Feeling Loved

Can you share a positive example of where you’ve felt loved?

It wasn’t until I was probably 23 years old until I knew what real love felt like. I was not told the I love you words ever, not from my parents or anyone. I did not know my parents loved me. For years I didn’t even love myself. It was after I met my husband. Before then, I just did my best to survive. Yes, I had boyfriends but I was in it for what I could get because I knew that’s all they were after.

When I met my husband, he treated me differently, he took care of me, and my needs came first, before his. It’s a good feeling when you know people love you for yourself. It changed me.

We will have been together 36 years in April. I’m not going to say it’s always been easy we’ve had our ups and downs but it has been worth it. Some say a marriage is 50-50. I think it’s more 100-100.

It takes a strong commitment, open conversation, shared values, adaptability, mutual respect, a consistent effort to nurture the relationship, the ability to compromise and a willingness to work through challenges together.