I haven't commented because I really didn't have much to say. I'm a single middle aged (yikes) woman. Never married. I came to this site when I followed a link to their 'happiness week.' I did all of the exercises and found myself reading articles and then utlimately the discussions.

I was almost married 10 years ago. My fiance turned 40 and it was right out of a movie. He became a changed man. He alternated between moody and mean. I thought it was just the stress of the engagement but when weeks turned to months I couldn't handle it.

Oddly we remained friends but could never go back to where we were and I'm not even looking for a husband. A few years ago he told me what was gonig on in his mind during that time. He told me that he was only telling me now because it was only recently that he got his hands around it.

He calls it the classic 'midlife crisis.' He said that he went from loving his job to hating it. From never thinking about mortality to thinking about how few years he had left. He said the one thing that he hasn't figured out is why he blamed me but he now admits that for some reason that's who he blamed.

Part of me wishes I had known about LifeTwo or more accurately had access to the type of information and people who are here, and part of me is glad that it happened before the marriage and not after. While it was a little embarrassing trying to explain to friends/family what happened, there were no kids or lawyers to contend with. Maybe if we were married I could have stuck it out but I really didn't like being a punching bag and don't see how I could have remained with him for the 18-24 mos. it took for him to work it out.

I think I forgot the original question you asked Catherine but thanks for listening! Oh yeah, it was about kids. Sometimes I feel bad that I never had them but more often than not I'm pretty happy with my place in life. Plus I have great nieces and nephews and I can always get my fill of kids if I need a child fix. One thing I do not do is to equate my purpose or meaning of life to having offspring. I think they would have been fun to have but validating my existence doesn't depend on it.

Thank you again Catherine.