OH! Magazine - Australian Version June 2017 | Page 22

( Men’s Health )
MIKE
CAMPBELL
I GOT HITCHED!
Mike Campbell spills the beans on his recent nuptials
to his beloved, Nardia Norman (aka Mrs Campbell).
ou guys! I. Got. Married!
Some would say it had been a
long time coming. Nards and I have been
together almost six years and engaged for
nearly two.
Y
Personally, and for the both of us actually,
it was the right time; for a number of
reasons. Firstly, when we first got together
there was a lot going on in my life. I was
in the aftermath of a broken engagement,
one in which my heart was shattered. I
was also in the throws of a mum coming
to the end of her time after a fight with
lung cancer for four years.
What this meant was, as we started
‘courting’, I couldn’t be that present. I
simply didn’t have that much to give.
Thankfully Nardia was in a place to
support and be there for me.
We clearly enjoyed each other’s company,
but for me that was all I had to give.
Nards’ patience came from what she saw
in me, and the fact that for once it wasn’t,
nor could it be, about her. This was a
slightly different role she was stepping
into.
So while mum passed away soon after,
without ever meeting, or technically
knowing about Nards, she (and therefore,
her illness) actually played a huge role in
us even starting out as a couple. It was
unknown facilitation, for which I am now
aware of, and grateful for.
From here, we moved to spending a lot
more time together, and soon Nardia
became an instrumental part of my life.
She challenged me and called me forward
into my real masculine power, and helped
me become who I currently am. She
enabled me to step into the journey I’m
22
OH! MAGAZINE ( JUNE 2017 )
on
now,
both
professionally.
personally
and
Fast forward to living together, where we
slowly begun diving deeper into our
relationship in so many ways. One of
those was asking the hard questions and
continually
having
the
tough
conversations about us, our relationship
and everything that it involved.
It’s important to note, that at this point in
time, Nardia had never been a fan of
marriage; in fact, she’d sworn against it.
Of course the clichèd (and accurate)
thing to say is that she simply hadn’t met
the right man – me!
So becoming engaged was a significant
step for us and it was at this point when
we upped the conversations about our
future and what being married meant to
us both. We had conversations about
what happens in the 15 years, if we’re
not having sex. We spoke about what
happens if we fall out of love. We explored
all the messy stuff that most people never
go near, while in the ‘rainbows and
unicorns’ stage.
The reason being, it is incredibly
important to both of us, to enter into this
marriage with our eyes (and hearts) fully
open. To know where we each stand and
what we’re actually signing up for. Of
course, this also speaks to our mutual
desire (and need) to do things our own
way; unapologetically our own way.
Which is why on Saturday 6 May, we had
a ‘Love Ceremony’ as opposed to a
wedding, with 50 of our closest friends
and family. And this day was different to
any standard wedding. Everything was
exactly how we wanted it to be so it spoke
to and from us – really loudly!
Now the reason I’m sharing all this info
with you, is for two reasons:
1. To let you into our day; and
2. To encourage you to forge your own
path and do what feels right and best for
you and those close to you. Because I
truly believe, if it serves you, then you
should probably do it.
There’s loads more that I can, and most
likely will say about the day and the days
around it, but for now let me just share
with you that I’m currently living at my
in-laws house with Nards’ mum and step
dad, her brother, his wife and their two
boys, and occasionally another cousin.
It’s an interesting way to start a marriage,
I can assure you!
But for all that it is, I love spending time
here in Hawkes Bay (New Zealand) with
her clan, even if I do end up eating the
most dreaded dish from my childhood,
the so-called ‘steak fromage’ (don’t
bother looking it up).
YOU CAN CONTACT MIKE VIA:
Web: mikecampbell.com.au
Facebook: mikecampbellmancoach
Twitter: @mikecampbellmc
Instagram: @mikecampbellmc