That’s Jeffervescent! – by Jefferson Airplane

Today, in the United States, it is Thanksgiving.

This means that people are gathering together and giving thanks for the harvest and all the good of the year.

Showing your appreciation is very important. I always show Human my appreciation by jumping up for a cuddle and licking Human’s ears (that is a super thank you, by the way). Human usually thanks me by telling me enthusiastically how clever I am and how much everyone loves me, or by giving me a vigorous tummy rub (because I love these), or by giving me cheese, or all of the above. But whatever it is, I know I am appreciated. And that makes me even more enthusiastic about making Human happy again.

And did you know that gratitude is so important that now psychologists are studying it? Apparently, the more someone is thanked and appreciated, then the more they want to do things that will benefit others. Which makes me wonder why there are rude people, when it benefits no-one, not even the rude people. But I guess people are slow to learn because they continue to use some questionable training techniques on each other. But as Bill Shakespeare said, ungrateful people are monstrous.

Anyway, dogs are known for their empathy. And clever people have even proven it. And the power of empathy is, by definition, caring about another. Which means we do care about you. So it makes a lot of sense to say thanks, because if you thank us, you can be sure we will do our best to make you happy enough to thank us again and again.

Saying thank you? Thank goodness. That’s Jeffervescent!