Two Roborovski hamsters together on the miniat...

Hamsters on a wheel

As a dad, one of the more common statements that I make to my kids is, “…it’s what separates us from the animals!”

For example, “Hayden, use a knife and fork, it’s what separates us from the animals.”

Or perhaps, “Madison, use your inside voice, it’s what separates us from the animals.”

Or even, “Logan, don’t tease your sister, it’s what separates us from the animals.”

(Seriously, don’t judge me until you’ve tried it.)

Anyway, for some obscure reason, I was considering the differences between hamsters and people the other day and came up with the following aspects.  Please note this is not an exhaustive list and doesn’t include references to body hair:

  • Hamsters have nothing better to do than run around on those little wheels, people have much better things to do, but choose to run around on them anyway.
  • Hamsters are skittish and afraid of anything that they think may cause them real harm, people are much braver and are only afraid of things that may cause them perceived harm.
  • Hamsters live in little cages and are reliant on their owners to feed them by hand, people work in cubicles.
  • Hamsters are unable to learn new skills, people choose not to.
  • Hamsters spend much of their lives sitting on nests of straw, people have much more expensive couches.

OK, maybe we’re more similar than I thought.

But should we be?

Aren’t we capable of more?

Don’t be a hamster, be the person that you were created to be.

Live a life of purpose, aspire to excellence and do something (other than being cute and furry) that makes the world a better place.

Are you a hamster or a person?

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