The Happiest 7th Anniversary…That We Both Forgot

Almost 4 years ago, The Huffington Post asked me to blog for them about the secrets of our relationship. Then, married for just 3 years, we were DEFINITELY still in the honeymoon stages…only 3 kids (2 from my previous marriage), one season on the show under our belts, and so much excitement and newness to everything we had going on. It was easy then to overlook each other’s flaws. 

Since then, life sure has happened…probably more in the last 2.5 years than ever before. It’s been rough. REALLY rough at times, to the point in earlier years that Chris and I contemplated not being “Chris and I” anymore. The details don’t matter, but everything we had created (most importantly our family)…totally compromised as our foundation was crumbling. All of this definitely shielded from your eyes (thankfully) while we hunkered down and did some major soul searching (thank you, friends and family who helped?you know who you are). Who are we? Why are we together? How can two people SO CLEARLY meant to be have struggles like we were having? Is this?are WE? really part of a greater plan? Are we both willing to do what it takes to rekindle the love and appreciation that we know is there…but somehow became so buried and neglected?

Yes. Our answer was yes. While the road was rocky, we knew without a shadow of a doubt that we are together for a reason…and not just to “transform lives” and raise a family. We KNEW that we are together because we are peas and carrots, we are peanut butter and jelly, we are protein shakes and marshmallow dream bars. We are meant to be, so we started working hard toward that. The path ahead seemed long and impossible at times, but baby step by baby step…Chris and I uprighted what seemed to be a sinking ship.

It’s funny…this thing we call life. When things get REALLY bad… and REALLY ugly… and REALLY seemingly-irreparable…BUT WE HANG IN THERE THROUGH ALL OF IT, dropping our egos, letting go of expectations, opening our broken hearts and allowing them to be vulnerable again…life somehow very magically becomes more beautiful and more perfect than we ever imagined it could be. Nine years of highs, lows, good times, and plenty of bad. We fought through them, are still fighting, and have come out on the other side without a shadow of a doubt stronger than ever. A force to be reckoned with. (I gotchyo back babe ;)) 

This is our story.

It’s not over yet. In fact, far from. But I am head-over-heels in love with (and many times annoyed by) the co-author of my Book of Life.

Tonight…

It?s 7pm on our 7th wedding anniversary, and I couldn?t be more relieved that Chris seems to have forgotten what today is. #ForReal Why? Because I didn?t realize it either until about 30 minutes ago. No gifts purchased, no plans made?no hurt feelings. Only feelings of gratitude and appreciation that this is my life, and HE is my husband. Truly, the term ?husband? sells him short. He is my best friend in the entire world, the one I get to work side-by-side with every day, the one I get to raise my family with, the one I get to fight (and make up) with more than any other, and the one and ONLY I love with every little bit of my heart. No diamond necklace (or wedding ring), no romantic dinner date, no bouquet of flowers could ever hold value even close to the intangible gifts he has already given me. Chris?the only anniversary present I want from you is your presence. Now let?s keep raising (maybe making more) babies, transforming lives, and changing the world. I love you so much.

To close…a little HuffPo blast from the past.

4 Secrets to a Perfectly Imperfect Relationship, by Me
October 14, 2013

?? Love isn?t finding someone you can live with, it?s finding someone you can?t live without.? – Rafael Ortiz

On a fateful evening at a self-improvement seminar back in December of 2008, I met the man of my dreams. I just didn?t know it yet. It started with a cheesy pick up line?or so I thought?until I realized that he was really that sincere and sweet. He told me that my arms looked amazing and wanted to know how I trained. At the time, I was guarded. I was struggling to put the pieces of my life back together as a newly single mother of two young children, and the last thing I was looking for was a relationship. Chris was working through his own issues, trying to make something of his life and struggling to get back on his feet after losing everything. After the seminar, we talked for hours. We discovered how much we had in common and developed a genuine appreciation for each other. For months, we supported each other as friends?I helped him restructure his business, and he helped me through my daily trials and tribulations. The more we got to know each other, the more our appreciation grew for each other, and we tied the knot in June of 2010. Little Cash joined our family in 2011, and we’re all anxiously awaiting the arrival of our new little one in November, who will make our Powell Pack a six-pack!

That being said, our life together is not always full of ?rainbows and butterflies,? as Chris likes to say. Oh, no. We have relationship and family challenges just like everyone else! Not only are we trying to be the best spouses and parents we can be, but we also work together 24/7/365 to help guide transformations for some incredible people (featured on Extreme Weight Loss on ABC) and through other projects that are so important to us. And while we love every aspect of the life we?ve chosen, it can sometimes take a toll on our relationship if we?re not careful. So how do we keep that spark alive? I?ll let you in on our four little secrets:

Secret 1: Take advantage of every. single. moment. From caring for our amazing kids, to nonstop schedule revisions, to running the family business, to being year-long coaches to our transformation contestants, to doing household chores, to dealing with Chris’ crazy travel schedule (he’s gone pretty much 75 percent of the year)?I could go on and on?it can be difficult to find time to spend together and reconnect. I know we?re not alone in this challenge?this is the reality of life! We?ve realized if we don?t create time to spend together, it?s just not going to happen. Some of the time we spend together isn?t what you?d necessarily call ?romantic? (although any time with my man is what I?d call ?romantic?!): We run errands, do household chores, work out, take walks, and just sit and talk. We?ve discovered that a few minutes here and there can truly strengthen our relationship, and believe it or not, these moments of ?real life? we get to experience together are the ones that truly define our relationship. It feels so good to know that we can enjoy even the most mundane of tasks together. 😉 And how do we do it when we?re on opposite sides of the continent? Simple: We take advantage of technology (video chat and our iPhones) to spend as much time together as possible, every single day. We set ?family dates? between breaks to play games, eat dinner/lunch, and just play… all over computer!! We make it work, and we make it enjoyable!

Secret 2: Take time for yourselves. While time together is crucial, it?s equally important to have some personal time to keep our individual souls happy and healthy. Whether it?s yoga, meditation, working out, cooking, writing, or simply relaxing, we make sure we take care of ourselves so we can take better care of each other and our kids. The stronger, happier, and healthier we are individually, the stronger we can be as a team and as a family. 🙂

Secret 3: Be a team. Chris and I are two imperfect people?we both have strengths and weaknesses. Chris excels at some things I struggle with and vice versa. We?ve learned to combine our strengths to form this amazing team that is so powerfully effective in reaching our common goals. And when one of us is struggling, the other one steps up to the plate to make up the difference. When he?s on the road and I?m left to run the family business and take care of the kids, I do it, because that?s what true teammates do. When I?m struggling with the kids, he steps in and takes over, because that?s what true teammates do. But no matter what, I know he?s got my back and he knows I?ve got his. No matter what. We are a team.

Secret 4: Be each other?s best friend?always. Chris and I were best friends long before we decided to get married. We had a relationship built on openness, honesty, vulnerability, and an unconditional appreciation of how perfectly imperfect we were, and this best friend relationship formed the foundation for the marriage that we value and fiercely protect today. I know from past experience that when we get close to someone, it?s easy to take that person for granted and fall into the stereotypical ?nagging wife? and ?lazy husband? roles, or vice versa. It?s also easy to get irritated with your significant other?s imperfections. The solution Chris and I discovered is that we ALWAYS treat each other like a best friend?we even have ?My Best Friend? tattooed on our ring fingers as a constant reminder. So the next time your significant other leaves the toilet seat up or the lid off the toothpaste?again?think, ?How would I approach my best friend in this situation?? and then do it. When he tells you the truth about how a certain dress looks, even though it might hurt, try to react and respond to him like you would your best friend. And when your best friend talks, really listen to what is said, like a best friend would.

Let?s be honest: All relationships go through good times and some not-so-good times. Put these four little secrets to the test and see if they can not only keep that spark alive, but help those not-so-good times become better as well. Now that?s a win-win!

Xoxo,

Heidi

Related reading:

6 Ways to Spend Valentine?s With Your (My) Swolemate (some great date night ideas!)
Love Who You Are
35 Things I Love About You
How I Manage My (Im)Perfectly Balanced Life
Sweet Lips Speak Kind Words: Spreading Love. Not Gossip.
I am (still) Perfect?

*This post originally appeared in the Huffington Post

7 Responses

  1. I appreciate this post so much! My husband and I remind each other often that we can?t read each other?s minds and we must communicate! We have three young active boys, we have some side projects with our house, and we are involved in our church, so a lot of times, we are always on the go! We have found amazing value in reserving our babysitter for one Saturday night each month and also, in the little things we do for each other daily. We love each other and wouldn?t trade our lives for anyone else?s lives out there. I?m grateful you and Chris were able to work things out; you?ve shown your children that marriage is an effort and it?s hard work but it?s oh so rewarding. ???

  2. Waoooo!!! Just waooo!!! As I was reading this I was nodding my head and saying yep they are like me and millions of people in the world, with issues, with imperfect but perfect relationships, with with real feelings. Sometimes i forget the true meaning of life when I?m trying to rush through life. I forget that laying next to me is my best friend and my lover, is the person who I sworn to respect and love with all my heart! I just have to stop and appreciate!
    Thank you for being so honest and open about your life!

  3. I love your honesty and the way you share enough of your life for people to relate, to benefit, while also maintaining some privacy. Social media has a way of making things look even more perfect than they are, but you intentionally show the beauty along with the grit, hard work and messiness. Thank you!

    1. Hi Tessa: You can begin your transformation journey today! Check out this post: https://heidipowell.net/9060, and have you heard about Chris and Heidi’s new app – Transform with Chris and Heidi? It offers a totally customized nutrition and exercise program based on you and your goals, and you can check it out for 1 week free! http://thetransformapp.com. You can do this! 🙂

  4. Great post and advice Heidi, happy anniversary to both of you. What a wonderful achievement!!

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