A Legacy of Calm in a Noisy World
Eleanor, who is leaving a gift in her Will to AVEIT, learned early on the profound impact of a quiet mind. Throughout her life’s journey, a deep belief in the importance of mental rest and imagination has guided her most important decisions.
Growing up, she has fond memories of the quiet evenings in her family home. “Before the world got so fast and connected, we had time to just wind down,” she recalls. “My mother would read to us, and those stories became a safe harbour. It was a time to let go of the day’s worries.”
When Eleanor was in her twenties, she trained as a high school teacher. She married her husband, David, and together they built a wonderful, busy life.
But as the decades passed, Eleanor noticed a distinct shift in the world around her.
As a teacher, and later in her travels, she saw firsthand how anxiety was beginning to take a toll on the people in her community. “I saw young people completely overwhelmed by the pressures of modern life, unable to sleep, unable to just be,” she says. “And it wasn't just the kids. I watched friends and colleagues face severe burnout. The world had become so loud, and so many people had lost the ability to switch off.”
Eleanor and David faced a tough season of their own when David experienced a period of severe, debilitating anxiety triggered by work stress. It was then that they truly understood the paralyzing nature of panic, and the desperate need for accessible, immediate mental health relief.
“When you are in that dark place, or lying awake at 3:00 AM with your heart racing, you feel completely alone,” Eleanor shares. “We learned how vital things like guided rest, soothing environments, and anxiety-relief tools actually are. They were a lifeline for us.”
That experience is why AVEIT was front of mind when Eleanor went to her solicitor to prepare her Will. Knowing that AVEIT is actively building free digital sanctuaries, sleep stories, and anxiety-relief programs to help people self-regulate inspired Eleanor to leave a lasting gift.
Her great hope is that she can help narrow the gap between those who can afford expensive mental health treatments and those who are suffering in silence.
The legacy Eleanor can leave through her Will hit home recently as she was reading an article about the rising rates of insomnia and panic disorders in young adults.
“I thought to myself, 'That’s how my gift will work.' Long after I am gone, someone who is having a panic attack, or someone who hasn't slept in days, is going to find one of AVEIT's calming stories or digital spaces. My gift will be the deep breath they get to take.”
Eleanor’s decision to leave a gift in her Will also makes her feel closely connected to her family's values of care and comfort.
"I’ve worked hard to build a peaceful life," she says. "It just makes sense to pass that peace on to those who need it."
Have a question about leaving a gift in your Will? Reach out to our caring team to learn how you can leave a lasting impact of peace.
