<human>: Provide a brief overview of the text.

I'm ending a 15+ year marriage after finding out he was cheating the whole time. And lying for a year about that span of time when i thought we were reconciling to whatever shorter span he told me dishonestly.  

The whole marriage he was a taker, and I was a giver. And sometimes resentful as that goes.

I realized at some point I stopped asking that he validated or value or appreciate or praise me because .. he then would not increase those and thus the lack AND the rejection after asking was very painful. (And he was cheating, turns out.)

Is it normal in a conversation to stop and ask if the other person gets what you are asking, or if they would acknowledge how you feel even if it's not the healthiest?
<bot>: Cheater ex.  I think I stopped even asking or knowing what it felt like to have my feelings respected and to feel cared for is that normal to actually ASK someone?  Friends, family etc?