Melinda French Gates hopes to provide people with some of the mental health tools she's amassed over the years. The philanthropist published her second book last year, titled "The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward." In it, she discussed her 60th birthday, the aftermath of her divorce from Bill Gates, and more.
© Kevin MazurIn her book, French Gates said that the transition period between her divorce from Gates and her new life was one of the most challenging experiences in her life. She advises people to sit with these heavy moments. “Don’t just leave and then jump to the next thing,” she said, as reported by Fortune.
“Take some time on the next day, the day after what you thought was the transition, to really think and feel and learn, because there’s so much growth that can come in a transition.”
Gates also advised disconnecting from phones and distractions for 10 minutes of self-care, which can range from jogging, meditation, or more.
“I want to tell everyone to take time in quiet,” she summed up in an interview with Forbes last year.
Melinda French Gates' divorce
French Gates and Gates finalized their divorce in 2021. The couple was married for 27 years, sharing three kids throughout their partnership: Jennifer, Phoebe, and Rory.
In 2022, while discussing the split with CBS News, French Gates said there wasn't one reason for the split. "It wasn't one moment or one specific thing that happened. There just came a point in time where there was enough there that I realized it just wasn't healthy, and I couldn't trust what we had," she said.
© GC ImagesOver the past month, their youngest daughter Phoebe has been featured heavily on the news due to her clothing app Phia, which, with the help of AI, compares prices across different fashion products while applying coupons.
The scandal began with a Bloomberg report that alleged Phia was engaging in "cookie stuffing." As of this writing, her parents have yet to comment on the news.
© Getty Images for Tiffany & Co.
