Hi there! I’m Dr. Jodie Bean, a retired chiropractor, and I’m so excited you found Our Bean Pod! Here you can get a glimpse into my life and home where we are creating the life of our dreams. A life of health, well-being, and happiness.

For the record, that really should be “I” not “we” as my husband isn’t always on board with all the health stuff but he’s understanding more about the benefits every day. Or at least he isn’t running away, kicking and screaming anymore… 😉

Health means different things to different people, as do well-being and happiness.

Some people are inherently healthy and happy.

Unfortunately others not so much. They believe they’ll never be well or happy and I disagree – at least at the possibility of it! I believe we can ALL increase our sense of well-being and happiness by making intentional life choices.

My Experience

I was born an optimist and have pretty much always been happy and honestly didn’t understand why people weren’t happy or couldn’t be happy and filled with joy – aside from some obvious instances. Then a few years ago I felt the effects of some VERY stressful earlier years. “Suddenly, out of the blue,” I had a severe gall bladder attack. I had never felt the slightest symptom prior to that and it was NOT from my diet. But realistically, it wasn’t so sudden either. It was from the stress that had been shoved down inside and not dealt with properly for a long time.

Not so fun fact: The American Medical Association has noted that stress is the basic cause of more than 60% of all human illnesses and diseases. And I had more than my fair share of stress for too long. (That’s a story way too involved to get into here.) Now back to this story…

My gallbladder was so toxic I had to be rushed into emergency surgery. Long story short, I suffered complications and became septic. I spent nearly a week in the hospital on intensive antibiotics. So many antibiotics, in fact, that they killed my healthy appendix and it became gangrenous. Two weeks later, I was rushed in for an emergency appendectomy. Again, I spent a few more days in the hospital on intensive antibiotics. 

Prior to this, I had not had any antibiotics in over 30 years. I was the person who never got sick. So, fortunately, my body didn’t have any built-up resistance to the antibiotics. That meant they worked both times following the surgeries and saved my life. But they killed my happiness. 

Wait… What? What do antibiotics have to do with happiness, you ask? 

The Second Brain

There is well-documented evidence of the connection between the brain and the gut. In fact, the gut develops before the brain in a fetus and works as sort-of a brain during development. In a nutshell, if you don’t have a healthy gut, you will have a very hard time being happy for multiple reasons.

So the very short answer is that the antibiotics killed the cooties but also the good bugs in my gut that help to digest food properly, produce “happy” chemicals and hormones, and more. I ended up in an antibiotic-induced depression. This is not to be confused with clinical depression (although there may be a correlation in some cases there also) but it left me feeling unhappy, sad, angry, jealous, and just about every other negative emotion you can name. It was a crash course in unhappiness.

Fortunately, everything turned out well. But it literally took over two years to get back to an OKAY state of health that was close to my health before the crisis – which was still a long way from optimal health.

Now I’m continuing to improve my health, striving for optimal! And I’ve learned how to increase happiness – the techniques and tools that really work – when you’re NOT blessed to be born happy or life has gotten in the way of your happiness.

And in the process of healing, I’ve become even more aware of the inter-relationships between health, well-being, and happiness. Personally. Intimately. Aware.

Dr. Jodie

I Can Help

Sometimes we just need information, to know what the next right thing to do is. But other times we need someone there beside us, coaching us and holding our hand each step of the way. I can do both. 

Wherever you are on your own personal well-being and happiness journey, I support you.

And based on both my vast education and my own personal, ongoing experiences, I know a thing or two that can probably help you on your journey. And I’d love to do so!

My Disclaimer

And this is a good time for a disclaimer. While I am a doctor, I am not YOUR doctor and I do not know your specific case history. Anything presented on this site should be considered information, not advice. You should always do your own due diligence and speak to your health care provider before changing or undertaking any health process.

Some Fun Facts

Now, a few fun facts about me… I’m Michigan born and raised but have lived in Georgia (6 months) and South Carolina (13 years.) Growing up we had a small hobby farm and I raised champion dairy goats and rabbits – among other animals.

So far, I’ve been to 22 US states and Washington D.C. and traveled to 6 other countries, and plan to travel around America in a motorhome after my husband retires.

I am DEFINITELY a warm-weather girl and the beach is my happy place!

Three awesome (grown) “kids” call me Mom and you met my wonderful husband, Dave, above.

I love to laugh and have been told more than once that my laugh is infectious. It’s definitely distinct (and probably a little annoying.) LOL! 😀 And, YES, I love emojis! 

I ADORE flamingos, pelicans, peacocks, stones and crystals, seashells, manatees, stingrays, flowers, plants, and animals, and almost anything in nature, especially the ocean!

I’m multi-faceted. I am creative, crafty, spiritual, and a bit “woo” but I also think scientifically and analytically.

Although I’ve been retired since the end of 2016, I have been a chiropractor for over 30 years and despite my impressive stature at 5 feet nothing tall, I could adjust even the biggest guys who came in my office but the kids and babies were my favorites!

I also used to adjust the entertainment at our county fair and got to meet quite a few stars. I even gave a certain American Idol Season 2 fourth-place finalist (who used to be in the Marines) his very first adjustment!

Want to know anything else? Just ask! :

My Mission

My mission (my passion and purpose) is to help you live the life of your dreams. The life of joy and happiness you deserve.

Because…

You Are The Source of  Your Own True Happiness!

Encourage, lift and strengthen one another. For the positive energy spread to one will be felt by us all. For we are connected, one and all.   

Deborah Day