Recap episode for mayor Frank and Theresa Hibbard.
Balance and support is what Mayor Frank Hibbard and his wife Teresa revealed to us as being most important in their relationship when we interviewed them on the Kickass Couples Podcast. They also shared that one of the secrets to their success is that when they’re having a tough time, they keep moving forward with the attitude that they can’t fail.
Frank Hibbert is the mayor of Clearwater, Florida, one of America’s number one beaches. He also has a full-time job as a financial planner. His wife, Teresa, works full-time for the Salvation Army. There is a lot going on for these two, but they make their relationship a priority. They know that in order to do that, they’ve got to have balance and focus.
Learning how to prioritize their time is something they’re continually working on. Mayor Hibbard shared a great quote with us: “You have to learn how to give up on the good and save time for the great on a daily basis.” This is important for Mayor Hibbard and his wife to remember, because this is how they’ve become pros at learning how to prioritize time for themselves. They make sure that they’re saving room for “the great” for each other in their relationship.
One of our favorite quotes at the Kickass Couples podcast is: “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” People may ask you to do something for them, it might be a family member, your spouse, or even a business partner, but just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should do it. You’ve got to really make sure that you’re reserving the best for that relationship, because if you’re not, they get your leftovers. And, nobody likes leftovers all the time.
It can be hard to say no. Especially when there are so many great things that you can be involved in. You’ve got to sift through and find the great things. This goes back to there being you, me and we in a relationship. This is where you need to determine what is best for the we.
If you’re not prioritizing your spouse as your number one relationship, it’s just not going to go well. In order to have a kick-ass relationship, you have to learn how to prioritize your spouse. Schedule time with your spouse. Put it on the calendar. Busy schedules necessitate this. The Hibbard’s schedule it and block it out in their calendars. Putting it on the calendar, committing to it and scheduling it means that you’re feeding and nourishing your relationship.
In closing, we want to share some perspective that Teresa gave us during the interview. Her advice was that you’ve got to understand the difference between happiness and contentment. Happiness is fleeting. If people are judging the quality of their relationship by “am I happy or not”, that’s a choice. Circumstances change all day long that will impact your happiness. She emphasized that what’s more important is if you are content. Contentment means that you understand where the relationship is at, good or bad. Contentment is something that you can choose, but happiness is fleeting, malleable and changing all day long.
We really appreciated Mayor Frank and Theresa Hibbard’s openness during this interview and loved having them on the show. Check out their episode in its entirety on the Kickass Couples Podcast.
Until next time. Remember, happily ever after doesn’t just happen. It’s on purpose.
