We had the good fortune of connecting with Teresa Gingles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Teresa, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
My grandmother gave me a card when I was 12 with the quote by Albert Schweitzer, “No ray of sunshine is ever lost, but the green which it awakes into existence needs time to sprout, and it is not always granted to the sower to see the harvest. All work that is worth anything is done in faith.” This quote has been with me for almost 30 years, and it continues to guide me. My hope is to be a ray of sunshine to the people in my path, work hard for as long as possible, and have faith throughout all of it.
I have always loved this quote for what it inspires in me, but I also cherish the connection that it keeps with my grandparents and how they lived and loved.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I received my Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2011, and more recently received my Board Certification in Geriatrics. I have practiced in multiple settings throughout this time, but always enjoyed my time working with older adults the most. I have most recently practiced primarily in the outpatient orthopedic setting while continuing to see hospice patients in the field. In a wonderful and surprising turn, I was invited to adjunct within the Baylor DPT program a few years ago, and it has grown me in ways I didn’t know that I needed. Connecting to students and other faculty a few times a year has challenged me to find my voice and solidify my passions.
Most recently, my passions, strengths, weaknesses, dreams, and anxieties have all collided as I felt called to start a nonprofit organization to better serve older adults within my community. We are hoping to change the culture of aging and be more proactive about how we age in place. It’s been harder and more rewarding than anything I have done to this point. Surrounded by a network of people and support, guided by faith and research, I am looking forward to this next chapter to reach more people before they might need me as a PT.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As I live outside of Waco, Texas, I would start with an early morning hike at Cameron Park then head straight down to the Brazos River for some kayaking. No matter the speed, we would find our way via kayak to the docks of Slow Rise on the Brazos for some craft beer and great food. As a mom of young kids, we would fill our week taking in our favorite family spots like the Mayborn Museum, The Cameron Park Zoo, and more hiking through Cameron Park (we like the baseball loop that goes through the tunnel). After all that activity, we may have earned a treat from the Heritage Creamery before heading home for naps!
Another one of our favorite gems of the area is the Homestead Craft Village for food and craft. Every detail is someone’s craft and the experience is always positive and inspiring.
We would save time for a tour through the Martin Museum at Baylor University where they currently have an exhibit running through November called “Narrative as Reality,” and then head over to meet friends at The Brazos Landing for food and drinks on the water.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Mack Gingles. When this nonprofit organization started to take shape and challenged the comfortable rhythm of our life, he didn’t hesitate. When my anxiety about all of my inexperience started to rise, he was calming and reassuring. For the first time, I got a small taste of what it felt like to make something and then put it out into the world. It’s exhilarating and terrifying, and he has been doing this for most of his life as an artist Not only did Mack provide unconditional support throughout this journey, but he has given me an example of how to handle all of it with grace and perseverance. I would also like to recognize my parents and family for helping to shape and support me through all things, for all of my time. They provide encouragement when I try, and a soft place to land when I fall. They are constant, and I could not do any of this without them.

Website: www.betteratlast.org

Image Credits
photos taken from my own cell phone.

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