The Joy of Handwritten Thank You Notes

When was the last time you received a handwritten thank you note? Chances are it was the last time you gave someone a wedding gift. That is when most people write them nowadays. The real question is how did you feel when you received it? I bet you were overjoyed that they took the time to write you a note. Even if it was just a couple of sentences.

Writing handwritten thank you notes is a timeless way to show someone that you enjoy their gift, their time, or whatever else they did for you. Writing takes so little time but the joy that you bring lasts for days.
I am a huge thank you note writer. If I receive a gift, even from my siblings, I write them a note and mail it. I will even send handwritten cards online to those whom I only have an email address for.

It takes a few minutes out of my day. In fact, Sunday afternoons is when I sit down and write any notes I need to mail out for the week. Along with all of my other handwritten mail. Doing them weekly allows me time to sit and think about what I want to say.

It is one of the things that I worked hard to teach my children as well. It never hurts to send someone a note thanking them for whatever. If a parent volunteers in my Sunday school class, I write them a thank you. If I receive a gift, I write a thank you even when I hate the gift. 

When to Send Thank You Notes

Some of the moments when it is good etiquette to write a thank you note are:

1. After a job interview
2. After receiving a gift
3. When someone writes you a letter of recommendation
4. After receiving condolence notes or gifts
5. If you are someone’s houseguest
6. After a dinner party
7. When someone does you a favor
8. After you go through a big change in life

That big life change is one that many of you are most likely scratching your heads over. When you go through a divorce, marriage, graduation, have a baby, surgery, all sorts of major things. Write a thank you note afterwards to the people that helped you. Even if it is the nurse that took a few extra minutes with you. Let them know that you are thankful for all of their help and support during that time.

As I said earlier the recipients of your notes get so much joy out of them. They have studies that prove that.  So while you are going through whatever major event those around you are working just as hard supporting you. The daily lives are stressful and as busy as the next person. Receiving a small note from you will show them that someone appreciates what they do. That someone took the time to notice what they did.

What to Write

It could make all the difference in their day. the same as they made the difference in yours. Your note doesn’t have to be anything fancy. It can be a simple “thank you for the time you took to help me through my recovery.”

Although, I do admit that I do my best to write each person a personal little note. something a little more than generic. For example when I was in the hospital last year one of the nurses felt I was having some issues because she never saw me reading or the television on. She didn’t realize that when the door opened I put the door down or turned off the television. I her note I wrote:

Thank you for taking the time to notice something could have been wrong. I know that when you discovered what I was doing you felt embarrassed. However, please don’t. The world needs more people like you who notice someone may be lonely or going through an emotional time. Your thought and care meant the world to me. to know I wasn’t alone and could reach out if needed made me feel seen and heard. 

She didn’t have to reach out but she did. Leaving her a note was the one thing I could do to let her know that she made a difference.

The next time someone does something for you or gives you something, take a few minutes to send them a thank you note. You will be amazed at how it makes you feel and them. I promise they will remember you and may let you know how much joy you brought to their day.