*** Do Not Get Weary In Your Well Doing!!! ***

The life of a fetter is hard. The life of a carnival veteran is difficult.

Look, I know it and you know it.

We spend our time taking care of others and making things like acquiring tickets and getting access into parties, fetes and limes look easy. We also make the process of getting into bands and registered for them look easy as well. 

So much so that people don't realize that it is years and years of experience, networking, money spent, cultivating relationships and mistakes.... costly mistakes, which allow us to do the things that we do - And help the way that we help.

There's no worse feeling that going out of your way to help others or having virgins or newbies cause extra steps in the process because they stick and get off pace. They just don't understand. 

Then when it's all said and done, you listen to complaints about long drink lines, long lines of waiting to get into fetes, ticket prices and all type of foolishness when you really want to say,  "I should have just left your backside at home."

Very few say "Thank you." Even fewer text "thank you."  And hardly any ever send a thank you card or note.

But, there are some that do and are thankful and there are some long term relationships and friendship that you are able to develop and cherish. And sometimes that's worth it. 

But..... it's hard. And I do not frown upon anyone who says, "I'm NOT taking any virgins under my wing this year."  I understand. I think I had the best time this year in Bermuda because I didn't have any virgins with me and that's not to say that I don't love training newbies on the experience. I do, but, I also love the opportunity to replenish my own emotional coffers so that I may pour into others.

And I have to do this so that I do not get over-extended. Because......

Anytime that you OVER-extend yourself to people, you will have a feeling of being UNDER-appreciated.

It's natural.

It's normal.

And in life there are givers and there are takers.

Neither group is any better than the other.

The givers actually NEED the takers and the TAKERS actually need the givers and each individual undulates between the groups depending on who they are servicing so don't ever feel like you are with someone that just takes, because YOU are also in similar relationships where you can do NOTHING for the person who is giving to you.

So receive your blessings and continue to be a blessing. Because life is about the process of reciprocity and sometimes the fruit that you need may not come from the exact plant which you seeded but you will receive fruit.

So, if you haven't put a carnival virgin under your wing in some time, maybe it's time to revisit that decision. And if you've been doing it for a while, maybe its time that you allow some of the virgins that you have trained to become veterans to pick up the slack. 

And, if you have been trained and you have not taken the time to train someone else, you are essentially robbing from the process.  Give to someone else that way that things were given to you.

Continue to give.

Continue to be nice.

Continue to be used because that means you are of use.

Be encouraged!!

Keep fetting, keep living and keep giving.

Blessings From Here To There,

Rhadi Ferguson, PhD
"The Carnival Doctor"

P.S. For the best information in the world concerning carnivals please visit www.TriniJungleJuice.com  For the most comprehensive site available for fete tickets and masquerader costumes, please visit www.MyCarnivalBands.com

P.P.S. "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." - Gal. 6:9