Writing notes and letters, especially thank-you notes, are a lost art. People think that sending an email is the same thing, however, it is more personal for someone to know that you took the time to think of them. The actions of getting the note paper, getting a stamp, and going to the mailbox or post office, is harder than hitting “click”, “enter”, or “submit”!

A thank-you note is what you do when you get a gift, especially if you do not thank the person in person. It is a necessary follow-up after a job interview or a kind deed. A note is nice, “just because”, and a thank you note, for an action that a person did, out of kindness, rather than a material gift, is important too.

Thank-you notes are even nicer than phone calls, after someone has been hospitable to you. If a couple goes out of their way to have you over, and prepare for a nice evening, a thank you note will surprise to the hostess. Who doesn’t like surprises? Wouldn’t you rather get a note in the mail than a bill? We all seem to get bills, and a thank you note can be an unexpected surprise.

Thank you notes show appreciation and too many of today’s children haven’t been taught that. This is an important value, or should be a family value, that is passed on from generation to generation. Common courtesy, there isn’t enough of. Many people “expect” things to be given to them, especially children. A sincere “thank you” should be given, in person, when a gift is given. Stop and look at it and by all means, appreciate it.

I heard of someone who went to a bridal shower, where one gift after the other was thrown at the bride. First of all, she wasn’t that surprised because of the registry. Although it is nice to give a bride-to-be what they would like, don’t you find it obnoxious, if the gift-giver is not even sought at and thanked? One has to remember the time it took for a person to plan on buying the gift, and selecting one that would be perfect, especially if it is not on the registry. For a bride to thank everyone at the end, (a blanket thank you), rather than after each gift is quite odd. Usually, the future bride will look around the room, and look for the gift-giver, and personally thank the girl. She will tell her how much she likes it, wanted it, or mention how it will be used. It was unusual for the behavior that was recently witnessed. It wouldn’t have mattered if a person spent $20 or $100; no appreciation was shown.

The gift-receiver may not realize what it took to get a special gift and that thought was probably put into the purchase. Perhaps she doesn’t realize that one of the guests had to plan to be able to afford that gift. Just because lunch is served at a shower, doesn’t give the bride-to-be the right to expect expensive things. Yes, the guest was served a meal, but generally, the gift is more expensive than the lunch, especially now, since I am noticing that not even wine is served.

Show manners and class by thanking someone and going out of your way for the giver. It is not nice to to always be the “taker”; if you are the receiver, stop, think, and verbalize or write your thanks. It is those small things that will make an impact on someone’s life, and you will be remembered. Even if you write a note after a job interview, show sincerity from the heart and don’t just do it because you expect the job, or are looking for something. Who knows, while it might not hurt, a true, sincere expression of thanks is vitale, to build character, to be true to yourself, and to be the kind of person that you know you should be; one who never, ever takes things for granted! Even if one has to pretend and put on “an act”, do thank others for what they have chosen, whether you like it or not. One would call that, “subtly mystifying”. I call it “class”!