Article November 23, 2015 Issue

The thank you dance

Cheryl Ranson

Did you hear the story of the young humpback whale that got entangled in some fishing nets? Some people in a small boat found the whale and worked hard, using only a small knife to cut the nets and free it. When they finally succeeded, the whale “danced” for them in the ocean, breaching and fin-slapping for over an hour.

This whale was clearly happy to be free! But it could have swum away without any communication. Instead, it seemed to be showing its boundless thanks. (You can ask an adult to help you find the popular video of the rescue online, available on YouTube, “Humpback Whale Shows Amazing Appreciation After Being Freed From Nets.”)

For a lot of people, to feel thankful is to feel joyful. Think of a time when someone helped you or gave you a very special gift. You probably felt both grateful and happy—it’s pretty hard to separate the two, isn’t it!

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