Do people really wake up one day as a different person?
no.
it sounds like your wife was covering up her resentment and unhappiness for a long time, and you never realized/recognized what was going on. Her positive feelings leaked away, day by day, until there was nothing left. then she decided to leave.
You might look in "walk away wife" topic, for ideas on what may have gone wrong in your marriage.
If you can talk with folks about your marriage, either here or there (there, might be a rather slow forum,though), then you might be able to figure out what your wife was missing from you. If you can do that, and apologise for it... then the fact that you recognized it without her telling you, might be something she could appreciate. it wont suddenly change her mind. but it might make a tiny window open up, and allow for something more over time.
the tricky part, is that you have to mostly get it right, the first time. so I'd suggest doing as much research as you can into it, before you take your "shot" at it.
the "emotional needs" and "love buster" questionnaires on marriagebuilders.com are a good starting place for areas to think about.
My current status: june 2006. Wife ran out and filed D. Finalized Jan 11, 2010, after 12.5 years M. 3 wonderful sons caught in the middle
