River of Thoughts

Christine Royse Niles — Changing the world one word at a time

Hedgehogs

I love hedgehogs.

Last week, my amazing friend Andi Cumbo made me this super-cute hedgehog. You can get one too, handmade just for you, from her Etsy shop, and support her dream for “God’s Whisper,” a retreat for artists in the Virginia mountains.

This started me thinking about *why* I love hedgehogs so much, and what we can learn from them…

A hedgehog is a solitary creature. I can relate. She is perfectly happy to cuddle up all alone in a warm little fleece bag. She won’t come out voluntarily unless you’re holding a mealworm in front of her nose. But once she’s out, she discovers a few fun things. I need friends to dump me out of the comfort of my blankie and PJs every now and then, too.

 

A hedgehog hustles when no one else is looking. In the wild, a hedgehog is an ultra-marathoner–some say she can run to up six miles a night. She doesn’t pack a lunchbag, or eat a big meal before she goes; instead, she finds the resources she needs along the way. I’m learning to hustle, to start running toward my dreams instead of sitting around and waiting to be “ready.”

 

A hedgehog knows when to face her fears. When a hedgehog is threatened, she curls up into a tight, prickly, impenetrable ball. But put her in shallow bathwater? She unrolls right away. Still scared, sure. But she knows she needs to unroll to survive, and she learns to trust that I won’t let her drown. I need friends who will challenge me to step into things that are scary but necessary. And who will wrap a warm fluffy towel around me after it’s all over and I survived.

 

A hedgehog knows how to play. Most hedgehogs love toilet paper tubes. (Really. Google it.) The lesson? Keep it simple. I don’t need all kinds of expensive, fancy toys to find joy.

 

Do you have a favorite quirky animal? Leave a comment…

 

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About Christine

I am a writer, a project manager, and a corporate refugee with a heart for orphans around the world. My two daughters were adopted from Ukraine at ages 12 and 14. I post about writing, chasing dreams, and making a difference in the world, and sometimes I share fun snippets of fiction in-progress.

4 Replies

  1. Christine, this post is awesome. I love hedgehogs now, too. . . and thanks for sharing the little one I made.

    1. Christine

      Thanks for making the little one and stuffing her with love…she arrived home safe and sound on Saturday and is now perched cheerfully on my desk. :)

  2. Mark D

    Peregrine Falcon (not too quirky)
    1. Obedient
    2. Loyal
    3. Regal & Majestic
    …Njoy u’r wk *Happy Thanksgiving*…>

    P.S.
    (((Gobble ’til you Wobble))) or ^;^Soar with the Falcons^;^

    1. Christine

      Now, THAT is a good favorite animal, Mark!

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