How Animals Bring Comfort This Time of Year

My cat Kayla loves to lay under the Christmas tree.

There’s something about animals that feels especially comforting during the holidays. Maybe it’s the quiet way they stay close when we’re tired inside, or the way they seem to sense when our hearts are a little heavier than we let on. Or maybe it’s simply that when the world grows louder with lists and expectations, animals remain exactly as they are. Present, loving, and steady. Almost like their own gentle reminder that we can slow down too.

Animals meet us right where we are. They bring a calm that settles into the room without effort. They curl beside us, look up at us, walk near us, and somehow their presence shifts the energy in ways we didn’t even realize we needed. There’s a quiet kind of magic in that, the sort that settles around you like a warm blanket just when the air gets a little too cold.

This year, I found myself noticing these moments even more. They show up without fanfare, offering a soft glance, a pause, and a sense of being seen in the simplest way. Something inside you settles, and for a moment, the rest of the world steps back.

And then there was the day of the bear.

A Bear Encounter That Stayed With Me

In the middle of summer, long before holiday lights were a thought in anyone’s mind, my cousin called me from the Appalachian Trail. She’d been helping search for a lost dog when she came across a bear cub standing in her path. The cub watched her with curious eyes, and somewhere off to the side she could hear the mother bear. That steady, protective presence carried a feeling you don’t forget.

She tried to connect with the mother bear herself, since she’s also an animal communicator, but the only response she received was a low growl and some grumbling. So she called me from the trail to see if I could tune in.

I became still and opened up to the energy of the moment. It took a little bit, but eventually the connection came through. I kept reassuring the mother bear that the people nearby meant no harm and were only there to help a lost dog. I asked if she could guide her cub back toward her. She answered clearly, “I’ll try, but he is a cub after all,” and then gave a little chuckle that I felt more than heard. It was a moment I won’t forget.

When I asked her about the missing dog, she showed me two. First a collie, then a yellow lab. I asked my cousin if either made sense. The dog they were searching for was a collie. Soon after, another hiker mentioned a yellow lab that had also gone missing.

The mother bear showed me an area near a stream. From there, I was able to reach out to both dogs, letting them know to stay safe, avoid the bears, and follow the sound of human voices if they heard any nearby. Two dogs and two families hoping for good news, and both were found before the day ended. Because of that connection, my cousin was safe, as were the hikers around her.

I think about that moment often because something in it stayed with me. It felt like a reminder of how close the natural world truly is, and how everything around us seems to listen and connect to us in its own way when we become quiet and aware. My cousin standing in the woods with a bear cub and its mother, and me tuning in from miles away, created a feeling that was both vast and intimate at once. It carried its own kind of heartbeat.

The Animals Who Have Held Me Too

I’ve loved many animals in my life, and each one has shaped me in ways that still feel meaningful now. I’ve been blessed to walk beside them through their lifespans, learning from them, laughing with them, and feeling that steady presence that only animals seem to offer.

Me and my first dog Gretchen

Animals have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, from the first goldfish I had to Tommy the turtle, Thumper the rabbit, and my very first dog, Gretchen. From there it grew into more dogs, and eventually cats too. If we’d had a farm, I’m sure there would’ve been rescued horses, cows, goats, and more along the way.

When we first adopted Gretchen, my dad was not exactly on board with it, but my mom knew it would be okay and that he would love her just as much as we did. And he completely did. Gretchen played with me all the time, and I remember running through the snow with her in the winter and swimming with her in the pool in the summer. She was always by my side. If I got hurt, she let my parents know right away. She even kept me out of trouble by nudging me back when I tried to wander off a little too far.

One of my favorite memories is how much she loved Christmas. She could not wait to open her presents. I loved watching her tear into her own gifts and then come over to help me with mine. There was a joy in her that made the whole morning feel even more magical.

She was part of our family, and she had an instinctive way of taking care of me that made me feel safe.

One of their greatest gifts is unconditional love. They lift our spirits when we’re struggling. They stay close when our bodies or hearts are tired. They bring comfort in a way that feels like a warm light wrapping around us.

My own animals have carried me through more chapters than I can count. They helped me recover after surgery. They stayed beside me during cancer treatments. They curled up near me on days when everything felt uncertain or overwhelming. They’ve been my companions, my healers, and my reminders that love can be simple and pure. My mom used to laugh and say that with all the animals our family rescued, helped, and loved, we must have acres in heaven filled with every one of them waiting for us.

I know with complete certainty that my life is all the richer because of them.

Animals Carry a Gentle Wisdom

Over the years, I’ve had the honor of witnessing this same presence in many places, from barns to living rooms to quiet pastures. During conversations with people who are trying to understand the animals they love, I’ve watched animals step forward with exactly what’s needed in a given moment, all through their presence alone.

One of my clients, Rose G., shared this message after I had worked with her horses, cats, and dogs:

“Carla is the one person you can turn to and trust in difficult situations. She is supportive, practical, and her intuitive insights are spot-on! Her connection to our animals is very strong. This lets her guide them (and us!) through tough times without drama. What comfort and relief her gifts give us!”

I hold words like these close. Working with animals and the people who love them is sacred to me. There’s a purity in their connection, a steadiness, and a truth that’s felt rather than spoken.

Sometimes animals bring us back to ourselves, reminding us to pause and helping us feel safe in a world that moves quickly. They have a way of softening a season that can feel a little overwhelming, offering steadiness exactly when we need it most.

If you’ve ever rested your hand on a beloved animal, whether fur, feathers, or scales, or paused because a wild creature crossed your path at just the right moment, you know exactly what I mean. There’s a quiet wisdom in these moments and a gentle grounding that settles into the spaces where words fall away.

Animals bring a calm that feels full of love and comfort, and when we slow down enough to meet them there, something inside us starts to come back to life again.

For You and Your Animals

If guidance or clarity with your own animal ever feels needed, I’m always here to support you. Helping people and their animals connect more clearly is something I hold close to my heart. You can read more about my work with animals here.