Kate is currently managing the family business. Everything's going well except she feels that something is lacking. She feels that the creative side of her is slowly dying. Before she got married, she worked at an advertising agency. She described this experience as one of the happiest in her life.

After marriage, however, she decided to help her husband in managing the business. Although she doesn't regret her choice, she wants to develop her creativity and do something apart from handling the business. Sounds familiar right? Almost all of us, at some point in our lives, experienced this dilemma. Some of you are experiencing this right now.

You certainly need creative outlets. The opportunities for creative expression are numerous; you only have to keep your mind and options open. Perhaps there is an opportunity right in your family business to express your creativity. Perhaps you need to promote or market your products and services.

If this is the case, you can awaken your creative side by coming up with brochures and pamphlets or even an information packet for businesses. If you look hard enough, you will find that everything, even the most unrelated things, can inspire you to be creative.

If you have extra time, you can volunteer your services to family and friends for a small fee. This will allow you to flex your creative muscles with a lot less pressure than doing it full-time. Better yet, you can just do it for free!

Look for creative opportunities at home, too. Perhaps the house needs to be redecorated or there is a need for creative solution to storage problems. It is fun to do home-improvement projects, especially on a tight budget. Now, that really gets your creative juices flowing!

Perhaps the family photos need organizing. Maybe the garden needs to be designed. An upcoming special family event could use your creative touch. Why not design a backdrop for that big family reunion or put together a snazzy PowerPoint presentation for a wedding anniversary? How about decorating the venue for a birthday party?

Explore other creative activities, as well, including some you have never tried before. For example, you can try starting a scrapbook, try your hand in baking, sewing, doing children's arts and crafts, etc. If you are into visual arts and writing, then the possibilities for creative milking are endless.

Try these other ideas to get your creative juices pumping:

• Enroll in creative writing courses: check local community colleges or the classifieds for workshops in your area
• Practice writing a Journal: just get a notebook and a pen and let your thoughts flow
• Write poems: instead of writing free prose in your journal, try experimenting with rhymes and metaphors
• Draw, paint, or do graphic arts: create something for kids, members of the family, or just for yourself to look at and say "I did that!"
• Try photography: a picture paints a thousand words; as they say, life is poetry in action. Capture it.
• Try jewelry making, pottery, theater arts, singing, and just about everything else that will keep you entertained!

Creativity is a state of mind. You do not have to be in a creative field to be creative. You can be creative as soon as you open your eyes in the morning. Put our stamp of individuality in every aspect of your life. Above all, make your life be your masterpiece. Enjoy it!

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