Thank You Notes

I love a good thank you note. 

I love writing them, and I love getting them. Growing up, we spent the Sunday after each holiday and birthday writing thank you notes.  When I got married, I was shocked to find out that my husband's family didn't have that tradition. How did he ever get thank you notes written?

The best part about thank you notes is that it not only makes the recipient feel good, but I love taking the time to ruminate on my feelings of gratitude. It certainly helps me remember how blessed I am.

I am in no way perfect at thank you notes. I even had small stack of thank you notes from my wedding that never got sent and it haunts me to this day (seriously, if you are reading this and you didn't get one- I am so sorry!). But, in my many years of writing thank you notes under the tutelage of my mother, I have picked up a few tricks and tips I would like to share, in case you are interested in picking up this wonderful habit.

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1. First of all, ANY form of thank you is better than none at all. If a note can't be sent, send a text, call, facebook message, anything! I have learned not to give a gift expecting a thank you note back, but if I don't hear back at all after giving something, I worry that it got lost in the mail, or that it was broken, etc. To save worry, make sure and tell the giver their kindness was received.

2. Second, thank you notes are not just for weddings and baby showers. In fact, they don't have to be just for gifts at all! How nice would it be to receive a thank you note for a conversation you had with a friend, an act of service you gave, a treat you shared, a talk you gave in church, giving a lesson that inspired someone, or giving excellent customer service? A thank you note can be written for nearly anything. 

3. I have template of sorts that I use to be quick, efficient, and yet personal when I write. Here is the basic idea that I follow. It is not an exact science, but I try include all of the following-

• Begin with a personal salutation (Dear Jane, To the Smith family, Dearest beloved, etc.).
• Give some sort of greeting (Hello, how are you, happy new year/spring/any holiday or time of year).    
• Begin to express gratitude for the purpose you are writing- (Thank you so much for the  lovely toaster, thank you for having us over to dinner, I am so grateful that you took the time to visit, etc.)
• Then be specific- What did you like about the toaster/dinner/time? Are you using it for anything special? Do you especially enjoy one aspect of it? How do you plan on using it in the future? What emotions did it evoke? (I really enjoyed the conversation at the dinner table, the main course was simply divine, I felt really loved when I received your gift, we can't wait to use the toaster in our new home to make toasted bagels).
• After that,  express feelings about the person to whom you are writing. It can be simple, formal, intimate, or casual.  (I feel so grateful that you took the time to think of us, I am so blessed to have your friendship in my life, you are such a hard worker, I am impressed by your graciousness and generosity, You amaze me!, and so forth). 
• End with well wishes for the recipient. ( I hope all is well with you and your family, have a wonderful summer, we hope to visit with you soon)
• Sign your name, and voila! A great thank you note.

 It doesn't take long at all, and I really enjoy taking the time to be grateful. I try and carry some thank you notes with me in my purse so I can write them whenever I have a minute or two to spare- in the doctor's office, waiting in line, etc.

So, what do you think? Do you have a way you write thank you notes? Do you do something else instead? How do you express your gratitude?