headache but we

nothing short of a headache but we

nothing short of a headache but we weren’t allowed any kind of pain relief

weren’t allowed any kind of pain relief

weren’t allowed any kind of pain relief any relief at all we had to sacrifice

any relief at all we had to sacrifice

any relief at all we had to sacrifice everything for a higher place in heaven

everything for a higher place in heaven

everything for a higher place in heaven but the thing is this kind of lifestyle

but the thing is this kind of lifestyle

but the thing is this kind of lifestyle makes you numb and I realized that I was

makes you numb and I realized that I was

makes you numb and I realized that I was only existing not living and there was

only existing not living and there was

only existing not living and there was this little voice inside of me saying

this little voice inside of me saying

this little voice inside of me saying Clare this is wrong and I was asking the

Clare this is wrong and I was asking the

Clare this is wrong and I was asking the questions his life meant to be lived in

questions his life meant to be lived in

questions his life meant to be lived in endless sadness endless sacrifice giving

endless sadness endless sacrifice giving

endless sadness endless sacrifice giving everything and getting nothing back I

everything and getting nothing back I

everything and getting nothing back I couldn’t do it anymore my spirit was

couldn’t do it anymore my spirit was

couldn’t do it anymore my spirit was exhausted and that’s when I asked the

exhausted and that’s when I asked the

exhausted and that’s when I asked the questions why is this a situation what

questions why is this a situation what

questions why is this a situation what am I going to do how am I going to

am I going to do how am I going to

am I going to do how am I going to change it so I was living in this loving

change it so I was living in this loving

change it so I was living in this loving community but not feeling the love at

community but not feeling the love at

community but not feeling the love at all in fact it was stressful with all

all in fact it was stressful with all

all in fact it was stressful with all the sacrificing the working the handing

the sacrificing the working the handing

the sacrificing the working the handing my will over to the superior doing what

my will over to the superior doing what

my will over to the superior doing what they wanted it was not how I envisioned

they wanted it was not how I envisioned

they wanted it was not how I envisioned my life at all and we will constantly

my life at all and we will constantly

my life at all and we will constantly told the world is ending so don’t get

told the world is ending so don’t get

told the world is ending so don’t get used to luxuries once we’re the only

used to luxuries once we’re the only

used to luxuries once we’re the only survivors thanks to the plastic black

survivors thanks to the plastic black

survivors thanks to the plastic black plastic on our windows and barbed wire

plastic on our windows and barbed wire

plastic on our windows and barbed wire fences there will be no TVs or movies

fences there will be no TVs or movies

fences there will be no TVs or movies and yet the leaders we’re doing exactly

and yet the leaders we’re doing exactly

and yet the leaders we’re doing exactly as they wanted using the t TV movies

as they wanted using the t TV movies

as they wanted using the t TV movies Internet because apparently they could

Internet because apparently they could

Internet because apparently they could use it without having the evil come in

use it without having the evil come in

use it without having the evil come in the longer that we lived there the more

the longer that we lived there the more

the longer that we lived there the more angry frustrated and unhappy I became

angry frustrated and unhappy I became

angry frustrated and unhappy I became with all the restrictions they came a

with all the restrictions they came a

with all the restrictions they came a day where I threw all caution to the

day where I threw all caution to the

day where I threw all caution to the wind I didn’t give a hoot about the

wind I didn’t give a hoot about the

wind I didn’t give a hoot about the consequences I started pushing the

consequences I started pushing the

consequences I started pushing the envelope just that little bit too high

envelope just that little bit too high

envelope just that little bit too high I became quietly resistant to the

I became quietly resistant to the

I became quietly resistant to the directives I questioned the cult leaders

directives I questioned the cult leaders

directives I questioned the cult leaders I sent them letters my husband didn’t

I sent them letters my husband didn’t

I sent them letters my husband didn’t like or agree with any of my actions

like or agree with any of my actions

like or agree with any of my actions remember me saying that the web the

remember me saying that the web the

remember me saying that the web the internet was a web to entangle the world

internet was a web to entangle the world

internet was a web to entangle the world well my husband had a secret addiction

well my husband had a secret addiction

well my husband had a secret addiction gambling and as with all gamblers they

gambling and as with all gamblers they

gambling and as with all gamblers they find a way to sneak it in like the

find a way to sneak it in like the

find a way to sneak it in like the computer in the internet that he

computer in the internet that he

computer in the internet that he secretly set up he didn’t want me to say

secretly set up he didn’t want me to say

secretly set up he didn’t want me to say anything to the leaders because he

anything to the leaders because he

anything to the leaders because he didn’t want us to be thrown out of the

didn’t want us to be thrown out of the

didn’t want us to be thrown out of the community he was ready to throw me under

community he was ready to throw me under

community he was ready to throw me under the bus it was time for me to act so one

the bus it was time for me to act so one

the bus it was time for me to act so one day when he was out I went to the

day when he was out I went to the

day when he was out I went to the cupboard where I knew he kept the cash

cupboard where I knew he kept the cash

cupboard where I knew he kept the cash that he drew out of the bank and firstly

that he drew out of the bank and firstly

that he drew out of the bank and firstly I could only find a few notes of notes

I could only find a few notes of notes

I could only find a few notes of notes of money and then I kept searching and

of money and then I kept searching and

of money and then I kept searching and my patience was rewarded when I finally

my patience was rewarded when I finally

my patience was rewarded when I finally pulled out of a pocket a massive Ward of

pulled out of a pocket a massive Ward of

pulled out of a pocket a massive Ward of cash and I sat down on my bedroom floor

cash and I sat down on my bedroom floor

cash and I sat down on my bedroom floor and I had all this cash around on the

and I had all this cash around on the

and I had all this cash around on the floor and I counted it I’d never seen so

floor and I counted it I’d never seen so

floor and I counted it I’d never seen so much money in all my life

much money in all my life

much money in all my life it was 20,000 Australian dollars or I

it was 20,000 Australian dollars or I

it was 20,000 Australian dollars or I touched over 12,000 British pounds and

touched over 12,000 British pounds and

touched over 12,000 British pounds and I’m sitting now and I’m asking myself

I’m sitting now and I’m asking myself

I’m sitting now and I’m asking myself why am i barely scraping by I’ve got a

why am i barely scraping by I’ve got a

why am i barely scraping by I’ve got a family of ten to feed and I’m grinding

family of ten to feed and I’m grinding

family of ten to feed and I’m grinding unmilled sacks of wheat in order to be

unmilled sacks of wheat in order to be

unmilled sacks of wheat in order to be able to make my daily meal allowance of

able to make my daily meal allowance of

able to make my daily meal allowance of 84 cents u.s. 67p I’m asking myself why

84 cents u.s. 67p I’m asking myself why

84 cents u.s. 67p I’m asking myself why am i living a life of obedience in

am i living a life of obedience in

am i living a life of obedience in misery so I’ve reached out and I’ve made

misery so I’ve reached out and I’ve made

misery so I’ve reached out and I’ve made the leaders angry

the leaders angry

the leaders angry I’ve been ostracized whispered about I’m

I’ve been ostracized whispered about I’m

I’ve been ostracized whispered about I’m not allowed to associate with anybody

not allowed to associate with anybody

not allowed to associate with anybody but members later told me that it was my

but members later told me that it was my

but members later told me that it was my letters of inquiry

letters of inquiry

letters of inquiry my first defiance that made them wonder

my first defiance that made them wonder

my first defiance that made them wonder that made them question and then made

that made them question and then made

that made them question and then made them leave to testify against the

them leave to testify against the

them leave to testify against the exploitation and pedophilic activity in

exploitation and pedophilic activity in

exploitation and pedophilic activity in the community but I was still stuck

the community but I was still stuck

the community but I was still stuck there with eight kids in a vowel so I’m

there with eight kids in a vowel so I’m

there with eight kids in a vowel so I’m sitting there holding this money in my

sitting there holding this money in my

sitting there holding this money in my hand and I’m wondering what I’m gonna do

hand and I’m wondering what I’m gonna do

hand and I’m wondering what I’m gonna do next I don’t

next I don’t

next I don’t have a bank account to hide it in and

have a bank account to hide it in and

have a bank account to hide it in and even if I did I felt like my husband

even if I did I felt like my husband

even if I did I felt like my husband would threaten me to get to him so I did

would threaten me to get to him so I did

would threaten me to get to him so I did the next best thing I found a biscuit

the next best thing I found a biscuit

the next best thing I found a biscuit tin and I stuffed all that money inside

tin and I stuffed all that money inside

tin and I stuffed all that money inside taped it tightly closed March down to

taped it tightly closed March down to

taped it tightly closed March down to the shed

the shed

the shed got myself a shovel and walked into the

got myself a shovel and walked into the

got myself a shovel and walked into the bushland next door and dug a deep hole

bushland next door and dug a deep hole

bushland next door and dug a deep hole underneath a log and buried the tin deep

underneath a log and buried the tin deep

underneath a log and buried the tin deep inside and that day there was a change I

inside and that day there was a change I

inside and that day there was a change I stepped into my power I figured that a

stepped into my power I figured that a

stepped into my power I figured that a step in any direction is better than

step in any direction is better than

step in any direction is better than none because once I took that money

none because once I took that money

none because once I took that money there was no turning back the old Claire

there was no turning back the old Claire

there was no turning back the old Claire was gone forever and even though I had

was gone forever and even though I had

was gone forever and even though I had no idea of what to do how to do it who

no idea of what to do how to do it who

no idea of what to do how to do it who to turn to I was bound and determined

to turn to I was bound and determined

to turn to I was bound and determined that the kids and I would leave that

that the kids and I would leave that

that the kids and I would leave that coal so when my husband was out I acted

coal so when my husband was out I acted

coal so when my husband was out I acted in secret I searched for rentals in the

in secret I searched for rentals in the

in secret I searched for rentals in the paper I opened up my own bank account I

paper I opened up my own bank account I

paper I opened up my own bank account I searched through all that went through

searched through all that went through

searched through all that went through all our possessions and threw out the

all our possessions and threw out the

all our possessions and threw out the junk that was wait for the apocalypse

junk that was wait for the apocalypse

junk that was wait for the apocalypse and the kids and I instead of being

and the kids and I instead of being

and the kids and I instead of being ready for the end of the world

ready for the end of the world

ready for the end of the world we were prepared for the end of the

we were prepared for the end of the

we were prepared for the end of the world as we knew it so 10 years on our

world as we knew it so 10 years on our

world as we knew it so 10 years on our lives are completely flipped

lives are completely flipped

lives are completely flipped I left that husband the kids and I moved

I left that husband the kids and I moved

I left that husband the kids and I moved to interstate to a new city to start a

to interstate to a new city to start a

to interstate to a new city to start a fresh new life I met and married my

fresh new life I met and married my

fresh new life I met and married my Englishman I imported him and now life

Englishman I imported him and now life

Englishman I imported him and now life looks a whole lot brighter and so for

looks a whole lot brighter and so for

looks a whole lot brighter and so for you the audience you can use those same

you the audience you can use those same

you the audience you can use those same three questions to ask yourself what you

three questions to ask yourself what you

three questions to ask yourself what you want in your life like why is your life

want in your life like why is your life

want in your life like why is your life like this how do you want to live it

like this how do you want to live it

like this how do you want to live it what changes do you want to make listen

what changes do you want to make listen

what changes do you want to make listen to that inner voice and be brave and

to that inner voice and be brave and

to that inner voice and be brave and step past all of your fear your

step past all of your fear your

step past all of your fear your boundaries and your restrictions to live

boundaries and your restrictions to live

boundaries and your restrictions to live a life that inspires generations thank

a life that inspires generations thank

a life that inspires generations thank you

”

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