Dear Counsellor:I AM a regular reader of your column and I feel I would like to share a little of my relationship with your readers. I have been married for over 30 years and I must say that I have a good marriage.
To be honest it did not start out that way because there were many times in the early years of our marriage that I had to have the last word, but little by little I compromised and as we got to know each other things began to fall in place.
I love my husband dearly and sometimes I think about how close I came to walking out of the marriage. Had it not been for my parents' encouragement to stay I would have walked out and regretted it. We are both Christians and God has helped us along the way. We have raised two fine children and if I had to live my life all over again I would marry my husband all over again. He is a wonderful man and every day I thank God for him.
Ceceile
Dear Ceceile:
Thank you for sharing your story with us. There are many 'Cinderella relationships' that read 'and they lived happily ever after'. I hope you will share your story with young couples who will be able to benefit from your experiences.
Comfortable being single
Dear Counsellor:
I AM 38 years old and unmarried. I have dated but never found anyone that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. There are times when I have been made to feel like something is wrong with me. I have seen many unhappy marriages and to be honest with you, I am quite comfortable in my single state.
Verna
Dear Verna:
I listened to Paula Abdul on 'Larry King Live' and when asked if she had any man in her life said that she will not compromise.
Unfortunately, the urgent need for a man will make many women compromise their standards because they have been made to feel that they are nothing without a man.
The single woman is plagued by family and friends about finding someone as they do not believe that a woman can be single and satisfied. It is your life and the way you live it is a decision you alone must make. I have known persons who have got married for the first time at fifty, others at 60. Whatever your standards are, do not compromise them for anyone.
Ivret Williams is a counselling psychologist. Email her: letstalkrelationships@yahoo.com
