“Unleashing Happiness” a monthly blog by Karen Lee Stevens

Director of Wellness Programs, Karen Lee Stevens tackles topics related to mental health and the human-animal bond, along with a healthy dose of humor (because let’s face it, sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying!).

BLOG POST #33 – Smitten With Kittens

May 6, 2026
by KAREN LEE STEVENS

There’s a moment every morning, just before the day fully begins, when everything feels…right.

It usually happens in my guest room, somewhere between scattered squeaky toys and sleepy meows.

I sit down in my comfy, overstuffed chair, and within seconds, I’m no longer alone. Tiny paws wiggle and wobble across the floor. June Bug—my little calico foster kitten—is the first to peek her head out of the nesting box. Her brother Julius, one of the orange boys, tries to scale my leg like it’s Mount Everest. Jett is usually still sound asleep. And their mama, Jewel, keeps a watchful eye on it all.

In that small, slightly chaotic moment, my mind quiets. The day’s to-do list fades, and I can feel my nervous system exhale.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and while there are countless tools and strategies that support our well-being, I’ve been reminded lately that sometimes healing doesn’t look like a plan or a practice.

Sometimes, it looks like teeny tiny kittens.

Being a foster mom has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Yes, it’s messy. Yes, it’s unpredictable. And yes, there are moments where I question my life choices—like when I’m cleaning yet another “surprise” off the floor or trying to convince an opinionated kitten that my hand is not, in fact, a toy.

But beneath the chaos, there’s something steady and calming.

Animals have a way of drawing us into the present moment without us even realizing it. My foster kittens are a perfect example. They don’t worry about tomorrow or replay yesterday. They are fully, unapologetically here—and when you’re with them, you can feel yourself settling into that same rhythm.

And that brings me to baby Julius.

When he was just 12 days old, Julius became critically ill with pneumonia and spent three days in the ICU fighting to stay alive. I shed many tears and endured several sleepless nights while Mama Jewel yowled nonstop, searching for her boy.

Even after he was well enough to come home, Julius’s journey wasn’t over. He developed an eye infection that still requires drops twice a day. Thankfully, he tolerates them without much of a fuss.

Through it all, Julius has remained determined, curious, and deeply engaged with life. Today, he’s healthy, happy, and often the first to climb into my lap each morning—as if nothing ever tried to slow him down.

Watching Julius bounce back after everything he’s been through has stayed with me. He doesn’t question anything. He just keeps going, no matter what. And somehow, in his quiet way, he reminds me that I can do the same.

Maybe that’s why on days when my mind feels especially busy, sitting with the kittens and listening to “relaxing acoustic guitar music” on Alexa brings me back to center faster than anything else. In fact, I’m writing this surrounded by soft fur—and a slightly stinky litter box! Their purring, their curiosity, their innocence—it all creates a comforting cadence my body seems to recognize.

There’s also something really meaningful about being needed in such a simple, real way. As a foster mom, my job is pretty clear: keep them safe, help them grow, and love them while they’re here. I don’t have to figure it all out or get it perfect—I just keep showing up, again and again.

Of course, fostering comes with bittersweet moments. Jewel, Julius, Jett, and June Bug won’t be with me forever. Part of the journey is letting them go (in the animal rescue world, it’s often said that “goodbye is the goal”)—sending them off into new homes, new lives, new stories. And that part never gets easy.

But maybe that’s part of the lesson, too.

To love fully, even when it’s temporary.
 To care deeply, even when it means saying goodbye.
 To trust that what we give—and what we receive—matters, even in a short time.

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As we move through Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s easy to think we need to do something big to take care of ourselves. Start a new routine. Fix something. Figure everything out.

But maybe it can be smaller than that.

Maybe it’s as simple as sitting on the floor for a few minutes and letting yourself feel a little bit of joy without picking it apart. Noticing how your body softens when you slow down and breathe.

Or, if you’re lucky…maybe it’s watching kittens curl up together and fall into a deep, peaceful sleep.
And that moment in the morning? The one where everything feels right? It never lasts very long. The kittens scatter. The litter box needs cleaning. The day begins.

But for a little while, I’m reminded of something important: happiness doesn’t always need to be chased. Sometimes, it climbs right into your lap and starts purring.

Do you have a favorite morning practice to help you stay grounded? Let Karen know about it by sending her an email at karen@therapydogssb.org.