Dear questioner, I am Duoduo Lian. I am here to support you.
I empathize with you. At six, you were assaulted in the countryside and too afraid to tell your parents. How much pain did you endure at such a young age, without anyone to support you? It has been so hard for so many years.
You are timid and inferior, and you easily married a man you don't like. He is not a bad person, and your children are adults. After so many years, you have no conjugal life and no common language, and your marriage is dead in name only. Rebel! Find your youth again!
It's infuriating. My husband is a good person. He doesn't hit me. Things are tolerable. The kids are grown. There may not be a suitable replacement if we get divorced. Do I have to continue to put up with it? I'll be retired in a few years. When I was younger, I didn't dare to try. Now that I'm older, I can try.
You have to make a choice. You have asked yourself this question countless times, torn between two options. It's time to sort it out.
Your children are grown up, you have a house and a car, and it's time to enjoy life. You want to try to change your current marital situation, and you know it's also your yearning for a better life. You have strength within you, and you have a renewed understanding of yourself. What kind of intimate relationship do you want?
There is no right or wrong, only a weighing of the pros and cons. You are in your middle years and want to live life to the fullest. What are your strengths that attract others? What are your expectations of your partner? Are you willing to make sacrifices in the new family? After all, it is a reorganized family, and the relationships are complicated. You can face your partner's children, be prepared to be a mother, and handle various relationships in the family.
You can also try to get along. You are still young, and you have the right to be happy. In your marriage, you must have tried hard and fought for what you want. You didn't get the results you wanted, but that doesn't mean you should stay in a marriage where you fight whenever you talk. You don't see eye to eye, and you don't even think in the same frequency. This kind of marriage is both numb and painful. It's really hard for you, but you can't stay in a marriage where you are so much older than him and you can't find happiness.
You want someone to accompany you and love you. You have standards within you, and standards are also a double-edged sword that can win the favor of others. Are you ready? Your husband doesn't meet your standards, but he's protecting you in this way. When you make adjustments, he'll change.
Recognize your own strengths. You have sacrificed a lot for your family over the years, and your husband must be just like you. What kind of wife does he need? Is he lonely like you? Is he waiting for you? Bring up your confusion, after careful consideration. You are good at listening to other people's advice, and you don't do whatever you like like other people.
You've been struggling to understand yourself for a long time. There's nothing wrong with you for what happened when you were a child. You deserve to be happy. You're ready to ask for help and express your thoughts. You've already surpassed yourself. Speak your mind. You'll feel much more comfortable and relaxed. Expand your circle, find your passion, and live your life boldly and often.
Follow your feelings. Value yourself again. Love yourself well. Give yourself the ability to be happy.
I wish you the best. You can do this.


Comments
I can see how deeply this has affected you over the years, and it's brave of you to open up about it now. It's important to consider what makes you happy and fulfilled at this stage in your life.
It's understandable that you're feeling conflicted. After all these years, it might feel like a huge step to change things now. But sometimes we have to be brave for our own happiness.
You've been through so much and it's clear you deserve better. If you feel ready to make a change, maybe it's time to think about what you really want and go after it, even if it means starting over.
Your feelings are valid, and it's okay to want more from life. Perhaps exploring counseling could help you gain clarity on what steps to take next. You deserve to live a life where you feel loved and valued.
It sounds like you've carried a lot of pain and fear for a long time. Now that you're opening up, it might be worth considering what you truly desire. Even small steps towards something new can lead to significant changes.