The first time doing something you have never done before can be a magical experience; especially like your first kiss, first time riding a bicycle, or driving a car. These are special moments where excited emotions surprising intertwine creating a kaleidoscope of feelings that get permanently etched into your memory and soul. These once in a life time, first events come with much anticipation built-up from stories or practice where you have repeatedly visualized and felt the emotions of what it may be like. Then just before you actually do it: feeling the seatbelt press against your waist and chest, sliding the key in the ignition and sensing the vibrations from the engine warming-up, moving your hands along the smooth steering wheel with finger grips underneath; the flood of giddy excitement and nervous energy are channeled and focused into action. Then you do it. You make it happen...a little spastic and out of control. But your doing it. Woo hoo! You just grew and changed. You can feel it. From this point forward, you will be different. There was your life before this experience and now your life afterwards. You are forever changed.

Today, I experienced something for the first time. I become a published writer. From this point forward I am able to add “writer” to my accomplishments and 
“what do you do?” questions. Although I did not experience the exciting emotional delight as driving a car for the first time, I experienced joy, worthiness, and acceptance. Getting published validated my (and others) belief in my writing and my persistent determination to achieve my goals. This first published work is not Shakespeare, Aristotle, or Grisham but it is from the heart. It is Paul Buote’s work.

Experiencing the success of being published for the first time while having another work in the publishing pipeline, provides me renewed confidence and purpose to my writing. To keep the ball rolling and to continue honing my writing skills, I will create short writing pieces and articles on topics interesting to me in life, business, and triathlon (sport). The articles will be posted in my blog www.paulbuote.com.

I view my blog as a column in a paper where I have deadlines, reader expectations, and a tempestuous editor; though not on a political level as Woodward and Bernstein but more a blend of an Ann Landers and the interest story columnist. Since a blog displays my written word for the whole world to see and make judgement, I take it seriously and strive to balance practicality and insight with lightness and humor. Since I’m still new at sharing my creative writing, I feel the clashing kaleidoscope of emotions from vulnerability to elation. Will I be damaging or helpful to my prospects of future employers or business associates? Will you enjoy my writing?

Of course I am hopeful you will want to read more. Please let me know if you enjoy or somehow benefit from my articles...or if you don’t. Regardless, vote and comment on the article. Be specific so I can solidify the “good” things and improve upon the “bad”. After 20 years of professional business writing where I stripped away emotion and humor, putting it back in will be a challenge. But it is a challenge I’m looking to conquer. I hope my writing inspires and makes you smile while you think.

I look forward to writing articles and reading your feedback.
Best regards,
Paul

PS. The first published work is an essay in the anthology on “The Meaning of Tri: The Hearts and Minds Behind the Swim, Bike, and Run.”
http://www.mindsettriathlon.com/product_info.php?products_id=1236&it=1&S...

One of my other essays will be published later this year in an anthology about relationships titled “Two Degrees of Separation”.