In a world full of conflict and uncertainty it is important to express gratitude for simple kindnesses and recognize acts of vast generosity. We at Capitol Manners are so appreciative of our clients and supporters. We have reopened our blog after a year of pay service. We feel the world needs more advice on how to be kind and how to treat people with respect and consideration. So, to celebrate that - our first post in 2023 will be on being thankful.
People appreciate being appreciated. There is something magical about hearing “thank you.” Sometimes, the situation calls for going beyond a simple verbal “thank you.” A thank you email, a simple thank you text “thx” - means everything. Even more valuable is a handwritten thank you note. It is important to learn gratitude from an early age.
Writing and sending thank you notes is a healthy habit to start and learn early. Especially if you live on your device and have not grown up with the tradition. There is a newness and authentic nature to sending out a handwritten note. We need to adjust our mindset because penning a thank you note is not simply great for lifting someone’s spirits, they are also great for lifting our own. It allows us to take a break from endless hours of sad news, negative messages on our phones and computers to focus on “the good.”
Thank you notes are for so much more than just receiving a gift. You can thank people who give you their time, their thoughts, their patience, their information, their connections, and their hospitality. These generous acts may surround an annual event of milestone or occur throughout your life.
Writing a thank you note is not as complicated as you think. There is an easy formula for a thank you note. The best thank you note has five key characteristics. They are generous, specific, prompt, succinct, and personal.
So, let us break it down: Start with “Dear, The person’s name.”
1. “Thank you for X…”
2. “I appreciate Y…”
3. “I enjoyed Z…”
4. “I look forward to…”
End with “Sincerely, Your name.”
Here is an example of a thank you note for a gift:
Dear Jane,
Thank you so much for the comfy sweater. I look forward to wearing it for years to come. Your thoughtful gift means so much to me.
Warmly, John
That is, it! The first sentence identifies the thing or event you are sending the note for. The second sentence points out something specific about the item or experience. The third sentence provides one more detail as to why you especially appreciated the item. The fourth sentence looks to the future. Here you can mention a future event or time you look forward to enjoying the item or seeing the person again.
It is amazingly simple. Writing thank you notes also gives you a way to give yourself a break, take a minute, reflect on what you are thankful for and appreciate, on those people who help you, give you strength and support. Thankfulness forces us to reflect and realize we are blessed.
If you want to take your thank you note writing skills up a notch you can go beyond simply signing Best, Sincerely, or something equally as generic at the end. And, put some thought and heart into it, and close on a high note!
If you are sending your note to a relative, you could write something like, from your niece, the one who knows you are the best aunt ever. If it is to a friend — let us say it is the one who gave you the coffee maker — your salutation could be, with love from the person to visit when you want the best coffee ever.
If you are thanking people for their party or dinner, touch on something you have not already mentioned about the event in your note: Daydreaming about your chocolate creme brûlée right now.
But you do not have to spend hours doing it or be a poet to write a thank you note that is appreciated- simply putting pen to paper and being thoughtful is a wonderful way to start.