50 Years of Marriage, But I'm Not Romantic! Help!

2025-05-11 12:00:23.098

A woman married for over 50 years seeks advice on her apparent lack of romantic feelings. While she loves her husband, she struggles with displays of romance, finding them perfunctory and noticing a disconnect in their definitions of romance. Her upbringing lacked romantic displays, and she finds romantic novels irritating. Her husband, however, is romantic, and her inability to reciprocate causes him distress. A psychotherapist suggests exploring the reasons behind this, considering the timing and potential life events. The article emphasizes the importance of communication and understanding different "love languages." The author suggests the couple discuss actions they've done for each other that felt meaningful, regardless of whether they're labeled 'romantic'. The woman's experience of her husband's support during a difficult time is highlighted as an example of her personal definition of romance. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of communication as the gateway to intimacy and suggests a podcast on intimacy for further exploration.