I can really relate to this because for years after getting out I was realizing that in the Family when on assignment I could be told to go from Point A -one country, to Point B -a country I had never been to. I could get from A to B with no problem and often travelled on the road to new places. When I left I realized it was very scary for me to make a plan to do anything for myself and with my family for basic pleasure. Going thirty miles to the beach was something I wanted to do but spent a few yrs working up the mental capacity to do. Also, I relate to what someone else here said about not knowing what my interests even were.
I knew I liked the Beach, but what music did I like?, What sports or hobbies would I be interested in learning? I also noticed that after years of having news explained and speaking "family speak" I had a very hard time doing Crossword puzzles. The clues were to words I did not normally use or regarding subjects I knew nothing about. I started with easy ones and went to progressively harder ones and that has helped me a lot.
The pain of figuring out my likes and how to have fun, even deciding what clothes I liked or getting adjusted to using my "real" name..all these challenges were at times overwhelming but the JOY of discovering LIFE and making choices was something I began to relish. I had a delayed adolescence having joined the Family at a young age. I had to get a driver's license, voted for the first time, everything was NEW. The culture was different as I returned to my country of origin after over a decade abroad.
Deciding on futhering my education was a big boost and finding assistance to do so as well.
What helped initially was when I started making plans to do something I thought might be fun- both family and adult activities. At first there were many financial limitations so looking up what was cheap and seemed fun was the first line strategy for me.
Now that there is an internet, it's easy to do a search and find free things to do. Later when I could afford to I planned things that cost. One thing I liked to do a lot of at first was go to movies. Any movie I wanted to! No list of approvals needed.
In a way I suppose I appreciate my freedom more and have enjoyed my freedom more having been in the family and gotten out of that bondage. I hope you write when you have ventured out to experience some things in life and found them to be FUN!