By: O.L./Sway Buckley
One time when taking a road trip with another couple, I had a realization.
I wasn't being heard, and I didn't like it.
This road trip happened years ago (probably before we were even married, but the principle still applies).
Let me give you some context:
While on the trip we visited outlets and did a bit of shopping. The trunk was stuffed with our luggage, PLUS the new items recently purchased on the trip.
A few items couldn't fit in the trunk, so they came in the back seat with us. One of those items was a new pair of shoes in their box.
Someone placed the shoebox behind the headrest area right behind my head. We finally fit everything in the car and were on our way.
Our friends were driving while we sat in the back seat. When I realized the shoebox was right behind my head, I told my husband, O.L., that it wasn't a safe spot because all it would take was for the car to stop short, and the box would hit me in the head.
My husband looked at the box and then put his arm around me as if to say, 'It'll be O.K."
Not long afterward, we ran into some traffic, and sure enough, we stopped short, and the box flew into the back of my head.
I was livid.
Not because it hurt (and it did), but because he didn't hear me!
I didn't have the language to express it then, but as we grew and other similar instances arose, I could express how I felt when my initial warnings were dismissed.
I know it's never been his heart to make me feel that way, but alas, there we were.
Small things can become big things if you don't express how something makes you feel. If that's you, speak up strategically and with examples–when possible.
Sometimes we can't see ourselves until it's pointed out.
Also, our daily legacy meetings have been gold for us because we make space to talk about business strategies, marriage strategies, and how we're feeling.
It's gold. If you want to implement this practice, too, you can download our free Marriedpreneur Meeting Checklist here.
Here's to living purposefully, powerfully, and profitably in sync,
O.L. & Sway
O.L. is a former banker turned real estate consultant and entrepreneur. Sway is a former CEO of a staffing firm she started on her dorm room floor to pay for college. Together they co-own Marriedpreneur Life Consultancy, equipping faith-based married entrepreneur couples with high-level systems to scale (without strain). They're the creators of the Marriedpreneur Operating Systems and the co-hosts of The Marriedprenuer Life Podcast, which was praised as one of Wedding Wire's top relationship podcasts. Learn more at MarriedpreneurLife.com.