Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurie Benoit.
Hi Laurie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Let me begin by telling you in the shortest way possible where I came from, so you can get an understanding of where my journey really began. As an abused child, I reached out to the foster care system and fell through the cracks of its bureaucracy. When there was not a place left to take me, the cold, callous city streets then became home to me until I was hunted and stalked by a child trafficker and pimp, at which time my life became about only survival of the fittest. In my fight for survival I was afforded an opportunity to flee the streets and survive, so I humbly accepted. As I grew through my teens into womanhood I endured many more life lessons and abuse. Unable to break the cycle for many years. In 2014 I did extensive research about The Law of Attraction and was about to give up, when I had come across a quote by “Alex Elle” that spoke to the very depths of my soul… “You are not a victim for sharing your story. You are a survivor setting the world on fire with your truth. And you never know who needs your light, your warmth and raging courage.” At that time I was also following a page that taught me the lesson and importance of Gratitude, something I truly did not understand nor ever really experienced in my life. Admittedly for some time I mulled over whether I should begin writing and finally decided I would. I did so, because life is not just about me, I had something to offer others and in came in the way of life experience.
In 2015 I began a social media page and slowly day by day began to reveal and share my experiences, feelings, thoughts and advocate against abuse. Abuse of all types, because I have experience with almost all types of abuse. About a year later in 2016 a publisher was sent to my page from a follower/friend and my writing career began. As I began to write, I began to heal more and through it all, “became awakened” and so began my brand name Once Awakened. Once Awakened from all that I once was and all that I continue to strive towards. It has been my goal to be a voice, bring awareness, to advocate, to inspire others, to help others and to share that just no matter HOW much a person goes through in life, they have a choice. A choice to move past and overcome, a choice to survive and thrive and a choice to better oneself. The thing is we are all survivors, we just have different stories about what and how we have survived.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Admittedly healing work is usually not easy for every person, and like me, not everyone has learned skills and knowledge to know HOW to heal, HOW to live healthy and initially must learn to retrain themselves. Along my journey there have been days I have been anxious about the repercussions of speaking out and there are still times when I battle depression and PTSD. The key is to keep fighting it and be mindful of all one has to be grateful for.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Since 2015 I have spent a fair bit of time improving my photography skills, quietly and privately mentoring other survivors, I began my own cleaning business and have been afforded some amazing opportunities to expand my journey as a writer. I have written a couple of articles for local papers and taken part in a number of anthologies through Pearly Gates Publishing and Redemption’s Story Publishing such as: God’s Joy Fruit ~ Walking Through The Fields of Grace and Mercy in Bloom, God Says I am Battle Scar Free ~ Testimonies of Abuse Survivors Parts 4, 5, 6 & # 7 will be out this year, God’s Peace Fruit ~ Walking Through The Fields of Grace and Mercy in Bloom, but also as a Canadian Advocate (Foreword Writer) in Poetic Voices: Seeking Solidarity Through Racial Transitions, I have also written my own Amazon best selling book: The Transformative Power of “The Word” And most recently I was a permanent writer and personal assistant to CEO/ Founder of Scars of Survival Magazine, Sathya Callender. What sets me apart is my honesty and openness in talking about topics of abuse, what I am most proud of my ability to help others even while, I too still heal. It is my goal to make change in a world that so desperately needs it.
What makes you happy?
What truly makes me happy is knowing that my story may inspire someone else, that it may help someone and if I can help just one person wouldn’t that be truly tremendous?
Contact Info:
- Email: laurie.benoit.once.awakened@gmail.com
- Website: http://onceawakened.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onceawakened
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/onceawakened
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