Mind | Silver Magazine

Mind

Bend, Don’t Break: How Twister and Our “Free-Range” Youth Made Us Unstoppable

Picture this: It is 1968. You are tangled in a chaotic human knot on a bright vinyl mat. Your right foot is on blue, your left hand is on red, and your chin is precariously balanced on your neighbour’s shoulder. Your core is on fire, you are holding a high-intensity plank, and you are laughing so hard your ribs ache. Long before “mobility training” and “yoga therapy” became multi-billion-dollar wellness trends, we had our own weekly flexibility regimen. It was called Twister. It was a masterclass in balance, agility, and spatial awareness disguised as a party game. But more than that, it was the perfect metaphor for how we grew up. We learned to bend, stretch, and hold impossible positions without breaking, both on and off the colourful mat. That physical and mental resilience wasn’t just built in the living room, though; it was forged the moment we stepped past

Eve Sanderson August 4, 2026

Health

The New Normal: Redefining Intimacy for Canadians Over 50

1 There is a long-standing myth that once we blow out the candles on our 50th birthday, the bedroom door quietly swings shut for good. But if you look at the data and talk to the thousands of Canadians currently navigating their “second act,” you’ll find that the door isn’t just open. For many, it’s swinging wider than ever. At Silver Magazine, we know that aging doesn’t mean retiring from desire. However, it’s natural to wonder how much sex we are actually having and what exactly “normal” looks like now. The Statistics: Quality Over Frequency When it comes to frequency, the numbers might surprise you. According to research from the Canadian Public Health Association, nearly three-quarters of adults aged 57 to 64 remain sexually active. Even as we move into the 65-to-74 bracket, over half of Canadians report staying intimate with their partners. Recent data suggest that for Canadians over

Sarah Ferguson April 6, 2026

Health

Ever Heard of the Vegas Nerve? (It’s Not What You Think!)

Alright, listen up, you magnificent silver foxes and foxy ladies. Let’s talk about something that sounds like it belongs on a casino billboard but is actually hiding deep inside you, pulling some serious strings. We are talking about the Vagus Nerve. No, it is not some high roller club for nerves in Las Vegas, though if it were, it would be the VIP section with free drinks and bottomless chips. The real Vagus nerve (pronounced VAY-gus) is actually one of the longest and most important nerves in your body. It is the super highway connecting your brain to almost every major organ, including your heart, lungs, gut, and even some of your facial muscles. It is basically your body’s internal chill-out switch. Why Should You Give a Hoot About Your Vagus? Because this bad boy is responsible for kicking you out of “fight or flight” mode and into “rest and

Staff January 8, 2026

Mind

The Last of the Firsts

1 I just changed the ink cartridges in our printer. That may not be such a big deal to most of you, but for me, it was the last of many firsts I’m experiencing as a widow. There, I said it. Widow. David (z”l) was the one who changed the cartridges. He was the one who fixed what needed to be fixed in our home and if he didn’t know how to, he always knew who to call. It’s the little and not so little things, the firsts, that remind me how very much he is missed. How we’d always say before one of us went out for something, “I love you. Don’t fall.” He would erase our previously seen recorded specials and episodes to free up more space for new things to come. I learned that from him and now it’s part of my new routine. But almost thirty-four

Patti Linsky November 26, 2025

Mind

Not Old But Battle-Hardened

(Fiction) The fluorescent lights of the grocery store cast a sickly pallor on the rows of perfectly stacked cans. I was on a quest for the perfect Dijon mustard, my concentration absolute, when the cashier young kid with a vacant stare, scanned my purchase. “Would you like the senior discount?” he asked, his smile as thin as the receipt paper. I froze. A senior discount? Me? The man who had just finished rebuilding a carburetor in his garage with nothing but a rusty wrench and a stubborn will? The man who’d spent his youth learning to play guitar by figuring out every single Van Halen solo, not by watching a YouTube tutorial? My heart didn’t beat to the rhythm of some easy-listening elevator music; it still pulsed to the beat of a vintage muscle car engine. The word “old” was an insult, a surrender I refused to accept. I wasn’t

Max Brennan August 5, 2025

Mind

The Surprising Way Seniors Can Boost Brain Health, Prevent Dementia & Stay Sharp—Play Games

Aging well isn’t just about staying physically active—it’s about keeping your mind sharp, your mood bright, and your social life alive. One of the simplest, most enjoyable ways to do all three? Playing games. Whether it’s a board game with family, a puzzle at the kitchen table, or a digital game on your tablet, playing games regularly can help keep your brain in shape. And while it might feel like fun (and it is!), it’s also serious support for your long-term mental health. Games Are More Than Fun—They’re Brain Food Your brain needs regular stimulation to stay strong, just like your muscles. Playing games that involve strategy, memory, problem-solving, or creativity gives your brain a complete workout. These challenges help keep you mentally agile, even as you age. From matching tiles in a puzzle to solving a tricky riddle, these moments of mental effort add up over time, and they

Staff June 13, 2025

Health

Claim Your Power: Invest in Yourself

Whether we are mothers, CEOs, homemakers, athletes, or entrepreneurs, or dedicated members of our community, all women are powerful beings. In my humbly biased opinion, no one is more determined than a woman with a goal. Women are so much more than their external appearance. Women are their minds, their hearts, and their insights. In Canada, there are currently more than 360,000 women who are self-employed. Thousands of women who made the choice to bet on themselves and make waves in the business world. Women who are role models for creating your own authentic life. Women know what other women want and need. Founder of Canadian intimate apparel company Knix, Joanna Griffiths, created “Leakproof Underwear” when she realized there was a need for undergarments that served a purpose other than glam and sex appeal. Now a flourishing, woman-owned business focused on changing the narrative around women’s bodies, Knix started from

Ashley Pellerin September 1, 2024

Health

The Perfection Trap

The Unique Pressure on Women There is a certain societal pressure unique for women that men will never understand. Women feel the pressure to be perfect; the pressure to be a “boss babe”; the pressure to keep an orderly and Instagram-worthy home while also working their way effortlessly up the corporate ladder. Women are expected to be mothers, wives, caretakers, entrepreneurs, managers, and organizers. Never be too loud or ambitious but be sure to work harder than everyone else to earn your place among the men in charge. A woman’s job is never done, for every move she makes is scrutinized and judged. Women’s Resilience and Power It is difficult to be a woman in today’s world. The silver lining is that women are also resilient and powerful, our voices are strong, and our resolve is unbreakable. Throughout history, women have been on a steady march forward. Women are pushing

Ashley Pellerin August 1, 2024

Health

Why Saunas Offer More Benefits Than Just Relaxation

From improved performance to faster recovery time, here’s why you may want to stand the heat. As an active woman, you know the glow that’s associated with a good, hard sweat. You feel invigorated and accomplished, and you know you’ve done something beneficial for your body. But what if you could achieve that glisten without putting yourself through a rigorous workout? Enter, the sauna. While saunas have become more trendy recently, they’ve been used in different cultures for thousands of years. The original use for saunas is a topic of hot debate, but nowadays, many people regularly use them to relax or recover from workouts. But that’s just the beginning when it comes to the health benefits that a sauna can provide. What health benefits can you expect from the sauna? Thanks to the heat, the majority of health benefits that a sauna provides are related to blood circulation. A

Chelsea Clarke February 7, 2024