July Creator of the Month: Natasha Perrault
Natasha Perrault’s journey in artistic expression began in grade seven when she first explored theatre in her drama class and acted in her first play. For the first time, she felt truly herself, able to fully express her emotions and thoughts. Inspired by Shane Koyczan, she discovered slam poetry and experimented with some of her journals. Poetry has since become her unique form of expression.
Since her brain injuries, she held grief & frustration within herself. No one could truly understand what it was like for her to live with brain injuries. She had to wear masks to hide her visible symptoms so that society could accept her. Growing up with a socially active family, she had always used social connections as an outlet for expression and discharging her emotions until her brain injury stifled it and the same connections that once gave her joy caused pain. Frustrated and struggling, she turned to journaling, and writing became her new outlet for expression. With poetry, Natasha takes her time, feeling free to explore her thoughts and emotions and put them into words. This careful process allows her to express herself verbally by reading her work aloud. While it can sometimes be difficult to express herself spontaneously, writing helps her speak her truth.
Natasha returned to work after three years of extensive rehab, with daily vision vestibular auditory training needed prior to starting her day. Her brain, constantly in fight-or-flight mode due to her invisible disabilities, makes stepping out of the house a daunting task. The demands of her job led her to lose the social components of her life that once provided joy as she needed significant time to rest and recover. In 2023, Natasha was diagnosed with ME/CSF and central auditory processing disorder. Determined to focus on her healing at this time, her rehab program, heavily incorporates art while working on neuroplasticity. Through the BC Brain Wellness Program, has found amazing classes that allowed her to connect with others and share her creativity. She has felt welcomed and less judged by the art community.
As part of her healing process, journaling has become a key part of Natasha's morning routine. Every day, she sits down with a cup of coffee and writes for 30 minutes before starting her day. Whenever inspiration strikes or she experiences a strong emotion, she expresses her thoughts through poetry.
When asked for advice to give to anyone who wants to explore art, she wrote:
“It's ok to not be perfect. It's ok to be authentically you. It's ok to shed the mask and be vulnerable and speak your truth. Bravery, vulnerability frees your mind from the shackles that you may apply on yourself. It's ok to fail, that's how we learn; It's ok to be scared that's how we know we are growing; it's ok, it's ok... It's ok to be ok with whatever life throws at us. It's ok to ask for help, it's ok to not be perfect; for nobody is... You will be ok... One day at a time, just go into the unknown and try something new, spread your wings in whatever creative way feels good and feeds your soul. Express yourself, free yourself. You are beautiful, talented, brilliant and you bring something unique and so precious to this world just the way you are, don't let THAT get wasted, Shine and Soar…” – Natasha
