Mind matters
Idon’t know about you but sometimes my brain takes a holiday and I’m left with half a sentence hanging in the air that I’m unable to finish because I can’t remember exactly where I was going with it. Is it a sign that I’m doing too much, or am I simply getting older and more forgetful?
My grandfather Laurie, right up until the ripe old age of 97, used to jokingly say ‘ I know nothing’, but he was being serious too. The older he got, the more he realised there was so much to know and to keep learning. He had the wisdom and modesty to not be a know-it-all. It kept him humble, as well as a sponge for learning. He was as sharp as a tack right up until the day he died.
In contrast, my grandmother was sadly afflicted with dementia that saw her short-term memory fade, then eventually her long-term memory too. It was hard to watch her struggle. Hugs and contact became vitally important, as well as living in the moment, because with dementia that’s literally all you have.
Recent advances in neuroscience have made me hopeful for the future. Research has proved that our brain is not the hard-wired machine it was once considered to be and, instead, with the help of specific mental exercises, reaching our cognitive potential and warding off degenerative diseases is achievable. Good assistant editor Natalie Cyra has written an insightful feature on brain training (see page 29), as well as the cover story about twin models Chrissy and Madi Hart too. A twin herself, Natalie looks at the spooky brain connection between twins.
This issue is also our special fashion issue, celebrating the latest season must-haves. It comes with a guide to guilt-free labels as well as a breakdown of the 2017 Baptist Report.
When planning this issue, we went in search of twin models and found Chrissy and Madi (though initially they weren’t keen because they’re no longer the ‘sample-sized’ 8 to 10 they were when they were teenagers). Well, that made us want to photograph them even more because there’s nothing wrong with being a size 12. They are gorgeous and healthy, and healthy is beautiful. Let’s celebrate that! Check out some of the latest looks worn by Chrissy and Madi in their story (page 36).
It rained the day of our shoot but Blunt umbrellas were one of our styling props so we all stayed dry. A big thanks also to the Uptown Business Association for blocking out an area in front of Sara Hughes’ stunning mural ‘Magma’ on the wall of the Uptown carpark in Auckland city. The red, orange, pink, purple and yellow colours are evocative of Auckland’s volcanic landscape and provide a vibrant and invigorating backdrop for a winter cover. We hope it brightens your day too.