My guinea pigs, Ole and Denny

Ole the brave and Denny the shy, but I’ve realised they are both very brave, just in a different way.  Ole passing away so suddenly the other day was a big shock. He was such a handsome little guy and so brave at the vets’ office. It broke my heart to see him so very ill, knowing that he’d been unwell all night whilst I was asleep.  Ole was trusting and unafraid. Loved being caressed, but would tell you off when it was enough. He could also be very cheeky and sometimes push Denny around, just to show he was the boss.

Denny the shy is a beautiful little guy. He`s always in the background, loves his food and has a very high pitched voice, which he makes sure to use when hungry. He has always been shy or more correct, he has a very highly developed fight-or-flight response. In his case it’s only a flight response. But here is where the bravery comes in.  

He stays mostly in the cage in his little wooden house. However at food time, when he hears the fridge door opening and the rustling noises of the vegetable bag, he ventures out and stand looking out at the entrance of the cage. Sometimes he runs back in his house right away, to then come back out again. Other times he jumps out of the cage and down the wooden bridge to the kitchen floor, stands there a second or two and the runs back in again.

The thing is, he tries and he does it several times. He doesn’t give in to his fears. He goes out, runs back in again and so on. Some days he is braver than others. He comes all the way out and walks a meter or so, to where I’m standing, to get his food. He takes it quickly and runs to his safe spot, a wooden box next to the cage, eats it and jumps back into the cage.

The reason I’m telling this story, is because it reminds me of myself. I’m actually quite shy and a very private person.  If you’ve seen me on TV or heard me on the radio, would you believe it? Probably not.

I’m a Denny. I, like Denny, have to try and try again. It doesn't come for free. It is hard work and scary, but I keep at it until I make it.

My Denny will get less shy and more fearless, but he will always be who he is and I love him no matter what.