When Brownie Told Me She Was Lonely

There were originally four fish in the outdoor fish garden.

Behemoth was the jokester of the group. Darrell felt steady and dependable. Lucy had a bit of a bossy streak and wasn’t afraid to let everyone know it. And then there was Brownie…quiet, shy Brownie.

Over time, one by one, they disappeared in the middle of the night.

First Behemoth was gone.
Then Darrell.
Then Lucy.

Eventually Brownie was left completely alone.

What made it even more heartbreaking was that Brownie had changed so much over the years. She originally started out brown, which is how she got her name, but slowly her coloring shifted into a beautiful bright orange that matched the others she used to swim beside every day.

Now she drifted through that huge outdoor pond by herself.

When I watched her swimming alone, I could feel the heaviness around her. Animals experience emotions deeply, even when humans don’t always recognize it. Loneliness, grief, confusion, longing for companionship…these feelings are not limited to people.

So I decided to connect with Brownie intuitively.

As soon as I tuned in, the words she told me were unmistakable.

“I’m so lonely.”

Then she showed me an image almost like a little movie. Small fish swimming happily around her. Movement. Companionship. Community.

She wasn’t asking for anything complicated. She simply didn’t want to be alone anymore.

I told her, “Okay, Brownie. We’ll get you some friends.”

The excitement and relief I felt from her was immediate.

Not long after that, six new fish were introduced into the pond. They’re still taking their time getting to know one another, cautiously exploring their giant new home together, but the energy in the pond feels completely different now. Lighter. Happier. Alive again.

And Brownie?

She’s no longer swimming alone. 💛

Moments like this remind me that animals are constantly communicating with us. They tell us what they need emotionally, physically, and spiritually all the time. Most of the time, the challenge is not whether they’re communicating. The challenge is whether we’re quiet and interested enough to listen.