Becoming Grateful Day 2: Writing Thank You's

WRITING THANK YOUS

"Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

-Marcel Proust

When I was engaged, I was fortunate enough to have several wedding showers, 5 to be exact. I was overjoyed and overwhelmed at the generosity and support my friends and family showed for the upcoming nuptials. Obviously, I planned to write thank you notes to each and every person for their kindness and had someone keep a list at each shower of who gave what. The first shower was easy and the thank yous went out right away. But with each subsequent shower, the lists grew longer and the number of cards to write seemed impossible to accomplish. Then at one of my showers, all the family members said part of their gift to us was that we didn't need to write thank you notes for anything and that they already knew we were grateful. I felt partially relieved, but equally guilty. Not send a thank you note? But that's what you're supposed to do. I felt I should still send out cards, because I thought it would mean even more since they told me not to. In the end, I didn't send them. The honest truth it, there were just too  many to write before the big day arrived and I didn't get to it. Does it mean I wasn't grateful? Of course not, but sending a thank you card is always a special way of showing your appreciation.

Writing thank you notes is a good habit to have to show your appreciation. Try for the whole day to send thank yous to everyone who helps you. If you keep a small stack of simply cards handy, it will be much easier to write down your thanks for the server at the restaurant you went to for dinner, your husband who remembered to pick up milk on the way home from work, the neighbor who watched your baby while you ran a quick errand, anyone who does something for you today that you appreciate. You may need to mail a card or two, but you can also just stick a card in the mailbox for the mailman who comes every day, even if it is just mostly to drop of bills. 

By paying attention to all the things people do for you each day, you'll recognize how much service you are rendered in a single day. Watch for the little things and they will add up. 

Darling thank you cards using paint chip samples from Crafts Unleashed.

I heard a story about an woman who had written thank you notes all of her adult life. At her funeral, the story was told of how she though the painted advertisements in the windows at a grocery store were so well done, she wanted to thank whomever did them. She tracked down the employee and sent her a thank you for the beautiful talent she had shared. As it turned out, the young woman who had painted to windows had been struggling with feeling of depression and loneliness for some time and was contemplating taking her own life. She received the elderly woman's thank you note and she realized she was worth something to someone. Her simple act of saying thanks, and taking the time to actually write a card, made a huge difference and actually saved someone's life. You never know what your thank you card may mean. 

Sarah & Rachael's Tips for Writing an Excellent Thank You Note

1. Hand write your note or card. This shows thoughtfulness, just as the one you're thanking was thoughtful about the gift or service they gave to you. 

2. Greeting. You don't have to be formal but using "Dear" will help get your note started right. Make sure you know how to correctly spell your givers name. 

3. Express your gratitude. You don't have to use fancy words, just express how thankful you are for the givers generosity, hospitality, thoughtfulness, kindness, or just simply say thanks for what they did. Be specific about what what done or given. 

4. Discuss how you'll use the gift. This shows you recognize the gift and that it will be helpful to you. If it's something you'll use everyday, say so. The giver will love to know he or she's given you something that is worth while to you. Or you can write how you've already used the gift or how you plan to use it in the future. 

5. Don't mention amounts of money. Instead, use words like: "Thank you for your generosity," or "Your extravagant gift is truly appreciated." 

6. Mention the event or day of giving. Pointing out the person's attendance at a party where you received the gift, or a hard day when service was rendered, shows that not only the gift but interaction with the person is also important to you. 

7. Repeat your thanks at the end. This may seem repetitious, but it really helps to emphasize your appreciation. And it's a nice way to wrap up a short thank you note. 

8. Send your notes quickly. It's hard to send out thank yous following a shower or party, especially when a wedding or baby is soon to follow. To help, have thank you cards and postage ready to go. If a lot of time has past, don't ignore sending your thanks. It's better late than never. 

For more tips on how to write personal or business thank you notes, check out Daily Writing Tips.