Thoughts after reading Clare Balding’s book “My Animals and Other Family”
Clare Balding opens her book with this beautiful quote: “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” — Anatole France
It’s such a simple sentence, yet it carries a truth that feels universal. From the first page of her autobiography, I found myself reflecting on the ways animals shape us not through dramatic moments but through the quiet, everyday ways they affect us in our day to day lives.
Clare’s story made me think about the animals who’ve shaped me too. Her life unfolds alongside them: the horses, the dogs, the characters who became her anchors. And it reminded me how naturally animals become part of who we are.
There is something about being around an animal that brings an instant sense of calm. Their breathing, their quietness, the rhythm of them it all softens the noise in your mind. Even on the most frantic days, they have a way of pulling you back into yourself. And science actually backs this up: studies show that simply being in the presence of an animal can lower stress hormones, steady your heart rate, and regulate your breathing.
Animals also give our days meaning. Whatever is going on in life, they still need feeding, walking, caring for. That simple routine becomes a structure you can depend on when everything feels chaotic. Researchers have found that pet owners tend to be more active, often meeting the recommended levels of daily movement just through caring for an animal movement that boosts mood, improves cardiovascular health, and steadies the mind.
Their love is so beautifully uncomplicated. They don’t care what mood you’re in or what kind of day you’ve had. They don’t judge or question. They simply stay close and sometimes that presence alone is enough to get you through. One study even suggested that the emotional lift of having a pet can be valued on par with major life-enhancing events. Sometimes when I have been at my desk for a long time – I just have to go and spend time with them and have been found lying of the floor as it just completely changes my mood and refocuses my mind.
They also bring us back into the present moment. Animals don’t worry about tomorrow or replay yesterday. They exist entirely in the now, and just being near them nudges you into that same stillness. It’s a kind of natural mindfulness instinctive, effortless. For older adults, research even shows that spending time with animals can help keep memory sharper and support cognitive health.
Perhaps the most powerful thing and something Clare captures so well is the way animals remind us who we are. They reveal the gentler parts of us, the empathy, the humour, the steadiness. They reconnect us to a deeper, quieter version of ourselves that can get lost in the rush of life.
If you’re lucky enough to have animals in your world, then you already have a kind of wellness that can’t be bought or scheduled. It grows in the tiny moments the soft ones, the funny ones, the comforting ones. The moments that ease your shoulders or make you smile without meaning to.
Clare’s book reminded me that our relationships with animals are often some of the most meaningful we’ll ever have. They shape us. They heal us. They hold us in ways that often go unnoticed but never unfelt.
And perhaps that’s what we forget when life feels heavy or fast: the thing that brings us home to ourselves might simply be the animal waiting at the door, curled on the sofa, or nudging your hand because somehow, instinctively, they just know.
A small thought on self-help
If you ever feel unsettled or overwhelmed, spending a few quiet minutes with an animal can shift everything. Sit beside them with no agenda, walk at their pace, or simply let them interrupt you — those tiny moments of closeness soften your whole nervous system. A gentle stroke, a bit of grooming, a glance of eye contact, even talking to them as if they understand can bring a calm you didn’t know you needed. And if you don’t have animals of your own, you can still find that grounding: visit a rescue centre, spend time with a friend’s dog, volunteer at a stable, or just sit in a park and watch the life around you. Sometimes the simplest connection brings you back to yourself