Laura

Last Dance

***Warning: The following contains mentions of disordered eating and suicidal behavior. Please proceed with caution if sensitive to these topics. Take care. 

Pressure always on, she needed to be the very best
She had to stand out, be different, from all the rest 
Losing a competition, a failure never taken in stride 
Bending over backwards to avoid wounded pride

Image by Kevin from The Beginning at Last

Hoping someone else would finally screw up and fall 
With bloodied feet and broken bones, her body never too small 
A lifetime of misery, sometimes wishing for defeat 
Maybe tomorrow she’d eventually have something to eat

Asking for a miracle, death couldn’t come too soon
A prisoner of her thoughts, as she swayed to the tune 
Tortures of her soul, a waking hell she lives in 
With plans to end this agony, she’d thought to give in

Image by Kevin from The Beginning at Last

In her next life, a promise to never go through this again 
She’d pray, but receive nothing, to stifle her pain 
White light flashes, she knew it was her final chance 
When curtain calls, a bittersweet moment – her very last dance

Ⓒ Laura Bennett

I wrote this a while back for Kevin’s No Theme Thursday, but held off on posting, added to my pile of drafts – sometimes talking about traumatic experiences and diagnoses need to be at the right moment, and I also got a chance to add this week’s image.

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week was just upon us from February 24th – March 2nd. Considering the timing and the message, I think it’s too important to just sit in drafts, collecting dust.

If you or someone you know has an eating disorder and is in need of help, contact the National Alliance for Eating Disorders helpline  Monday – Friday, 9 AM to 7 PM, EST at 866-662-1235.

Additionally, with delicate mentions of suicidal thoughts / behaviors – if you or someone you know is suffering with thoughts of suicide or thinking of engaging in suicidal behavior, please call or text 988.

It’s not my intention for my post or the comments to be an advertisement for mental illnesses, (only to bring awareness in a courteous manner) or for the need in comments for anyone to share things that are personal life experiences unique to them, unless that truly helps.

Please be respectful. Thank you. 🙏

P.S. – Many thanks also to Kevin for not only the images, but letting me know about the week and that I should post my poem (since I had reservations). I would’ve never known unless you told me. I posted it later than I would’ve liked, but the message still stands. Appreciated always. ❤️

70 comments

  5. Well done Laura for posting
    You have expressed this so well and beautifully too.🙏🤗
    There is so much pressure to look a certain way , especially on social media.
    You never truly know what anyone has, or is going through.
    Luckily, we are blessed that we can get our thoughts down in our writing.
    It does help.
    Love you loads young lady and am so proud of you.
    Keep shining like the star you are ⭐️❤️⭐️

    Liked by 3 people

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    • Thank you so much lovely Maggie ❤️ as always for your kindness and caring words 🙏 it’s so true that there’s so much pressure on us especially as women to be and look a certain way, it’s rough. And you’re so right, the writing ✍️ certainly does help and I hope that it helps others too. Much love to you always 🥰 and I’m so happy to be able to connect with your beautiful soul 🤗
      Keep on with your powerful heart and wonderful spirit 🙏 I’m a fan of yours for life! ✨ 😊

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      • Aww you are always welcome Laura, always 🙏
        There is way too much pressure.
        We are all beautiful, just takes the right person to see that 😉
        Me too darling😘 you are such a beautiful soul 🙏💕
        Have a lovely weekend my friend.🤗😍

        Liked by 1 person

  6. thank you for sharing, what I can imagine, is a profoundly private part of your journey. the human spirit is a resilient one. and when a spirit that’s seen the difficulties of existence converges with a sense of creativity and empathy, you have stunning pieces like this that comes from the soul.

    i hope many more people read this!mike

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    • Thank you, Mike! You’re so right that the human spirit is resilient. I appreciate your kind words about the poem, it’s definitely a delicate balance, especially as a nurse, wanting to help people and seeing others suffer so much internally. 🙏 Thank you, again – I hope your Saturday is starting out how you want it to.

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  7. Poignantly and beautifully written, Laura ❤ … All-encompassing at times, ((Hugs)) If I told you all the insults, "constructive" criticism, critiques, totally messed up "compliments", down-right cruelty, you'd laugh eventually, … after the weeping (lol)! I'm happy you posted this very real truth in existence and fighting our natural bodies. Speak your beautiful spirit and enjoy the gorgeous vessel bestowed. You really don't know how awesome you are, which makes you even more endearing than ever! Love you more and more … 😀

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    • Awww you lovely soul ❤️ thank you *hugs* and I don’t think anyone should ever insult or critique my sweet Siri, I will light fires 🔥 of destruction under all their asses and lay waste to their lands 🐉 but seriously – thank you and I’m sorry if you’ve ever had to endure that 🙏 it can stick with us a long time and be very hard to ever really truly heal from. Much love ❤️ to you always and I’m forever here if you need me, sweet soul 🤗

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  9. Beautifully done, Laura. There are so many people suffering with various types of disorders, writing this story and bringing attention to eating disorders makes it a powerful and timely message. Hopefully someone will benefit from this. Thanks for sharing.

    Liked by 3 people

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  11. This is so relevant to today’s societal pressure. I for one have experienced this and am grateful that people are able to speak about it and not hide it or shove it under a rug.

    Liked by 4 people

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    • Oh, thank you so much for sharing a deeply personal experience that you’ve had 🙏 it’s very hard and I commend you. It’s so true, it’s getting easier to speak about, and it’s a lot to cope with and I hope others can relate and understand how hard society does pressure us into looking a certain way. It’s never a good feeling 😞 it’s important not to shove it under a rug as you said 🙏 thank you again for sharing. Truly appreciated

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  13. This poem is powerful and evocative, my friend. Thanks for sharing this.

    It’s better to share what you feel rather than keeping it and increasing stress. I’m glad that I got the chance to be that listener for some of my friends.

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    • Thank you! 😊 It’s appreciated immensely and I agree with sharing what you feel instead of holding it in. You never know who is going through something 🙏 it’s amazing that you’re able to be a listener and so understanding, very grateful for that, we need more people to listen I think. Appreciate your kindness always and I hope your weekend is going well ✨

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      • You’re most welcome, my friend. 😊

        Yes, we may never know what others are going through. Also, we may never realize that we might be the beacon in someone’s dark days. All we need to do is listen to them.
        Yes, we need more people who listen and understand that they are complex individuals with their own struggles and experiences.

        Thank you, and I wish the same for you.
        Take care.

        Like

  14. Your compassion and concern for others is beautiful to witness and extends far beyond your workday. Thank you for taking the time to care, dear Laura, delivered through your creative talents, paired with Kevin’s artistic images. 🙏🏻💕

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    • Thank you so much, Michele! ✨ it’s really appreciated that you’re able to see that and it comes through that way 🙏 I feel the same with you, you’re the teacher inside that really cares for others and hopes for the best 💕 wish there were more of you out there! 😊 I hope you’re having a great weekend so far!

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      • You’re such a dear. Thank you, Laura. The morning was gorgeous – working on a post right now. 🤪 Happy weekending to you! Hope work doesn’t take all of your time and energy. 💕

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    • Thank you Hazel for your sweet words 🙏 I think sometimes we do need to pray for others who feel this way, as it does help to show positive and kind thoughts with a listening ear ✨ so kind of you, always. Many hugs and love and blessings your way! 😊

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    • Thank you so much ❤️ I’m glad it came through in that manner 🙏 I never want to make someone else’s pain worse, if I can help it. Hope you are doing well this Saturday morning 😊

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      • It’s true. I recommended a TV show to someone then realized one of its themes might be disturbing, so emailed them. When we’re healed to a large extent, it can be empowering to read or watch stories close to our situations or memories, but it’s also kind to make sure. ❤

        Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you so much, Darryl 🙏 you’re right, most definitely ✨ it’s a heavy topic and I hope in some small way, it can help others…Never know who may be reading. Appreciate your kind words 🫶 😊

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  18. A very poignant poem on a difficult subject. There has been some improvement in this country, but we are still far from having deep discussions and true acceptance. This is a topic we need to talk about openly so that people in need know help is available and that it is safe to ask for it. Thank you for sharing this poem, Laura. 🙏🏽

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    • Thank you, Edward. 😊 You’re right in that it’s getting better, but mental health in general still has such a stigma attached to it. 🙏 what you said about acceptance is so true. I hope that people will be able to be more open in time to getting help and not feeling judged, as it can be very embarrassing and of course, emotionally painful. Appreciate your kind comment as always! 🙏 Hope you’re having a great Saturday so far ☕️ ☕️

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  20. Laura, this is beautiful and heart wrenching at the same time.
    This is another issue that is not highlighted enough and requires awareness. Thankyou for sharing and hugs 🫂 🤗 to you.

    Liked by 4 people

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    • Thank you, Iba for your kind and thoughtful comment 🙏 you’re so right that not often enough is it brought up. So many hard feelings and embarrassments sometimes surround mental health issues – thank you for your acknowledgment, I appreciate you so much 🤗

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Thank you Kevin 🙏 for your kindness and these wonderful images to accompany. Probably not the first thought someone has when they see the beauty in these images, but it’s what came to me a few weeks ago, which I told you about. Thanks for encouraging me to post ❤️

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      • It’s always fascinating to see how the same image can bring out different things to different people.
        No thanks necessary. It is I who thank you. 😘💓

        Liked by 1 person

  22. We never know what someone else is going through. It’s all too easy for example, to go see someone perform a dance, song etc but we never think about what that person has gone through to get to that point. Beautiful poem Laura.

    Liked by 3 people

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    • Thank you Sharon 🙏 what you said is so true. We often don’t know at all what goes through people on the day to day and their struggles, sometimes we can look pretty well put together and still be feeling awful inside. 💕 Appreciate your kind comments always 😊

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  23. Raising awareness is important and you’ve done so in a very sensitive way. So many things in the press nowadays are reminders of the struggles people are going through in secret and in silence. Sending loving energy your way and out into the world. ❤️🙏 (((HUGS))) to you and all who are reading.

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    • Thank you MM 🙏 that’s all I can ever hope for – to have a sensitive approach while still hopefully sending a positive message. You’re right that there’s so much suffering in silence, we never know truly what someone else is going through. Many hugs 🤗 and love ❤️ and positive vibes and energy your way, sweet soul! ✨

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  25. Too many children lack enough food, love, and support. Those who grew from that and earned their place are extraordinary examples of strength, courage, and perseverance. I send the child within them my love.

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