Wisdom and joy are right where you left them.

[Gary D.]

Wisdom and joy are right where you left them. Providing of course they are not the names of the snakes you forgot to close the lids on. (Hey that might make a good signature.)

Situations in my life have been changing pretty dramatically since June. And lately alot for good friends too. I foud that when given the opportunity to acquire some new animals for purposes other than breeding I was acquiring some that I recalled from my youth and that first introduced me to reptiles. A while ago Ryan and Sheila sold me a tegu which was a large part of the educational program I was doing. But became a huge part of the family as much as any domestic pet. Recently I had purchased some green anoles for more nefarious purposes, and rediscovered how enjoyable they could be (Anoles were my very first reptile). And have been actually noticing and enjoying more posts on various forums concerning them. My son now keeps a pair in his room much as I did years ago.

I also have the good fortune to be getting some fantasitc animals for our display from SCALES Zoo, but what Ryan didn't realise was the wisdom that was coming with them. Through conversations with Ryan I began to realise that I was finding that I was not enjoying my animals as I once did, (even the anoles) and with new aquisitions, that pit was only getting deeper unless I made conscious efforts to not get trapped. As such I am making that effort and now having the time of my life.

So I will pass on some of that wisdom to members here. Go out and buy an Anole or what ever brought you into the hobby. And when you do your cage cleaning and attend to your other duties look at it and use it as a reminder to put the scoop and water jug down and enjoy the animals you
had then and have now for a minute or two. Some times we need to stop and remember why we are in this game in the first place. The only guranteed way to avoid burn out.

GD