Art & Poetry Showcase 2024: An Interview with Runner-Up Lucy
Our Art & Poetry Showcase 2024 series continues with Lucy, whose poignant writing earned her a runner-up spot in the competition. Her piece, born out of one of the most challenging periods in her life, speaks to the raw emotions of loving someone battling addiction.
In this post, Lucy shares the story behind her powerful submission and the message of love and worthiness she hopes to convey to others.
What inspired you to create the piece you submitted, and how does it reflect your personal journey?
“I wasn’t so much inspired to write this piece as overwhelmed by the need to capture the chaos and conflict both in my life and raging inside my head,” Lucy shares. “I was driving and had to pull over, and this spilled out of me.”
Her writing came during a time when she was loving someone in the throes of addiction. Even now, reading it takes her right back to those moments. “It was one of the most difficult periods of my life. I naïvely believed, at the start of that terrible journey, that love would be enough to save him from the depths of his addiction. If only love alone was the answer.”
What message would you like someone in addiction to take away from your piece?
Lucy’s writing carries a profound message for those battling addiction. “Despite all the hurt, pain, and deceit caused by addiction - both to themselves and everyone around them - I want them to know they are still so very loved,” she says.
Her words remind readers that love cannot cure addiction, but it can make the journey more bearable. “You are still worthy of love, even if you don’t feel that way. You are still worth fighting for. Hold on to love - it won’t save you, but it can provide the strength to keep going.”
A Reflection on Love and Recovery
Lucy’s heartfelt piece is a testament to the complexity of loving someone struggling with addiction. It captures the rawness of pain, the depth of love, and the enduring hope that recovery is possible.
Her work not only reflects her own journey but offers a beacon of light for others who may find themselves in similar situations- whether they are battling addiction themselves or supporting someone who is.
Lucy’s story is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, love and connection can provide a path forward. Her writing, much like the other pieces in this year’s showcase, highlights the power of art and poetry to give voice to the struggles, triumphs, and deeply human experiences of recovery.
Stay tuned for the next post in our Art & Poetry Showcase series, where we’ll feature more stories of creativity and resilience