Jaded and Faded

Jaded and Faded

I was the brightest of young stars,
Ascending in Hollywood skies.
Fame and fortune left me broken…
Entangled in a web of lies.

My bright red smile defied my pain,
You thought you knew all about me.
I lived in shadows of the past…
Jaded, faded celebrity.

Living a life of leisure
Drinking myself to seizure
Trapped behind this gilded door
Just what am I living for?

I had it all, making millions
Blew it all on foolish vices.
Shunned from the spotlight, I withdrew…
Spiraled into hole of crisis.

Alone and shrouded by dark thoughts,
Annihilation in my head.
I raise the steel blade to my wrists,
Thinking I’d be better off dead.

Living a life of leisure
Drinking myself to seizure
Trapped behind this gilded door
Just what am I living for?

Calm peace
cool breeze
warm seas
finally free…

Living a life of leisure
Drinking myself to seizure
Trapped behind this gilded door
Just what am I living for?

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2026
May 9, 2026

Happy Saturday! Woah, I went dark this week with Writer’s Choice. I think I’ve been watching too many of those murder and police reels on the internet. And once you watch one -the algorithm shows them all. Also, I was reading up on the Natalie Wood murder/death mystery and had no idea of some of the wild and weird details surrounding her death – check it out for yourself!

I had a few lines pop into my head earlier in the week that ended up becoming the “chorus” in this song ditty piece. It also brought to mind a lot of rock stars and actors who have suffered or taken their own life. To me, I can only imagine how being a celebrity and losing one’s privacy would be profoundly devastating and affect one’s mental health. Speaking of mental health, that last stanza is my own mantra that I use during running to just focus on my breathing, and get rid of negative thoughts that creep into my head. I also use it when feeling anxious, breathing in calm, exhaling peace… and so on. It really is just a form of “box breathing” or rhythmic type breathing that settles down your parasympathetic nervous system. Try it – it works like magic!

Happy Mother’s Day to all types of Moms out there! We celebrated my Mom last weekend, and I am hoping to be able to FaceTime with Vince, Katie and the grandkids this Sunday. Enjoy your well-deserved day of recognition and relaxation! Xoxo

Love,
Colleen

Ecrits Week 45.17 – WRITER’S CHOICE – Jaded and Fade
Hard Bonus: WRITER’S CHOICE – Incorporate the phrase “life of leisure“
Easy Bonus: WRITER’S CHOICE – Include a famous California city (Hollywood)