Nathaniel's Story

Life's Unexpected Turns

My life has always been fast-paced. I was always on the go, constantly engaged in creating things: stories, songs, and films. This constant activity came to a halt when my son was born.

At only 26 weeks, he and my wife were so ill that the doctors doubted their survival. It's strange how time can feel like it's moving at a snail's pace and lightning speed at the same time.

Despite the difficult year, my wife and son not only survived, miraculously, they thrived, but it was just the start of a series of tough years.

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The following year, my mother got a headache that wouldn't go away. It turned out to be a brain tumor. She had cancer, and it was stage 4. 

I had also gained a lot of weight over the years. Reaching nearly 280 lbs I became sluggish, couldn't sleep through the night, was always tired, and was almost comatose after big meals. I was diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and learned that I was on a collision course with type 2 diabetes.

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A Journey Toward Health & Healing

So I started eating healthier, which wasn't as hard as it might have been because my wife had already spent years researching and studying healthy food. Up until then, I was too stubborn to make any drastic life changes.

But with everything happening with my mother and being the father of two small children, I decided it was time to change.

The change in eating habits caused me to lose nearly 50 pounds in 6 months and I began feeling much better. But then my mother died, and it was like a bomb went off. I was devastated. I still am.

Over the next few years, I gradually fell back into old habits. I put some of the weight back on, not all of it, but a significant amount. I was eating poorly again, but not as badly as before, so I felt like I was doing okay. I still felt physically better, so I told myself everything was fine.

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New Beginnings, New Challenges

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After all the hard times, my wife and I were so excited when we bought our first house, complete with a barn and space for gardens and animals out back.

It was the realization of a dream my mother and I always talked about and referred to as: "The dream." So I named the farm after her. "Singing Tree Farm."

My wife dove even deeper into her study and practice of a more natural and sustainable lifestyle, growing an increasing variety of food, making tinctures and salves, and raising chickens, among other things. Things seemed to be looking up; my business was growing too.

However, COVID came and threw a massive wrench in the works. It brought my business to the brink of collapse. But in terms of our commitment to sustainability and resourcefulness, the pandemic actually pushed us to accelerate our efforts.

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Transformation & Empowerment

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As we emerged from the COVID crisis, everything seemed to be improving again. Then, out of nowhere, I started to go blind!

One morning, I woke up to double vision, and within days, my vision deteriorated to the point where I could barely see anything.

I couldn't even work because I couldn't make out the words on my computer screen. According to the doctor, my organs, eyes, and even my heart were only weeks away from a major "event."

This was a wake-up call. Despite losing weight and "improving" my habits six years earlier, my gradual return to old ways had finally caught up with me. Severe type 2 diabetes had driven my blood sugar through the roof, and it was now here to claim my life.

My wife and I realized that this was really our moment of truth; I had to make a drastic change. I committed to eating clean. I was determined to not only treat my condition but reverse it. I owe so much to my wife for her years of accumulated knowledge on healthy living.

She had spent years trying to make me see the importance of a healthier lifestyle, but sometimes, you just can't see something until you're ready to see it.

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A New Beginning

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Over the next 12 months, I completely transformed my life. The weight fell off, but this time, it wasn't about a "diet". It was a fundamental change in how I approached eating, living, and thinking.

Thankfully, my eyesight began to come back, and there was no permanent damage to my other organs or heart either. It's almost cliché to say, but losing my sight was what it took for me to really "see."

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Once I was out of immediate physical danger, I started rethinking every other aspect of my perspective and my approach to life.

I realized that my life to that point had been a series of cycles: losing weight, then gaining it back; paying off debt, only to accrue more; swinging between healthy and unhealthy behaviors.

Just like many others, I had been caught in this kind of loop. But this time, I had hit a low point that forced me to take responsibility for areas where I had refused to grow.

I began to read daily, seeking knowledge to become better, stronger, and more capable. Everything was improving, and it wasn't a temporary phase; it was a real, fundamental shift.

This transformation inspired me to start "The Effective Living Podcast," focusing on ideas, strategies, and insights for a more effective and prosperous life, covering emotional, financial, economic, physical, mental, and spiritual aspects.

At the same time, I saw my wife passionately educating our friends and family on healthier eating habits, bread making, tinctures, and natural remedies. We discussed these concepts daily; she concentrated on physical health and wellness, and I focused on the mental, financial, and emotional aspects.

Together, we were not just improving our bodies, finances, and marriage; we were thriving in ways we never had before. In our late 30s, we were finally unlocking the secrets to better living – living in harmony with how our bodies and minds are meant to function.

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Sharing The Journey

Then, one day, sitting together on our couch, we realized that our journey, with all its pain, suffering, revelations, and lessons, had equipped us to help others. And we felt a responsibility to do so.

So now, we are in the process of building this resource for anyone who recognizes the importance of a balanced, healthy lifestyle, whether you're navigating the challenges of modern living, seeking more simplicity, or just aspiring to enhance your family's well-being. 

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We couldn't be more excited about sharing our knowledge and our skills and empowering as many people as possible to get back to better living, simply, practically, and one small step at a time.