A REDDITCH poet will be signing copies of her ‘Life and Rhyme’ collection at 11am this Saturday, May 20, at Ahead of Wellbeing Company in the Kingfisher Centre, writes Poppy Chambers.
Natalie Carr will also be reading some of her works from the book from 12pm.
Other passionate artists who wish to participate with performances are also welcome.
People will be able to buy copies of the book which Natalie created to ‘break down the barriers between her emotions and readers’.
Natalie said the poetry aimed to reflect the ups and downs of life.
“It explores my experiences with depression and anxiety, my struggles with motherhood through PND (post-natal depression) and all the crazy situations us parents go through.”
Natalie touches on the raw essence of mental health, the natural processes of the body and its correlation with the world around us by providing a space for those who have suffered through the tribulations of bullying, burnout, loss or trauma.
She wanted to use her voice to break the rules of writing and becoming an advocate for any person who wished to be heard.
And she added people creating for themselves had important benefits when they came to understand how they were feeling.
“Anyone can write. Everyone has a story, and anyone can put a pen to paper and do something.
“If you have got a passion for something and you have got a story that you want to tell, just keep on doing it.”
She added with spaces designed for poetry and creative expression becoming stark, communities such as ‘The Word Association’, where people can access a wide society of like-minded individuals, were an integral component to keeping the passion of local artists alive.
Natalie said: “Places like The Word Association host the ‘speak your mind’ open-mic event and local nature walks, but also put on other events you can go to.
“For mental health they do workshops for LGBTQ+, minority groups, and others, to give them a place to share their stories.”
She said there were other potential opportunities for the future, such as organising a group to share knowledge, experiences and accommodate all walks of life.
Copies of Natalie’s ‘Life and Rhymes’ are available to buy at athenasbounty.co.uk with a free gift and additional crafts are for sale on site.
