Don't Forget to Write!

The power of the written word is quite strong. Receipt of a recent note had me feeling joyful, fabulous and, oh so successful and appreciated for days. All those feelings came from just a few short words.

The young lady (I sound so old saying that!) who penned this note compared opening her very first blue Tiffany box (a gift we gave her - and yes, there was something inside) to witnessing her first snow. Well, ... WOW! How cool is that?!

Now, this fabulous girl loves nature, the earth, humanity, etc., so the particular words she chose really had impact. And, I could totally relate to what she said being both a Tiffany and snow lover myself.

Point here is that her written words had power. I am still smiling as I recall her words days later. A cookie cutter statement off a list of 5 different ways to say thank you just doesn't do the same thing.

And, check out the site of the London illustrator who "penned" the illustration above. http://www.henniehaworth.co.uk/objects

Where in the World are You Writing Me From?

IDEA:

We just got a fabulous thank you note from a friend. Part of its "fabulosity" to me is this: the author put his location - at the time of writing - on the correspondence card up near the date of the note. I just love this! I am not talking ... ummm ... "kitchen table" or "rooftop deck" ... but rather the city or town - the geography. It has me visualizing my friend and his whereabouts.

I will now copy this tradition and place my location accordingly. My friend travels the world quite a bit. Me? - not so much. Hopefully, I will have some interesting places to write from very soon. Of course this idea works for any type of correspondence, not just thank yous.

Thanks for the inspiration Jerry!

8/20/09

New Hope, PA

Happiness, Peace, Love & Style

It is also so much fun to open up my mailbox and find something addressed to me that is not a bill or a Bed Bath and Beyond coupon. Don't get me wrong, love the store but I think I get more coupons from them than any other item of mail! My daughter likes to get mail as well - she is 9. Last week she sent her various sets of grandparents letters with her handmade lanyard bracelets included. She addressed each one and wrote everything on her own. The only thing I did was put on the extra postage on to make sure the post office didn't send it back as they were thick. (Of course, one did come back and needed even more stamps - oh well.)

Her signature was and is:

"Happiness, Peace, Love and Style"

Gotta love it!

Her disappointment comes next, she began receiving emails from her techno savvy grandparents as thank yous. This did not suit her. She said,

"Technology is taking away from the fun of getting mail. They really should be writing me back and not emailing me a thank you!"

Smart chick - has she been reading my blog? Well, not a shy girl is she and don't you know she is now getting her mail. You go girl!

What is so hard about writing a thank you note?

Nothing! And no, you cannot email or facebook or twitter the thank you.

There is no reason not to get that thank you note in the mail - just follow these basic points and you will make a good impression every time. It is not rocket science.

1. Write it in a timely manner.

Why? First, someone went out of their way (some more than others but so what) and sent/gave you a gift or did something nice for you. Even if you don’t like it!

Second, the giver might wonder if you ever got the gift if you never acknowledge it.

2. Address the “Giver” -" Dear So and So."

I recently got a thank you note from someone who addressed the actual note to only part of the family but not all members who sent the gift. I am speaking here of the actual note, not the envelope. Were there too many names to mention in the Dear So and So line? Don’t write Dear Jane and Rick, etc. or "Dear Fam". Abbreviations like this seem impersonal and lazy - not good. How much longer could it possibly take to add the rest of the names?

3. Mention the gift or the event.

This is a very nice and personal touch – if it is money - well, you can refer to the generous gift or what you plan to use it for. Aunt Cori might like to know that the money she sent you is going to be used to take your girlfriend out for dinner or for that iphone you want.

One of the most curious notes I ever received was a beautifully written thank you from a young boy on his personalized stationery. He did not mention my specific gift. This would have actually been impossible for him as I did not yet GIVE it to him (it was specially ordered for him and had yet to arrive). Thus, his thank you, while one of the timeliest notes I have yet to receive, could not possibly have been personal.

4. Length. Short and Sweet.

The note does not have to be long, just thoughtful and prompt. Nothing wrong with short and sweet.

5. Sign off.

Thanks again,

Don’t forget to sign your name! (Even if it is on your stationery.)

6. Stationery/Cards

Of course, personalized stationery is a nice touch, impressive, and convenient – you will have the stash ready and you won't need to go out and buy a generic card. How nice.