Dogs don’t calculate their enthusiasm or ration their welcome. They don’t worry if their excitement makes them look desperate. The tail wags—full commitment, no hesitation.
Why is authentic enthusiasm so rare among us humans? We’ve learned to play it cool, measure our reactions, and guard against appearing too eager.
But what’s the cost of this restraint?
That spontaneous display of recognition costs nothing yet creates an immediate connection. The dog isn’t wondering if you’ll judge its enthusiasm or if it should wait for you to signal interest first.
We save our unfiltered joy for our closest circle, yet imagine the energy we might generate by expanding that circle. The smallest gesture—genuine eye contact, a real smile, a moment of full attention—creates ripples.
Authentic enthusiasm isn’t about performance. It’s the opposite—dropping the performance entirely.
The wagging tail reminds us: enthusiastic recognition of others isn’t weakness. It’s generosity in its purest form.
What might change if we greeted each reconnection—even after just five minutes apart—with a fraction of that unfiltered joy?
