The holidays are behind us by a few weeks now. If you are like me, you may be late in showing gratitude by writing a thank you to the people who demonstrated their kindness in the form of a gift. Take the time to write a note of thanks (by “write,” I mean use a pen or pencil and a piece of paper).
Don’t type it. Don’t email it. Don’t call it in.
Sit down, and write it (if able). Think about it, and then get a pen, a piece of paper, and write it. Put it in an envelope, get a stamp, and send it. Old fashioned? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely!
In our electronic age, we need to preserve the art of gratitude, in a small way – in the form of a handwritten thank you note. It doesn’t need to be complex or long, just meaningful and heartfelt.
A few tips:
- Include a nice, personal salutation
- Identify what the gift was
- Highlight why it was a great gift and why you appreciate it
- Wish them well in the months and year ahead
- Reiterate your appreciation for the gift
- Sign it appropriately
- Optional: Write a short paragraph about what is happening in your life; share a little…
I know this is straightforward, but it is more than just one line. Take a moment in time to be thankful to others.
Simple actions show great gratitude and strengthen the bonds in your relationships. Keep appreciation alive with a written note of thanks.
My objective this week is to write all of my thank you notes and put them in the mail.
I so agree on thank you notes. Even in our personal life, I raised my kids to write thank you notes for gifts. They might have balked, but they do know it means a lot to the person who sent the gift. So when is the last time you RECEIVED a thank you note?