A written thank-you was once a skill encouraged. It was a chance to practice our penmanship, our vocabulary and grammar. It encouraged acknowledging gratitude to the people in our world.
I remember as a youngster my Mom had to hound me after receiving a gift to write that note. It was often hard. But the truth was I always felt better when it was done. As an adult, I have a better understanding of what it means to get such a note. I also have tools to easily write one.
Starting
Does the thought of sitting with a blank sheet of paper scare you? Get a card which limits the space you need to fill. Add a thoughtful sentence or two in your own hand. Here are suggestions on what to write.
- Be genuine and kind in what you write. You felt their love just knowing they were thinking of you.
- If you love the gift, tell them why. You can mention how and where you’ll be using it.
- Cursive or print, handwritten by you is best for a personalize thank you note.
- Before you write a word plan what you’ll be writing. My mind has a habit of rewriting what I just wrote. Even a list of key ideas on the back of an envelope is helpful. Just not the envelope of the notecard you plan to send! 😉
Polishing
If you’re still stumped or want help polishing, turn to AI. It can help you make it warm and genuine. It can suggest ways for you to express thankfulness. It also offers approaches to keep it simple and heartfelt. You can even add a poetic touch.
Use AI to give you a phrase or write the entire thank-you with your contribution. I turned to doing drafts on my computer ages ago. Nothing shameful is letting it check our spelling and grammar. If I feel that I’m not making sense, I will let AI show me its suggestions.
ALWAYS read your message to proof. AI is especially helpful when what you write doesn’t make sense. It can offer suggestions that you can choose to accept or not.
Benefits
You’ll experience happiness when you finish writing the thank you note. Imagine their surprise to get your happy mail after the holidays, or any day.
A text is quicker than mailing a written thank-you but here today, gone tomorrow. Find the joy of making it memorable for the person receiving your note. If a card is involved, extra effort by you was taken to get it into their hands. It’s always nice to receive appreciation for an act or a gift. Surprise someone this holiday season by a special thank-you with your handwritten note. You’ll make two people happier, them and yourself.
Support National Thank You Note Day. Pick up a pen and write a short note. It can be for a gift or a shared experience. The card featured is 5.5” x 4.25”. The perfect size to start with. It’s one of my Etsy cards but you can use any stationery available.
Now you have some ideas and tools. Let me know in the comments your favorite. Please share your own experiences or thoughts. Happy writing!
Paper Crafted Bliss 