Aging Joyfully - by Carla Marie Manly (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

How does a woman embrace her maturity with joy and strength when her body changes year to year? Psychologist Dr. Carla Marie Manly provides an important and meaningful window into womanhood for those approaching fifty and beyond. A must-read book for any woman approaching the age of fifty, Aging Joyfully touches the sensitive reality of the transition from a life filled with new beginnings to a graceful process filled with freedom, beauty, and joy.

Includes chapters on:

• Loving Your Changing, Maturing Body;
• Your Health: What to Expect with Menopause, Memory Changes, and More;
• Shifting Relationships: Understanding and Adapting to Natural Changes in Relationship Dynamics;
• The Worlds of Work and Retirement: Facing Ageism and Retirement with Awareness;
• Aging Parents, Caregiving, and Loss: Gracefully Caring for Others and Letting Go; and
• Slowing Down as the Time Speeds Up: The Art of Transitioning into a New Life Role.





Review Quotes






"The blend of intelligence and compassion in this beautiful book should help many women deal with the real issues in getting older. You will find guidance, understanding, and a positive but not unrealistic approach to aging. Dr. Manly is an excellent writer and has deep experience, both of which make this book stand out. You can trust it and be inspired to be your best self."
- Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul and Ageless Soul

"Manly's is a warm, insightful, practical, and humorous guide to a life period she calls the most rewarding of all, despite its challenges. The difficult parts, she says, don't have to be faced alone: 'We can band together in love and community as only women do.' The book points to inner treasures that chronological age cannot touch and finds beauty in aging, deep love in elder years, and the joy of a mindset that is eager for what's to come...Aging Joyfully is a wise, wonderful companion for navigating 'one of the most beautiful eras of your life'."
- Foreword Reviews​



"Dr. Manly is incredibly insightful as she helps women look at the second half of life with a perspective that is simultaneously realistic and positive. This work acknowledges the challenges and maps out the route we can take to achieve wisdom and joy throughout our lives."
- Marisha Chilcott, MD

"In Aging Joyfully, Dr. Carla Marie Manly projects aging holistically using grace, mindfulness, and humor. I am eager to share her wisdom with friends, colleagues, and nursing students to encourage approaching women's aging with understanding, compassion, and empathy."
- Kathleen Rockett, MSN, RN, professor at Sonoma State University, BSN program

"Aging Joyfully offers the reader extraordinary insights for creating a joy-filled life. Although the journey of aging can be discomforting in many ways, Dr. Carla Marie Manly offers the reader comprehensive, reassuring wisdom. With a tone that is at once gentle and intelligent, Dr. Manly guides the reader step-by-step into the realm of aging with joy and grace."
- Walter Tom, MD, FACS

"In the pages of Aging Joyfully, Dr. Carla Marie Manly guides readers into a full appreciation of the freedom to be found in the later years of life. With an honest, humorous approach, she illuminates the unexpected delights of aging while offering expert insights into navigating aging challenges."
- Erica Manfred, author of I'm Old, So Why Aren't I Wise?: Snarky Senior in the Sunshine State

"Aging Joyfully is a much-needed, empowering read for women of all ages. Whether you're in your 30s, 70s, or somewhere in between, this book takes the reader on an adventure into the heart and soul of womanhood. Dr. Carla Marie Manly's genuine, open style invites the reader to understand and embrace all aspects of her life. She covers a vast array of vital topics with clarity and ease. Aging Joyfully is a must-read for every woman who wants to live with intention and joy."
- Joan Tabb, MA, author of Building Blocks for the NEW Retirement: An Easy, Interactive 8-Step Guide for a Retirement with Meaning, Purpose, and Fun, creator of ReVitalment(R), and founder and principal of Greatin8Coaching.com

"There are many ways to age, if we are fortunate enough to do it at all. No way comes without challenges that can't be avoided. But how we meet them and go beyond coping to experiencing joy and appreciation for the development and opportunities aging can bring is optional. Dr. Carla Marie Manly provides clear directions and insights for a successful, satisfying journey that rings true. This book is a life-changer that gives new meaning to the term "self help."
- Dr. Thelma Reese, coauthor (with Dr. Barbara Fleisher) of The New Senior Woman: Reinventing the Years beyond Mid-Life and The New Senior Man: Exploring New Horizons, New Opportunities

"Aging Joyfully is the book mature women have been craving. While many women have achieved deeper understanding and acceptance of what life brings, most of us could use some extra help and guidance in developing more fully with an open heart and mind. Indeed, aging is a complex process that cannot be understood from a distance. Dr. Manly provides a guide to embracing aging in a manner that instills the reader with understanding and personal power. This sensitive, informative book offers wisdom and support--true gifts for those who desire to age with joy."
- Denise L Wagner, PsyD, LCSW

"Aging Joyfully is an uplifting, essential read for every woman facing aging issues. Dr. Carla Marie Manly demonstrates beautifully that we each have the power to choose a path of joy in the inevitable aging journey. Dr. Manly's compassionate guidance promotes this essential shift: Aging can be beautifully empowering; it can offer every woman a new lease on life when its gifts are honored with grace and dedication.In the pages of Aging Joyfully, Dr. Manly moves the reader away from worry, doubt, and fear and into the creation of a most powerful, joyful future."
- Orchid D. Johnson MS, PhD, LMFT, LPCC, and Board Certified PTSD Clinician

"The blend of intelligence and compassion in this beautiful book should help many women deal with the real issues in getting older. You will find guidance, understanding, and a positive but not unrealistic approach to aging. Dr. Manly is an excellent writer and has deep experience, both of which make this book stand out. You can trust it and be inspired to be your best self."
- Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul and Ageless Soul​