You Asked For It...

From the time I wrote my first poem at age 6, with an assist from my dear old Mom, it seemed I’ve always had a way with words. Growing up, I wanted to be something different every day; an astronaut on Sunday and a ballerina on Wednesday, but the one thing that never changed was my desire to write. Even now, as I embark on year 34 of the awesome adventure that is my life, my passion for the written word is as strong as it has ever been.

Writing has been one of my two greatest passions in life, the other being basketball. I have other hobbies and interests, but nothing else has ever held my attention for an extended time the way these two things have. Two weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to be able to bring the two worlds together when I became the HP Insider and was able to spend a week behind the scenes with my all-time favorite basketball team, the Dallas Mavericks. As the HP Insider, my primary responsibility was to write about my experiences and post pictures on the blog at www.thehpinsider.com.

Initially, I was apprehensive about the blog and wondered if I would still be able to write well enough to keep people interested and coming back for more. When it comes to God-given gifts, like I have always felt my writing to be, I subscribe to the school of thought that says if you don't use it, you lose it; although I still write on special occasions or for specific purposes, I really haven't done much of anything with my writing since shortly after high school. However, once I started work on the Insider blog, I started to feel something change within myself. I began writing not so much for the audience, who I figured to be primarily my circle of friends and family, but more for myself. What started as a responsibility became a privelege, something I looked forward to and thoroughly enjoyed. I wrote not because I had to but because I wanted to; it felt like a part of me that had been hidden in the shadows for so long was finally heading back into the light.

And then, to my surprise, I started hearing from here, there, and everywhere, that people were actually reading the blog and enjoying what I had to say, just as much as I was enjoying writing it. I was asked on several occasions if I blogged regularly, and was always greeted with surprised faces when I replied no. Friends, family, colleagues, and those I came in contact with both at HP and within the Dallas Mavericks organization all encouraged me to keep writing and start up my own blog. Initially, I declined, but the more I thought about it, the more I decided this was something I really wanted to do; not for anyone else, but strictly for myself. I can't remember the last time I felt as complete and content as I did during my time as the HP Insider. I chalked it up to being surrounded by my beloved Mavericks, but I think writing the blog, and knowing people cared enough to take the time to follow it, was just as big a factor.

So here it is, good, bad and what will surely be ugly on some occasions, for all of you who requested it: my blog is officially up and running. Just remember, be careful what you wish for...you just might get it!