Dad Said it Best
Age-Old Truths for Modern Times
“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
~Benjamin Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanack)
It was a classic “do as I say, not as I do” situation. My dad was a late-to-bed, late-to-rise insomniac but he really tried to enforce this self-improvement motto in our household.
Franklin’s famous quote reinforced my father’s other reminders for his children to develop healthy habits. In doing so, he believed we would enjoy longer, more vigorous lives… and perhaps avoid some of his own pitfalls.
An incurable insomniac, my dad typically went to bed well after midnight, then awoke often through the wee hours to putter around the house, get a drink of water, “read” the paper, or do crossword puzzles until returning to bed. Once finally asleep, he struggled to wake in time to get himself together and out the door before being late to teach his first class of the day.
Haunted by his own poor sleep habits, Dad didn’t want his children to inherit the trait which kept him groggy and foggy through daylight hours. He wanted us to get a minimum of nine hours of sleep, then wake up ready to take on the challenges of the day.
But first, he insisted on us sitting down to a hearty breakfast, “The most important meal of the day!” Unfortunately, I usually was up late the night before (strike one), and woke up just in time to rush out the door… like him (strike two).
Dad had lots of rules about eating. For improved digestion, he would advise, “Always eat your roughage,” “Slow down,” and “Chew your milk!” To discourage over-eating or consuming junk food, he’d say, “You are what you eat!” And to avoid wasting food by taking more than we could eat in one sitting, he’d say, “Don’t let your eyes be bigger than your stomach” or “All things in moderation.”
When it came to automation versus do-it-yourself, Dad always made us do things the old-fashioned way, pointing us back to ourselves as our best resource. “God gave you two arms and two legs. Do it yourself. Make it from scratch. Don’t ask me; look it up for yourself. Walk; you don’t need a ride.” Redirecting us from laziness, he wanted us to become self-reliant.
Dad’s advice has stood the test of time. The latest guidelines for a healthy lifestyle mirror his outlook on sleep, diet and exercise. According to LiveStrong.org, “Regular exercise, a balanced diet and adequate amounts of rest are habits that are essential to long-term health. Dedication to each of these principles can boost your immunity, elevate your brain function and help you maintain a healthy weight. Achieving optimal results in these areas is a cumulative practice, and balance within one area of your life leads to easier success in another.”
The sum benefit of the three (exercise, nutrition and sleep) is greater than any one taken alone, creating a synergistic health effect. Good nutrition helps you to exercise vigorously, which in turn helps you to sleep better. Good sleep stimulates a balanced appetite, which causes you to exercise for health benefits (not just weight loss). Frequent exercise releases serotonin, making you happier, prompting you to eat healthier, and with a clear conscience, to sleep better, as well.
Dad said it best, decades ago, even though it was out of reach for him. He got credit for the effort. He lived for nearly 92 years before finally falling into the deepest of sleeps. Rest in peace, Dad.
