A recent article in The New York Times about “The Found Art of Thank You Notes” focused on how the printed thank you is coming back into vogue.
Jimmy Fallon writes thank you notes out on camera as a comedy bit for his late night show, but even younger Millennials are rediscovering this “new” tool they can get down with.
Nothing stops a person from texting gratitude or emailing it. Or picking up the phone.
But writing a “thank you” and sending it through the mail has its advantages, too. First, it’s more likely to be viewed, reviewed or saved so your gratitude goes a longer way.
And by writing out the note and concentrating on penmanship, you are training your brain to focus attention on the present that has medical value to you, the sender.
I have a friend who shared his secret with me and I would like to share it with you.
He purchased cards for every occasion from congratulations and birthdays to get well and sympathy. They were stored in a drawer in his desk. When he had the occasion to send a message, he opened the drawer, pulled out the proper greeting card and scribbled a note (and I do mean scribble although I value each and every one of the notes I was fortunate enough to receive).
The secret is that you must have the notes available to follow through on your good deed otherwise it is just another good intention gone astray.
I have followed his lead and have a drawer full of cards, but I also use digital means to say thanks.
Texting is one of my favorites because it is immediate – and the best text is one that shows a picture of that which you are grateful for where applicable.
A 20-year old quoted in The Times article said it all:
“Like a lot of people in my generation, I might think ‘Oh, just send them a text.’ But I actually enjoyed writing the notes because in the process of opening a note, feeling the paper, seeing the imperfection of the writing, reading the message in another person’s voice, you actually feel like you have a piece of that person in your hand”.
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