Is the manuscript of your work-in-progress buried in a desk drawer that you rarely open? Is a half-finished quilt stuffed in your closet, with all the pieces waiting for your return? Do you have unfinished poems, a partial scrapbook, collage materials, old watercolor sets, or perhaps one or two musical instruments stashed away somewhere on a shelf that you rarely, if ever, glance at anymore? And what about your jewelry-making that everyone encouraged you in? Or that sculpture class you took? Or your desire to learn more about your digital camera so your photos would be as great as your brother-in-law's?

You may be avoiding looking at your abandoned creative projects, but when you do accidentally bump into them, do they look back at you reproachfully? And do you feel that pang? Do you cringe and slink away?

I know how you feel. For almost two decades I was a full-time exhibiting painter, and I have not been actively engaged in my art for over fifteen years. True, my life has taken another direction that I'm thrilled with - life coaching, writing, and leading groups. But what about all that talent, all those images, all those unpainted paintings that the world is waiting for? Truly, I can hardly ever bear to think of them, it's too painful. So I don't. My friends have also given up asking me about it - except for a few brave souls.

But I have helped a number of floundering poets, photographers, and other creative types get back to their art forms, by helping them create a structure, a schedule, and find a place to work (in some cases Starbuck's). As a result, they have gotten passionate again about their art. They have reintroduced creative pleasure, excitement , and satisfaction into their lives. They are much happier now.

So there is hope. And, I discovered, it's not even very hard - unless, that is, you're trying to get yourself out of your rut all by yourself. For one of the most helpful ingredients, if you're feeling stuck, is support.

Therefore, in order to provide that support, and because I find my clients' successes so inspiring, I have decided to offer a Creativity Support Group for people who would love to get back into their creative work, but can't find the way.

I'm calling it Diving In: Reclaiming the Joy of Your Creative Life, and I'd love for you to join me.

And, if I'm really successful, I'll even start painting again, myself!