I am always on the look out for just the right one and I know it when I see it. I am never too anxious or in a rush to just grab any old one. Oh, no! This process takes time. I will look again and again and again until I have that, "Ooooo! This is perfect!" moment. Then I sashay right on up to the cash register, gently place it down on the counter and wait for the store clerk to wrap it in some pretty tissue paper and hand it to me in a cute little bag. Don't you love those cute little bags? And off I go home to do a good thing and send someone the "Thank You!" note or card I took the time to find. Using the good old United States Postal Service because those men and women have to eat, too!
The habit of writing and sending a, "Thank You!" card to someone seems all but long gone these days. Just think about it. When was the last time you opened your mailbox and pulled out such a card addressed to you and written expressly for you? Not never. Well, maybe at some point but it's probably been a while. Better yet, when is the last time you hand selected that special card or wrote a personal note for that special person that did that special thing for you that made you feel some type of way? Not never. Well, maybe at some point but if you are like most of us that's probably been a while, too. Instead we seem to settle for a text to acknowledge someone being sweet to us. We even allow our children to do the same! Its quick, easy and seems to get the job done. Or does it?
I am on a one woman campaign to revive the art of the "Thank You!" card or note. I want to bring back the tradition of taking time out of our day to sit, gather our thoughts, put them down on paper and find a mailbox to send it miles away. Tuck one in your child's lunch for being helpful at home. Stash one in your lover's gym bag to tell them how much you appreciate them.
We women folk dig when men give us written expressions of their feelings AND sign their names to said written expressions instead of scribbling, "me." You ain't slick, buddy! Send one to your parents for making you who you are today. Drop one in your girlfriend's mailbox for listening to you vent well into the night about one thing or another. Leave one on your boss's desk for supporting your idea. Share one with your staff for being valuable team members. The possibilities are endless! I know how my day is brightened when I open a handwritten note just for me and I am happy to give that same feeling to someone else. It doesn't have to be a chore, either with a few simple steps to bring back the old school way of showing our appreciation:
1.
Get You Some "Thank You!" Cards: no need to pay a lot of money at some fancy card store like, Papyrus (...although I love their cards & splurge every now & then…why aren't they on that RetailMeNot app, anyways?) when you can find the exact same thing at Marshall's, Ross, TJMaxx or even HomeGoods (my personal favorite!). Keep a supply nearby to develop the habit of sending them and don't forget to purchase good old stamps when you buy groceries next time.
2.
Find A Writing Pen: a good "Thank You!" card must be written using a nice writing utensil. I mean, anything less would be uncivilized. A pen that writes smooth and easy and is rich in color is perfect for the task. Just make sure folks can read your handwriting. I have been told many times that my delicate, swirly and fancy handwriting is too damn hard to read. But it's so pretty...
3.
Express Yourself Sincerely: people appreciate reading how you feel or think in your own handwriting. A smile easily creeps across their face when they realize you took the time to put your thoughts to paper because they made you feel some type of way. You don't have to write a novel, either so no worries there. Short and simple does the trick nicely and if you are really brave a bit of sentimentality will feel good to the person you are sending the card to. "It was a good thing you did for me! Thank you for thinking of me. I don't know what I would have done without you…" that kind of stuff. A sentimental quote or even a bible verse is a nice way to end a note if you're feeling fancy.
4.
Send It & Forget About It: it's just tacky to send someone a "Thank You!" card and then you sit at home counting the days until they call or text or email you saying what? "Thank you!" Send it because you really want that person to know you dig how they added to your life and do not keep score. That's petty and silly and defeats the purpose. Who knows? They may pay it forward and follow steps 1 through 3 and make someone else's day?
This act of appreciation does not have to be a thing of the past. Sure, technology has made a lot of things easier and simpler and more convenient in our lives and that is not always a good thing. Do something good today and send someone a "Thank You!" card. Your mother, mommy, mama, auntie, big mama, granny, grandmother, nana or muh dear will be so proud of you!
