19 Mar Get to bed early

The worst thing about living in Cape Breton, even worse than getting through April, is watching so many young people leave home, knowing most will only return for fleeting visits. I’m way beyond grateful to have both my sons, and all my grandchildren, close at hand.

Among the missing is Hannah MacDonald, a bright, cheerful Caper from Mira who managed education and outreach for ACAP Cape Breton before decamping for Alberta four years ago. She’s now in Budapest, Hungary, awaiting a visa that will let her resume work as an environmental project manager.

I keep track of Hannah through Seeking a Simple Story, a blog she writes about her life and travels. This week, Hannah used her 29th birthday as an excuse to record some lessons relatives and co-workers have taught her. My favourite:

Every time we left Nana and Grampie’s house, Grampie’s parting would always include “Get to bed early.” Grampie was a doctor, one well-loved for his compassionate care and house calls, so that no trip to the grocery store could be made without at least one doting conversation with a former patient. He saw a lot of changes in medicine in his career, but his everyday advice was to get enough sleep. It’s a simple remedy. No medication, no elaborate wellness plan, just get to bed early. I try to follow his guidance, as my worst moments usually come when I’ve done the opposite. It’s funny that such a simple self-care step can be forgotten, but with Grampie’s advice, I try to make it a healthy priority.