For as long as I can remember, I have had a special affinity with animals. Even the smallest insects. I was a sensitive, empathetic child who felt the emotions of other people and didn’t understand that they were not my own. In all that confusion, animals were a source of comfort for me and became an important part of my life.

As an adult, I have always known that there was something else I was supposed to be doing with my life, but I didn’t know what. I followed several different career paths but always felt that something was missing. I was good at what I did, but wasn’t fulfilled in any of the careers I pursued. I turned my attention inward and spent several years exploring and expanding my spiritual awareness. I came to understand that we are all connected, and I intuitively knew that the Universe held something else for me.

During the early days of the pandemic, I retired from my last career. Being “in service” has long been a guiding force in my life; I knew I had to do something to give to others. Having been a donor and fundraiser for my local Humane Society for years, I decided that working with animals was now my goal. I volunteered onsite at the animal center and also became a foster parent, fostering kittens in my home. I truly enjoyed having animals to nurture and care for. Animals were again providing me comfort as I transitioned to another stage in my life.

Then one day everything changed. I brought home a litter of three kittens to foster and as I arrived home, my senior cat Bob had a stroke, lost his vision and was unable to move. I rushed Bob to the emergency animal hospital but nothing could be done. Ultimately, I had to make the gut wrenching decision to say goodbye and Bob was euthanized.

I have never felt that level of loss and uncontrollable grief before. The pain was so palpable that I felt it physically in my body. And then came the guilt. Was there something else I could have done? Did I get him to the emergency vet too late? Should I have been more diligent about his vet visits? Could his death have been prevented?

I searched for anything or anybody that could help me relieve my grief and provide me answers to the questions I continually asked myself. My sweet Bob’s passing became the nudge for me to look inward for the answers. As I became more aware of my intuition and learned to embrace it, I knew that my life had changed. Bob’s passing set me on a search where I found my teacher, Danielle MacKinnon. Danielle taught me that our animals are in our lives to teach us with their unconditional love, and their love and lessons continue even after they cross the Rainbow Bridge. Through Danielle’s teachings, I was able to heal and process my own grief. I have learned to trust my intuition, trust the animals and become certified as a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, fulfilling my true life’s purpose to help others heal and grow.