Middle-aged women are being encouraged not to forget to have sex, because it’s good for your memory… Sorry, what was I saying again? But seriously, scientists maintain that females who have sex more often score, on average, two percentage points higher on cognitive tasks.
Staying young is on my mind a lot right now because I’ve just turned 60. (Try to look shocked, will you?!) Another sure-fire way to stay young, these experts insist, is to take on new challenges and conquer old phobias.
That is why I recently found myself in the middle of the Indian Ocean, flippered feet dangling off the side of a boat, poised to plunge into the deep, dark waters below to dive with whale sharks in the Seychelles. It’s worth mentioning I have a complete sharkphobia. There must be a reason fish never look truly relaxed… Could it be because something much, much bigger is always trying to devour them?
Lisa, my chirpy dive instructor, promised that whale sharks, although the size of a truck, are harmless. “But no creature gets that big from eating periwinkles, right?” I asked, nervously.
Strapping the oxygen tank onto my back, Lisa calmly explained that whale sharks only eat algae. As she lowered the dive mask over my face, I was having serious second thoughts. I hadn’t scuba-dived for 10 years. When my mother was my age, the most athletic activity that she ever attempted was licking an envelope.
As I stepped off the boat into thin air, I wished I’d opted for a physical activity not known for its fatalities, say, hopscotch or knitting. Bobbing about, trying to repress my terror of what might be lurking beneath the water, I slowly deflated my vest and descended to the sandy seabed.
This story is from the October 2019 edition of woman & home South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2019 edition of woman & home South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Till death do us part
It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages, said Nietzsche. He may be on to something, says Lorraine Kearney
Hit the ROAD
Ensure your vehicle is as ready as you are for your long-awaited summer road trip
Make a meal of it
There are two basic rules when it comes to wine and food pairing: acidic wine with acidic food, and low acid wine with savoury food, Lorraine Kearney learns
Update your GARDEN
Now's the time to refresh your outdoor space
the art of INTERIORS
Colour and texture are the stars of this apartment, writes MARGARET RAFFERTY
FALLING OFF THE DIET WAGON isn't a disaster
Changing your mindset is key when it comes to smashing your health and fitness goals, says Annie Deadman. Already let things slip? It's not over yet
LIFE after BETRAYAL
Broken trust can take on many forms, but there's always one common denominator - a feeling of hurt that can last for decades
The Ties That Bind
We're all humans, which means we all need relationships to survive. stands to reason that good relationships are the best kind to have. There are ways to get there, says Lorraine Kearney
A beauty REVELATION
The self-care sanctuary Nylde Hoffman and Riëtte Lategan introduced to Stellenbosch has become a sought-after location. We spoke to them about how clients and staff are equally important in their success
Love me, LOVE MY MONEY
Married people are generally wealthier than their single counterparts. But finding peace with your partner when it comes to finances can be a tall order
