A Golden Turkey in the Toilet?

What’s right about being sick?

Funny question, right? What if I told you whenever I perceive something negative happening to me, I start by asking, “What’s right about this I’m not seeing?” Without fail, it blows my mind every single time.

For example, what’s right about having Celiac disease?

Four years ago, I felt I was a victim, wallowing in the sorrow of my bloody diarrhea, wallowing in the sorrow of my disease. But now I’m extremely grateful. In this very moment in time, I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been… even before Celiac disease. How does it get any better than that?

Not only that, but without Celiac disease I wouldn’t have discovered the healing power of food. I wouldn’t have had the good fortune of serving you with SCD Lifestyle, and I wouldn’t be surrounded with this wonderful community of health superheroes. I’d still be walking around in the fog.

Sometimes, the answer to this question takes time to reveal itself. It’s taken me years to realize there’s actually more right about my Celiac disease than “wrong.” But I realized all along the answer starts with gratitude.

And in honor of the holiday season kicking off, Steve and I wanted to share 10 gratitudes with you.  Let’s celebrate how amazing 2012 has been so far!

Jordan’s 5 Personal Gratitudes for 2012:

My Health

As I said, I feel amazing right now! I didn’t know I could feel this good. I had no idea it was possible. Each year, I keep getting more and more layers of health unveiled and I’m so grateful for every day I have and every moment I feel good.

My Kids

I’ve learned more about myself and this beautiful world in the four years as a father than my entire life up to that point. I’m grateful my children chose me and I couldn’t imagine a more wonderful gift in this world.

Steve

He’s a cool guy. Ha-ha, no seriously Steve has been there during every up and down… through every step along the way as we’ve worked hard to get healthy. I’m very grateful he’s a close friend and chose to create this business with me.  It’s been an incredible experience and I really appreciate having him there every step of the way together.

Our Friend and Mentor Chris Kresser

It’s been almost a year since Chris graciously brought us in to produce Revolution Health Radio together and I’m filled with gratitude to be able to sit down with him every two weeks and soak up knowledge. It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and I look forward to many years to come. I can’t think of a better mentor and I value his friendship with the utmost respect.

Bacon

I really love bacon and it’s time I opened up and expressed my secret, deep-seated gratitude for bacon. It’s just really, really good. Mmmmmm bacon. (Sorry, all five couldn’t be super serious).

No, but seriously I’m so grateful that you’re part of this community and together we’re all changing lives. We’re giving people the power to create health in their lives! Thank you for being here. I’m truly grateful for you.

Steve’s 5 Personal Gratitudes:

My Family

For the longest time, I didn’t appreciate how awesome my family is. We’ve had our ups and downs, as I’m sure most families do. But my parents have always been, and will be, in my corner. My brother and sister continue to tolerate my ever-changing food views (Mom loves to cook), reminding me of important dates, and being there for me when I’ve really needed it (during shoulder surgery). And most importantly: we still gather for the holidays and go on trips together.

Our Coach and Friend Allana Pratt

Allana started working with us at the end of last year and I feel like I have grown more as a human in the last 11 months than in the previous 26 years. Allana has this amazing ability to hold space, this wonderful comfortable moment that allows everything to be okay and a new perspectives to appear. In the last few months, she helped me transform my relationships with my mom, Jordan, and most importantly with myself. She’s helped me learn to love myself and have more fun again. I started working with her during one simple conversation and if you’re ready for a whole new reality of being, I’d suggest you get in touch here. I’m very grateful for all that she’s helped me with. Words cannot do justice.

Having a Minor Health Problem

If it wasn’t for my relatively minor IBS problem, then I’d probably still be leading the same life I was 4 years ago. And year by year I’d be stacking the deck towards heart disease and cancer that run through my family. The whole time, never being aware that I was living my way right into the same problems. And then I would have never learned to write (still learning – engineer remember), research health, and never would have become this good of friends with Jordan. Obviously, SCD lifestyle would have never been born and I’d never have the pleasure to work with all of you.

Our Coach and Friend Sandi Krakowski

Sandi has supported us on our business goals for SCD lifestyle for the past year as a friend, business coach, and mentor. She’s helped us learn how to serve you better, how to stay healthy doing it, and how to grow up when we needed to (often). Serving you is such a wonderful gift and a great responsibility. Having her on our side this year was transformative. I’m very grateful for the lessons she taught us.

My Shoulder Surgery

What a pain it was! But wow did I learn a lot. The day before I went into surgery, I did 30 pushups, 10 pull-ups and 10 handstand pushups. 8 months later, when I was cleared and ready to begin working out again I did 1 pushup. Learning what it was like to fully lose use of a limb for 8 weeks, busting through the brutal pain of rehab, and what it’s like to start from basically zero after working out for most of my life was priceless.

In the comments below, share one thing you’re grateful for in 2012. Can’t wait to hear from you.

Happy Holidays,

– Jordan and Steve