Put down the phone, close the email, we're going to do something wild. What is that you ask, grab a pen and paper, let's go crazy.
When I think about thank you notes I always think about sitting at my kitchen table a few weeks after my high school graduation party. I sat for hours going through the list at all the gifts I had received making sure not to miss a single person. It took several days but I finally was able to finish them all and send them off. Even though I had so many to do I made it a point to individualize each note I wrote. I thought this was a lot more fun than just writing "thank you, so and so for insert gift." I remember feeling so satisfied after completing them all. I really enjoyed the thought of simply expressing my gratitude for the loved ones in my life by writing it down.
I think about this idea a lot of the time. I'll be the first to admit that I am not one to write thank you notes, or at least I haven't been in the past. Life moves so quickly. Some days the world seems to be going a mile a minute and it takes me a while to step back to process things I am so grateful for. I am surrounded by so many great friends, family, professors, and the kindness of complete strangers. This world is filled with so much hope and kindness if you look hard enough.
Remember when I said let's go crazy?
Let's bring back the simple gesture of writing a thank you note. Like I said earlier, I am not trying to paint this false picture of myself. I'm not someone who carries around cute stationery in her backpack ready to pull it out at any time, but why don't I?
Why do we have to wait for a graduation, a wedding or a baby shower to express your gratitude through pen and paper? Sure, receiving a little thank you in the form of a Starbucks gift card is always so nice but why not be different?
Why not be the person who stands out in the crowd?
Not many people write thank you notes anymore but I don't know why. We scroll past things on social media all the time that talk about living in the moment and telling people how we feel, let's live out those actions. Let's put pen to paper and get to work.
The gesture that warrants a thank you note is up to you. It does not have to be an elaborate event to deserve a little note. Whatever the case may be, showing someone your gratitude through a little thank you card is always going to be viewed as a positive thing.
Put down the phone, grab a pen and get going, the world could always use more kindness.
