We all belong here.

One of the most challenging transitions I have experienced has been adjusting to life with a chronic illness. I felt incredibly isolated from others due to not being able to engage in the outside world in the same way that I used to. The grief I was experiencing caused me to isolate myself further, rather than reach out to others. I didn’t know how to navigate the feelings of loneliness that came with this – it was tempting to suppress them, rather than feel them. I started using music to confront them – I found comfort in connecting to an artist expressing similar feelings to mine. A song that I loved, and love to this day, is ‘It’s Okay to Cry’ by SOPHIE.

I’m scared. I’m scared of losing them, of losing myself. I had always wanted to grow up quicker, to finally catch the new, real me. But now I realise those who had been my anchors in my short life, through thick and thin, through all the jostling and growing pains…they’re leaving me…slowly but surely they’re drifting away one by one, and I can’t stop it. Why must we be thrown in the deep end so quickly? I want so desperately to hold on to them, to when things were still shallow, but the tide is too strong and I already feel myself drowning

Loneliness
A word and feeling all encompassing
We walk through life feeling
Like an outcast, a nobody.
We live in an age where we are so connected
Yet so disconnected. Socially. Emotionally
We chase after likes, followers, achievements.
Yet it all feels so empty, like a bereavement.
Sometimes it feels like no one loves you
You don’t even love yourself, whats even the point of popularity.
Hating yourself, blaming yourself for being different
Thats got less to do with my disability
But how can i feel in this world that won’t accept my identity
This is my journey, battle, The war within.
I had friends, who i thought would support me,
Left, leaving me a wreck, emotionally.
I was told to stop being weak,
Even though every day I was teary
I told myself this is the reality
Of why i feel lonely; ashamed of my feelings.
Who will understand me?
Sometimes, I get opportunities
To meet new people
To open myself up
To heal
To love myself
To give me
To feel understood
Healthy Friendships that empower and enlighten me
Spaces to share my story.
Makes the journey less isolating.
I realise, I’m not the only person feeling this,
I can create a new, different and empowering destiny.
Life can throw lemons
Yet I make lemonades
Life can feel lonely
Yet you path the way, the journey for other peoples quality.
Of life.
Life has its ups and downs,
Your lowest might feel like forever,
But like anything, never say never.
You will get better.
Life isn’t a competition,
It’s a collaboration.
You have the power to empower
That is our superpower
Of lived experience.
Because so many of us experience this.
all of us together.
We are never truly alone, just because we feel lonely.
We are one and only

I used different textues of dark green, browns and earthy tones for the background. There is a tiny singular bright red mushroom in the centre with sticks, rocks and leaves surrounding it. You can see faint shadows of other mushrooms just off the page. the only text on the page is "A-Part?"

I feel like transitioning to adulthood feels a lot like falling, like a leaf does in Autumn. It’s scary and isolating and lonely. We’re stepping into this big wide world that feels so far from our comfort place. But sometimes that experience feels shared and in a way that makes me feel less alone. Knowing other people are falling into adulthood alongside me.