Gestures of Gratitude

In 2005, a female humpback whale became entangled in a web of crab traps and lines just east of the Farallon Islands, off the San Francisco coast. Hundreds of yards of line rope were wrapped around her body, tail, torso and mouth, weighing her down so much that she struggled to stay afloat.

A fisherman spotted the whale and radioed for help. When rescuers arrived, they determined that the only way to save the creature was to dive in and untangle her. This was a dangerous proposition, as one slap of the tail could be deadly.

Rescuers worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed the whale. What she did next surprised the divers: She swam in what seemed like joyous circles, coming back to each person, one at a time, nudging them gently, in what rescuers assumed was a beautiful gesture of thanks.

May you and those you love be surrounded by people who help you get untangled from whatever is binding you and may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude.