An Open Letter to All My HubPages Friends

An Open Letter to My HubPages Friends

Today is New Year's Eve, the last day of 2011. As in many New Year's Eves past I tend to wax nostalgic, thinking about the year passed and the year to come. Forgive me, if I ramble here a little. This is an impulsive hub that I am writing.

This past year has been turbulent for me. A number of personal and professional issues have neared climax leaving me with a lot of doubts about my calling and some very important relationships. During this time, though never before a writer, I began writing to help me sort out my thoughts and feelings.

I gravitated to writing poetry. Why poetry? I'm not exactly sure. I had never written a single poem in my life save some school assignments I may have had back in grade school and that grudgingly. After all, I am an IT guy by profession and analytical by nature.

Regardless of the reason, I write my poetry to help me cope with the issues with which I have been dealing. Now I know that my troubles are nothing out of the ordinary. Indeed, reading the hubs of others has shown me that many have suffered through things much, much worse.

Some of my friends and family have told me I am suffering a simple "mid-life crisis". Maybe they are right, but to me, there is nothing simple about it. Still others have said I am going through "male menopause", if there is such a thing. I tend to think it is all more profound than that. I don't know. But I know is that writing poetry has helped me cope and understand myself better.

I still don't know why I chose to publish my poems here on HubPages. The catharsis I found was in the writing and the clarification it provided. But for some reason still unknown to me I wanted others to read them. Maybe I wanted to know I wasn't alone in what I was experiencing. Maybe I hoped they might help others in their struggles. Maybe I was just being selfish and trying to get attention. I still don't know.

At first, I felt foolish expressing my myriad of frustrations and emotions so openly. Some of my "so called friends" thought it was silly that at my age I would be writing poetry. But writing helped. I realized that writing was the only way these emotions were being expressed. So, when I decided to publish them, I chose the screen name "Poetic Fool" because it fit how I felt. To some extent I still do. I really didn't know what to expect when publishing my poems.

I certainly didn't expect the warm reception my poetry and I have received. The support and encouragement, dare I say friendship, that I have experienced here has been an unexpected blessing at the time it was most needed. Even now, I feel a bit awkward speaking so about people I have never met face to face. Yet your emails, comments and encouragement have helped me find and begin to develop a talent, if I may call it that, which I didn't know I had. You've all helped me find something that I can call my very own.

Being involved in the HubPages community these past 8 months has been something I have looked forward to when I didn't have much to look forward to. It has given me a place to direct my energy and express myself. I have learned so much from reading the many talented writers here, from your comments and constructive criticisms. Simply put, everyone has been wonderful. I wish I could find such accepting and supportive friends locally, friends that understand this creative urge I've discovered.

So, before the New Year rolls in I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of my followers and readers. I've learned a lot from you and expect that will continue. I hesitate to name specific hubbers for fear of leaving someone out but feel compelled to thank:

Jami Pereira, epigramman, mamadrama, saddlerider1, Nellieanna, Vinaya Ghimire, MAKUSR, Sueswan, Mary615, Hypenbird, always exploring, Lady T and more.

You all have been consistent, faithful readers, commenters and supporters and it is appreciated more than I can say. Because of your feedback and encouragement I've decided to keep on writing. And there are others, too many to name. Off the top of my head I think of Sunnie Day, Nikkij504gurl, Just Ask Susan, Victoria Lynn and still more. If you have read me and left a comment, then I know it and appreciate it!

If you are reading this and new to HubPages, I encourage you to get involved. Write a lot, read a lot, leave comments, answer questions, send emails, get to know your fellow writers. HubPages is truly a unique and welcoming community where there is something for everybody. You will get out of it more than what you put into it, I promise.

Again, thank you all and may you all have a happy, healthy, safe and prosperous New Year! I look forward to getting to know you all even better.