wow. that was really good. even though my STBAXH was never physically abusive, i certainly lived a lifetime of abuse with him as always being made to feel "less than" simply by his being emotionally unavailable and lying all the time. I was always an afterthought, if a thought at all. And it is what I thought was normal. I am separated now and I hope I do someday meet a man that treats me with the love and respect that article spoke about. I don't even know what that will be like! Thanks, great post!