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Halfway There: Lessons at Midlife
“These are my most personal stories. I tell them because I think others may see themselves in my experiences and feel empowered to embrace their own journeys.”
From an early age, Elizabeth C. Haynes faced hardships: abuse and trauma, tumultuous relationships, frustrating career shifts, and—when she reached her mid-thirties—chronic illness. As she approached middle age, she began to question her life’s many ups and downs and how they had influenced and shaped her. How could she begin to heal from the pain of her past and, more importantly, how would she respond to the adversity yet to come?
Seeking answers, Elizabeth turned to her lifelong passion: writing. What resulted were words of positivity, growth, and perseverance. As her stories unfolded, she discovered that while circumstances are individual, the emotions they carry and the lessons they offer are collective. Her crises and struggles were all a universal experience, and the deeper meaning she had always sought lay in sharing those lessons with others.
Written with poignance, care, and a dash of humor, Halfway There: Lessons at Midlife reminds readers to learn from life’s obstacles and accept them as they come.
“We all have a reason for existing. Embrace every day.”
From an early age, Elizabeth C. Haynes faced hardships: abuse and trauma, tumultuous relationships, frustrating career shifts, and—when she reached her mid-thirties—chronic illness. As she approached middle age, she began to question her life’s many ups and downs and how they had influenced and shaped her. How could she begin to heal from the pain of her past and, more importantly, how would she respond to the adversity yet to come?
Seeking answers, Elizabeth turned to her lifelong passion: writing. What resulted were words of positivity, growth, and perseverance. As her stories unfolded, she discovered that while circumstances are individual, the emotions they carry and the lessons they offer are collective. Her crises and struggles were all a universal experience, and the deeper meaning she had always sought lay in sharing those lessons with others.
Written with poignance, care, and a dash of humor, Halfway There: Lessons at Midlife reminds readers to learn from life’s obstacles and accept them as they come.
“We all have a reason for existing. Embrace every day.”
260 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2020
About the author
Elizabeth C. Haynes
1 book6 followersElizabeth C. Haynes is an abuse and trauma survivor, a former yoga teacher, a rare disease sufferer, and a kindness warrior. Born in Texas, Elizabeth holds a bachelor of arts in degree in literature from Kansas State University and has been writing professionally since 2004. Her poetry has appeared in a literary anthology, and she has also served as a head of content. Elizabeth writes about the things that are close to her heart, the experiences she has had in life, and the beauty that can be found in the natural world.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 15, 2020
I learned about this new book because I am connected with the author, Elizabeth Haynes, on LinkedIn, and have really enjoyed her posts--which are always uplifting, kind, and encouraging. When I found out she was publishing a book, I wanted to support her and was very happy to receive and read her work.
Elizabeth is a gifted writer, and her clear, uncomplicated, conversational style draws you in and engages you with every one of the stories from her life. The best way I can describe it is that her writing makes you feel like you know her, and that she would be a great person to have as a friend.
Like many people, Elizabeth has been through some stuff in her life--a broken home as a child, loneliness, divorce, crappy jobs, unemployment, chronic illness, depression, and anxiety. And yet, unlike many people, she has not let these experiences make her bitter or resentful--rather, she has used them as points of learning to develop her perspective, compassion, empathy, and resilience.
I really enjoyed the structure of the book, which is 44 short chapters, each of which relates a unique part of Elizabeth's life journey and what has made her who she is at the middle point of life. The common threads through all of the stories are that we are all human, that we can all overcome our barriers and challenges (even if takes time), and that our trials in life make us who we are.
For me, this book is a refreshing antidote to the fake world of constant preening on social media, where it seems most people only portray the great things about their lives, and leave us constantly comparing ourselves to greener grass. Elizabeth gets real, talks straight, and gives the reader hope that we can all find joy in the present and in our unique circumstances.
By the way, even though a few of the chapters will seem more relevant to a female audience, I think most male readers can enjoy this book. If you have suffered any great loss or disappointment in your life, you will relate to Elizabeth's candor and insights, regardless of your gender.
Elizabeth is a gifted writer, and her clear, uncomplicated, conversational style draws you in and engages you with every one of the stories from her life. The best way I can describe it is that her writing makes you feel like you know her, and that she would be a great person to have as a friend.
Like many people, Elizabeth has been through some stuff in her life--a broken home as a child, loneliness, divorce, crappy jobs, unemployment, chronic illness, depression, and anxiety. And yet, unlike many people, she has not let these experiences make her bitter or resentful--rather, she has used them as points of learning to develop her perspective, compassion, empathy, and resilience.
I really enjoyed the structure of the book, which is 44 short chapters, each of which relates a unique part of Elizabeth's life journey and what has made her who she is at the middle point of life. The common threads through all of the stories are that we are all human, that we can all overcome our barriers and challenges (even if takes time), and that our trials in life make us who we are.
For me, this book is a refreshing antidote to the fake world of constant preening on social media, where it seems most people only portray the great things about their lives, and leave us constantly comparing ourselves to greener grass. Elizabeth gets real, talks straight, and gives the reader hope that we can all find joy in the present and in our unique circumstances.
By the way, even though a few of the chapters will seem more relevant to a female audience, I think most male readers can enjoy this book. If you have suffered any great loss or disappointment in your life, you will relate to Elizabeth's candor and insights, regardless of your gender.
August 26, 2020
Elizabeth C Haynes has captured in he new book so many of the life challenges we all go through and in man cases fail to overcome. Well, Elizabeth shows us how she has overcome many of the struggles she has faced and come through them with the wisdom that comes with growth and time. Learning to see the simple beauty in watching the sun come up, the peace and tranquility of the sounds that the morning brings, has given her a new perspective to the meaning of live your life in the moment.
She bares her soul in this uplifting and inspiring story of her life. The wonderful thing is that he story is only Halfway There! Can't wait to see how the other half of her story turns out. If I know Elizabeth it will be remarkable! This is a book I would highly recommend to anyone who needs to be uplifted to know that, with belief in oneself, you can overcome any roadblock that gets in your way!
Stephen A Vigiano
PGA Master Professional in golf
She bares her soul in this uplifting and inspiring story of her life. The wonderful thing is that he story is only Halfway There! Can't wait to see how the other half of her story turns out. If I know Elizabeth it will be remarkable! This is a book I would highly recommend to anyone who needs to be uplifted to know that, with belief in oneself, you can overcome any roadblock that gets in your way!
Stephen A Vigiano
PGA Master Professional in golf
October 20, 2020
Halfway There by Elizabeth C. Haynes is a book about her personal meditations on life. This read is for someone looking for short thoughts on a wide variety of topics related to personal health and your mindset for life. If anything in this book resonates with you or you find it surprising, I would recommend looking for more books on that specific topic, because you will not get the depth you need from this book.
This book is good to help stave off feelings of isolation if you agree with her reflections about life. It is a helpful encouragement to carve out your own path and shake off the pressure to remain in negative patterns that are detrimental to yourself and others.
Overall, if you are seeking a book with any depth though, this is not the one for you.
2.75/5 stars
Halfway There: Lessons at Midlife is available now for sale here.
This book is good to help stave off feelings of isolation if you agree with her reflections about life. It is a helpful encouragement to carve out your own path and shake off the pressure to remain in negative patterns that are detrimental to yourself and others.
Overall, if you are seeking a book with any depth though, this is not the one for you.
2.75/5 stars
Halfway There: Lessons at Midlife is available now for sale here.
February 7, 2021
I enjoyed this book so much! I related to many of the author's life experiences and struggles. As I read, I felt like a kind friend was speaking to me. Pause. Observe. Be grateful. Life is always teaching us something and it's worth living.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews