162 books
—
3 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “There I Am: The Journey from Hopelessness to Healing—A Memoir” as Want to Read:
There I Am: The Journey from Hopelessness to Healing—A Memoir
by
“Ruthie is a gifted storyteller with the unique ability to make you feel her emotions as if they're your own. Her book is somehow both bold and tender and utterly, truthfully, authentically her. She doesn't hide from heartbreak or fail to experience the fullness of all the beauty life can hold.” —Rachel Hollis, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Girl, Wash Your Face a
...more
Get A Copy
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
There I Am,
please sign up.
Be the first to ask a question about There I Am
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of There I Am: The Journey from Hopelessness to Healing—A Memoir
You all have the book description available, so I won't be rehashing that. I'm simply here to share my own take away (without spoilers). Like many of you, I've followed Ruthie's journey for many years, even crossing paths in person from time to time. And because of what I have read, seen, and heard, I thought I had a grasp on her story. I thought I knew what to expect from this book, that it would simply provide lines to connect the dots. It turns out half of the dots had been written in bitter
...more
Lot's of skimming. First, what this woman went through was awful I'm not saying it's not. So great she survived.
The text of "There I am" reads more or less like it should be sold in a Christian bookstore. That's not exactly the direction it takes but the cuddly tropes and childish language persist throughout. You keep asking yourself "What's her point?" And then about halfway through, when Taylor Swift uses Lindsey's home for an album cover, you begin to realize the depth of her privilege. Her p ...more
The text of "There I am" reads more or less like it should be sold in a Christian bookstore. That's not exactly the direction it takes but the cuddly tropes and childish language persist throughout. You keep asking yourself "What's her point?" And then about halfway through, when Taylor Swift uses Lindsey's home for an album cover, you begin to realize the depth of her privilege. Her p ...more
This book is a safe place for not only those who live with chronic pain, but anyone who has faced suffering in their life. It truly is a journey of hope and of healing, not by covering the pain with a smile, but by putting in the work. At no point does she fool us into thinking it’s easy. In every moment, however, she makes us believe the work is well worth it. Ruthie’s words are, at the same time, poetry and a conversation with a best friend. Her words pour out love to everyone who takes them i
...more
Q:
I don’t know what your journey looks like but I do know that we’re all on one. It can be crazy hard one minute and crazy beautiful the next. It never has to be perfect—I don’t think any journey worth taking is.
…
Keep journeying until you believe it. You’re so deserving!
I’m just gonna moonwalk out of here now so that you can get started. (c)
Q:
“More than God can count.” (c)
Ruthie was hit by an ambulance and it changed her life... Wow. That's what they say about true belief and spirit having the ...more
I don’t know what your journey looks like but I do know that we’re all on one. It can be crazy hard one minute and crazy beautiful the next. It never has to be perfect—I don’t think any journey worth taking is.
…
Keep journeying until you believe it. You’re so deserving!
I’m just gonna moonwalk out of here now so that you can get started. (c)
Q:
“More than God can count.” (c)
Ruthie was hit by an ambulance and it changed her life... Wow. That's what they say about true belief and spirit having the ...more
I am not usually overly generous with my 5-star reviews ... So, to rate a book as 5-stars truly means that there is something special about it. I've been following Ruthie on social media for several years. Her social media accounts typically show a happy and light perspective of who Ruthie is. If you don't know her story ... she was in a serious car accident at age 17 that left her body and spirit broken. She recovered, but endured chronic pain through her through her post-college life and her m
...more
Ruthie Lindsey is a true gift to this world. Her first novel, There I Am, is moving, honest, raw, & full of so much courage. Through her honesty and struggles with chronic pain, divorce, finding herself, and so much more - she paints a picture of healing and hope for us. The pages just bleed with light even in the midst of so much heaviness you read about. This book is important and needed. I can’t thank Ruthie enough for her openness to share her story with us. I’m so proud of her healing journ
...more
Someone lmk why I cried hard at the acknowledgments? Am i OK!? Anyway, this was great and Ruthie is amazing.
Jun 29, 2020
Catie
added it
It’s difficult to know how to “rate” a memoir, but it passes the “will this book make Catie weep?” test with flying colors. I don’t live with chronic pain in my body, but living with other chronic things like c-PTSD, a lot of her experiences felt very close to home, which makes sense from a trauma standpoint. I’m walking away with new thoughts and new things I want to explore in my own healing.
Writing was so strong first 180 pages! Then it became so white girl basic to me ... several things reeked of privilige &bored me ....Didn't realize she was out of money, never worried about her account balance for over ten years, but spending on decorating people's homes ...
...more
I won the kindle version of this book in a goodreads giveaway 😁
Lindsey is honest and vulnerable-the best of what memoirs are made of.
Lindsey is honest and vulnerable-the best of what memoirs are made of.
Thanks to the publisher, via Edelweiss, for an advance e-galley for honest review.
If you follow Ruthie Lindsey on social media, this book is what you probably expect it to be. I have more respect now for the grace with which the author carries herself with- grace she's developed and chosen after so many years of pain. Ruthie Lindsey walks us through her unimaginable, incessant physical pain, as well as the emotional pain she's suffered, and how she's come through to where she is today. She is un ...more
If you follow Ruthie Lindsey on social media, this book is what you probably expect it to be. I have more respect now for the grace with which the author carries herself with- grace she's developed and chosen after so many years of pain. Ruthie Lindsey walks us through her unimaginable, incessant physical pain, as well as the emotional pain she's suffered, and how she's come through to where she is today. She is un ...more
This book has heart, soul, passion, and honesty. Once I started reading, I didn't want to stop. Ruthie's writing is both eloquent and deeply moving. I highly recommend reading There I Am!
...more
What a journey. Forever grateful for Ruthie Lindsey for sharing her unabashed love, learning, loss and journey of discovery. I'm still processing this story and the beauty she shared so gorgeously. What a light and beautiful voice in the world. I'm so grateful my bookclub chose this book and Ruthie for inspiring me to dance more, connect more and love without limits. I want to say I'm inspired but I don't think that's the right word- moved? Touched? So much love so tenderly conveyed. Thank you R
...more
“What did I love before pain?
Sunsets. People. Dancing. Flowers. Justin Timberlake. Making lists.”
This was the only book I was looking forward to in 2020.
And thankfully, it didn’t disappoint.
I stumbled across Ruthie Lindsay randomly on Instagram. There was a photographer’s page that featured portraits of different individuals with just snippets of their stories. On the surface, I knew that she had been in a bad accident and confined to a bed for several years of her life, but there was more to ...more
Sunsets. People. Dancing. Flowers. Justin Timberlake. Making lists.”
This was the only book I was looking forward to in 2020.
And thankfully, it didn’t disappoint.
I stumbled across Ruthie Lindsay randomly on Instagram. There was a photographer’s page that featured portraits of different individuals with just snippets of their stories. On the surface, I knew that she had been in a bad accident and confined to a bed for several years of her life, but there was more to ...more
I cannot recall how I stumbled upon Ruthie's Instagram account, but I was so thankful when I did. Ruthie was one of the first accounts that I found that talked about living with chronic pain in an authentic way. I have always felt like she has shared the beautiful up and down balance of this daily struggle in a relatable way.
If you are unfamiliar with Ruthie's story, she was in a horrible car accident at 17 (that should have killed her), recovered, began experiencing pain again, discovered that ...more
If you are unfamiliar with Ruthie's story, she was in a horrible car accident at 17 (that should have killed her), recovered, began experiencing pain again, discovered that ...more
This was given to me as a gift, from one of my good friends Supriya that I met while thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. She was out there to work through an unknown illness, that doctors were perplexed by. Proving to herself that she could do something that her pain told her she couldn't. She had enough medicine to weigh her pack down, but enough heart to keep her pushing. We crossed paths one day in the rolling hills of New Jersey. Bonding over our favorite tv shows, and a fellow hiker who put
...more
Sunsets, people, dancing, flowers, making lists.
This was the inventory Ruthie Lindsay made of what she used to enjoy before chronic pain and illness reduced her life to the size of her bed.
Like many of us, I discovered Ruthie through Instagram. I don't remember exactly how or when, but one day she appeared on my feed, all smile and bright, shiny eyes, and I couldn't look away. Then, I read her story and understood why. It's not only her journey that is so special, but the way she tells it: ...more
Like many of us, I discovered Ruthie through Instagram. I don't remember exactly how or when, but one day she appeared on my feed, all smile and bright, shiny eyes, and I couldn't look away. Then, I read her story and understood why. It's not only her journey that is so special, but the way she tells it: ...more
There I am: The Journey from Hopelessness to Healing-A Memoir: Ruthie Lindsey
Release date: Apr. 21, 2020
Tender, profound, and authentic; an inspirational memoir.
Ruthie Lindsey, raised in rural Louisiana with two brothers, was born into a devout Christian family. Having the reputation for always being good with people, Lindsey is named homecoming queen. Shortly after, she is in a car accident. She suffers from a serious spinal injury, amongst others, and is not expected to live. After spinal fusi ...more
Release date: Apr. 21, 2020
Tender, profound, and authentic; an inspirational memoir.
Ruthie Lindsey, raised in rural Louisiana with two brothers, was born into a devout Christian family. Having the reputation for always being good with people, Lindsey is named homecoming queen. Shortly after, she is in a car accident. She suffers from a serious spinal injury, amongst others, and is not expected to live. After spinal fusi ...more
I finished this one fast, as many of us in the advanced reader group have. Ruthie’s words are raw and they are pure. She folds them together brilliantly— you can smell the flowers and see every sunset, as the lump grows in your throat as you read about her pain.
I feel honored to be a part of her reviewing/release/reading crew. I delighted in this book—no matter how different my journey may be, there’s a sameness to being human. And in the end, that’s her point. How can we cherish our world and ...more
I feel honored to be a part of her reviewing/release/reading crew. I delighted in this book—no matter how different my journey may be, there’s a sameness to being human. And in the end, that’s her point. How can we cherish our world and ...more
Ruthie's story resonates with anyone, as the human experience inherently comes with hopelessness. Especially during this time where the world seems upside down, Ruthie's story provides comfort that even in the darkest of days, in the darkest of seasons, there is hope. Navigating through physical and emotional trauma, Ruthie gives a stunningly honest account of her life. This book is captivating not only for the honesty she offers but also for the beautiful writing. For fans of Ann Patchett's viv
...more
Ruthie's book is a breathtaking view! Her memoir gives the feel of climbing a mountain together: from the excitement of the journey starting, to the dangers you begin to encounter, to the obstacles that you will inevitably face, to the summit view at the top. She is a beautiful creative writer, and the tastes, sounds, smells around her as she makes her way through her memories, leap off the page! I cried so many times throughout, reliving the marking moments with her dad, as well as the gut-wren
...more
The writing in this book is incredibly vivid and life-like. The use of words is just AMAZING and the way that memory is translated into language is just genius.
It is a great story and the narrative is threaded very carefully and peacefully at the right place.
There is something missing though. I can't quite put my finger on it. It might be something that I can pinpoint or understand years down the line, but right now, something feels incomplete. It almost feels toooo...pretty? I don't know if t ...more
It is a great story and the narrative is threaded very carefully and peacefully at the right place.
There is something missing though. I can't quite put my finger on it. It might be something that I can pinpoint or understand years down the line, but right now, something feels incomplete. It almost feels toooo...pretty? I don't know if t ...more
I have both the physical book and the audiobook because I need them both! I don't buy a lot of physical books anymore because I travel a lot. When I buy a physical book, it's because I need to have it in my life for future reference. This is one of those books.
Ruthie's story is an incredible story of perseverance. It's also a story of learning to listen to oneself; learning to trusting your intuition. I'm proud to be one of the first to recommend this lovely, loving book to future readers.
Thanks ...more
Ruthie's story is an incredible story of perseverance. It's also a story of learning to listen to oneself; learning to trusting your intuition. I'm proud to be one of the first to recommend this lovely, loving book to future readers.
Thanks ...more
Ruthie Lindsey is the light we all need in our life, especially during these incredibly challenging times!
Her words, her descriptions, they jump off the page at you. You can feel, smell, taste, hear, everything she is saying! The pain and trauma she experienced in her life, is something no one should have to go through. She takes you through the journey like you are standing right next to her. Her words will pierce your heart and draw out your own emotions!
The journey she took to find herself ...more
Her words, her descriptions, they jump off the page at you. You can feel, smell, taste, hear, everything she is saying! The pain and trauma she experienced in her life, is something no one should have to go through. She takes you through the journey like you are standing right next to her. Her words will pierce your heart and draw out your own emotions!
The journey she took to find herself ...more
There I Am is a book that is beautifully written, with a story that makes you laugh, cry, rage, and fist pump. Ruthie's is a powerful story of healing and resilience, and this book is an invitation to look at your own experiences of pain with a little more gentleness and grace. Not only does this book capture an amazing story, but I found it to be a great tool for reflection and growth. Definitely will be a book I read more than once.
...more
4.75 stars.
I remember first hearing of Ruthie when I saw someone post about her story on their Instagram a few years back. I was so captivated by, not only what all she had endured, but perhaps even more so, the grace & attitude she chose to apply to her situation. She has chosen to live a life of gratitude, which at times, we all know is harder than others! She writes so beautifully, and the audiobook version feels like a friend sitting on your porch, & pouring her heart out.
I remember first hearing of Ruthie when I saw someone post about her story on their Instagram a few years back. I was so captivated by, not only what all she had endured, but perhaps even more so, the grace & attitude she chose to apply to her situation. She has chosen to live a life of gratitude, which at times, we all know is harder than others! She writes so beautifully, and the audiobook version feels like a friend sitting on your porch, & pouring her heart out.
Honest to goodness cannot remember a time I actually cried while reading a book. Multiple times, even. Ruthie. Wow. A beautiful story about a long lasting battle with chronic pain and the journey to healing. A story of finding yourself through the darkness. I think everyone needs a come-to-Justin moment and I think everyone should read this. Purely outstanding. Thank you for sharing your story, @ruthielindsey the world will be better because of it.
I’m sitting on the beach, just finished ‘there I am’ I’m laughing and crying, this book is so so powerful. I can’t put to words the depth my soul aches with the pain but is filled with so much joy with hope of healing that comes. Some parts were so hard to read, it bought up so many repressed memories, but the way Ruthie talks and relates to things, I feel so seen and known. I have so much to process still but I am so ready for this imperfect healing journey.
“Pain is small and far away from us. ...more
“Pain is small and far away from us. ...more
I couldn't put this book down!
First of all, Ruthie is one of the warmest, kindest, tender-hearted humans I've ever encountered. She's written a memoir about the years she's spent living with chronic pain, and it is a heartfelt, touching story.
Her story touches on relationships, family, faith, trust, grief, trauma, and redemption. She dares to openly write about the things most of us shy away from, the things we hide away, the things most of us experience but aren't brave enough to share.
She wal ...more
First of all, Ruthie is one of the warmest, kindest, tender-hearted humans I've ever encountered. She's written a memoir about the years she's spent living with chronic pain, and it is a heartfelt, touching story.
Her story touches on relationships, family, faith, trust, grief, trauma, and redemption. She dares to openly write about the things most of us shy away from, the things we hide away, the things most of us experience but aren't brave enough to share.
She wal ...more
I liked the book. A lot. But I also found some difficulty digesting it. Her story is hard, but also steeped in privilege. That doesn’t take away from her experience and the depth of her growth or her ability to tell a beautiful story. It’s hard to imagine how this story would have been different had it been another person without the giant support system , white skin and financial security she has. Her story is still her own, and I did learn from her. But something about it just gave me a weird
...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Readers also enjoyed
Ruthie Lindsey is a Nashville-based speaker, cohost of the Unspoken podcast, and prominent social media figure whose work has been featured in Darling Magazine, The Great Discontent, Better Homes & Gardens, and many others. Speaking alongside renowned activists and writers such as Brené Brown, Glennon Doyle, and Sophia Bush, Ruthie challenges audiences to seek joy and find the healing that is insi
...more
Related Articles
Historian Alexis Coe's new book, You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington, arrived in U.S. bookstores in February. Coe...
146 likes · 30 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.”
—
1 likes
“I will learn that love is one person becoming undone for another. It’s being stripped of the protective armor we’ve worked hard to fashion for ourselves to become the armor for somebody else. It’s standing naked and shivering before what scares us the most to honor what it is that we love the most. This is the love that will transform me.”
—
0 likes
More quotes…
