start small!
An hour or two here and there, until you discover your passion.
Mine was Alzheimers patients, I just have this inbuilt communication with them somehow. But I did an hour a week playing the piano at first and learned everything I could about the condition.
I also found I couldn't truly help until I knew more about the organisational set-ups and staff perspectives; now it's a wonderful job.
Helping abused children is very emotive very intense, I lasted less than two years as a social worker with kids before I became ill with stress and anxiety; what they need is someone going there with new high energy and love and fresh not someone burned out and exhausted so I quit.
I do two music projects with children now though- one with gifted well-off kids, the other with children in need. They are both different, both wonderful.
You could maybe take your art as a therapeutic tool Moon;
and CB- you will get change, you will, even if it seems slow right now.
It's hard to detach from a N, but when they do move on you'll most likely be dropped entirely.
Hope you both have a happy 2007.
And everyone else!
Already looking forward to it myself....
the most beautiful winter sunset tonight, I felt so complete and peaceful.
Love to everyone
~W
