Interview with Kristine Carlson

To say I had one of the greatest honors of my lifetime, this past weekend, would be an understatement. I had the opportunity to interview a woman who has insprired me (and many blog posts on this site) for years.

I didn’t know much about Kristine until her husband, Richard Carlson, unepectedly died at the age of 45. I didn’t know that she, herself, was the bestselling author of so many books until we met this past Saturday at her home in Northern California.

I knew of her husband because I am one of the 25 million people who have purchased one of his books. His Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff series was revolutionary in the field of psychology because it told us two things: 1) We can be happy, right now, no matter the current circumstances; and 2) The key to our happiness lies in our ability to choose it moment-by-moment and our determination to simplify our thoughts and life.

Richard and Kristine had been married 22 years (together for 25 years) when he boarded a routine flight from San Francisco to New York in 2006. Before his plane arrived at its destination, he passed away from a pulmonary embolism. Just that quick. In the twinkling of an eye. Nothing could have prepared Kristine or their two teenage daughters for such a loss.

A couple years after his death, I came across a book in Barnes & Nobles, An Hour to Live, An Hour to Love. The title captivated me so I purchased it. In the book, Kristine shares the love letter Richard gave to her on their 18th wedding anniversary. In it, he answered 3 questions, “If you had one hour to live, who would you call, what would you say and what are you waiting for?”

Richard wrote a 36-page love letter to Kristine and their two children answering those three questions. He poured out his heart in such a way I wish I knew how. He wanted to make sure he didn’t leave this life without letting his family know how much he loved, cherished and adored them.

Wednesday, I’ll share with you some tidbits from the interview. You won’t want to miss out on the great wisdom I learned from this memorable conversation, in the home she shared with her husband. A home that looks (and feels) as though its not changed one iota since his death. She keeps his memory alive and ever present and the love they had for each other (and the love she continues to have) could be felt in every room of their home.

Finish this sentence: “I fall in love with my husband all over again every time he…” Now, maybe take those thoughts and make them the beginning of your own love letter.

Until tomorrow…make it a great day!

Why I Love My Husband (the never-ending list):

53. Not one day goes by without him telling me how much he loves and appreciates me.

54. Even when we are apart (which has been happening alot more lately as we’re both traveling for work), he calls, texts and/or Skypes several times a day to let me know I’m on his mind.

55. He says I love you at the conclusion of every call. We rarely, if ever, say goodbye. When he walks out the door or we end a phone call, the way we conclude is the same way we begin, with those priceless 3 words.

56. He tolerates my various food quirks. One day I’m eating super fatty and sweet food and the next I’m super strict with what type of food I’ll eat to undo what I’d just overdone. He just goes with the flow and does the same.

57. He only cares about what is important. He, like Richard Carlson, has mastered the art of Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.

58. He watches basketball with me, even though it’s more my thing than his, and he doesn’t complain when I’m rooting on my San Antonio Spurs at the top of my lungs (which is often).

59. He just wants me to be happy.

60. I am his closest friend and confidant and he makes sure I always know that.

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Fawn Weaver

Founder at Happy Wives Club

Fawn Weaver is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of Happy Wives Club: One Woman's Worldwide Search for the Secrets of a Great Marriage, adopting the same name as the Club she founded in 2010. The Happy Wives Club community has grown to include more than 1 million women in over 110 countries around the world. She’s an investor in real estate, tech sector and lifestyle brands. When she’s not writing or working, she's happily doting over her husband of twelve years, Keith (and sometimes manages to do all three simultaneously).