My name is Gail Gates and I live in the Land of 10,000 Lakes… also known as Minnesota. I don’t like  lutefisk even though my father is 100% Norwegian (just thought I needed to retain some credibility). My childhood was spent on a small dairy farm where I learned about the seasons, hard work, and equally hard play. My great-grandmother lived to be 100 years old, and my grandmother lived until just shy of 102. I lost my mother when she was too young… 74.
So much of who I am came directly from these women. So who am I? I am a woman filled with wonder, hope, joy, and a warped sense of humor. Being middle-aged only adds to the rate of discovery.
Since my teens I devoured articles and books on natural living but was seldom saintly in my adherence to do what was best for my body and mind. Marriage, motherhood, and an 18 year career as a dental assistant didn’t leave much time to follow my interests regarding integrative health and healing… at least that’s what I told myself. A second marriage and newly empty nest made me realize time wasn’t waiting for me to get my act together, so why was I? I gathered my courage and went back to college in my late 40’s.
Through my blog and website, I hope to share beauty, laughter, inspiration, aging & midlife lessons and advice on dealing with menopause. I will also devote time to integrative health and healing tips and news. I want feedback and questions because, while we may be sharing the journey, every woman has her own experience and her own story.
I hold a Bachelors Degree in Integrative Health and Healing in Women’s Issues from the Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and just completed my Masters of Liberal Studies from there as well.  My Master’s Capstone Project explored post-menopausal women and creative resurgence. I am pleased to say my self-published book called, Smoldering; Post-Menopausal Women and Creative Resurgence was accepted into Metropolitan State University’s library. It is an ongoing project, and one I plan to explore for years to come.  Please join me as I walk, stumble, and grow into my best years ever.
