Loss – The Gentle Barn

When I started The Gentle Barn after dreaming of it since I was seven, I imagined it to feel euphoric every day. Working at The Gentle Barn is both euphoric and full of painful loss that sometimes brings me to my knees. Having rescued thousands of animals over the last twenty-four years, I have suffered too many losses, and at the same time, I feel blessed that I have loved so many angels.
To survive the losses, I have created a “toolbox” that I keep stocked with everything that can help me when I am hurting. I keep the names and numbers of energy healers, therapists, and compassion fatigue experts who can help me. In addition, I maintain a list of five basic, inexpensive, easy things that I can do to bring me joy, like meditating, walking in nature, spending time in the barnyard, taking a bubble bath, and spending time with close friends. I also try very hard to spend focused time with each of our animals every day so there are no regrets when they do pass away. Missing them is painful enough without having guilt and shame added in.
When one of our animals passes away, I make time to communicate with them intuitively, and it always makes me feel much better! In addition, I have done animal communication readings for thousands of clients worldwide and reconnected them with their animals. So I am here for you as well.
No matter how much it hurts when one of our animals passes away, no matter how much I cry or how long I grieve, I would not trade a second of knowing and loving them for anything in the world. My greatest comfort is to realize that out of billions of people in the world, our animals choose us. Out of millions of homes in the world, our animals prefer ours. They are our greatest gifts, and realizing that helps me move quickly from grief to gratitude.