cover image Aging Joyfully: A Woman’s Guide to Optimal Health, Relationships, and Fulfillment for Her 50s and Beyond

Aging Joyfully: A Woman’s Guide to Optimal Health, Relationships, and Fulfillment for Her 50s and Beyond

Carla Marie Manly. Familius, $18.99 trade paper (256p) ISBN 978-1-64170-141-9

Psychologist Manly (Joy from Fear) guides women into their later years with wisdom and empathy in this touching work. Manly encourages those 50 and older to look at their life’s experiences and celebrate them rather than to look back with regret about dreams not achieved. Throughout, she offers “wisdom tips,” most of which are tied to the process of journaling. Perhaps counterintuitively, Manly first instructs women to write a disappointment letter to themselves listing all their life’s regrets, but immediately follows by asking them to write a letter of hopes for the future. Wisdom tip #35 counsels women to write a “my roles through life” letter and to examine the feelings it generates so one can pinpoint the toxic role regret and shame can play in emotional health. Manly also offers advice on dealing with the physical realities of aging, covering menopause, the benefits of exercise, and ways to watch food and alcohol consumption. Perhaps most importantly, she counsels women not to accept disrespect because of advancing age. This powerful work will be of use to any woman wishing to contemplate the meaning of a good life as she ages. (Aug.)