I got a really nice, beautifully worded "Thank You" note in the mail the other day and it got me to thinking... In a world where texts and emails have largely replaced paper notes and letters, I'm so glad some people still take the time to write a Thank You note. Admit it, when going through your stack of never-ending mostly junkmail mail you receive each day (see Wednesday's blog - LOL) doesn't it just make your heart skip a beat when you see a little hand addressed colorful envelope? It means a personal communication, most likely an invitation or a thank you, and is always the first thing I open. For many families in our area, May and June are to Thank You notes what December is to Christmas cards. 'Tis the season! Weddings, showers, graduations, and most of all FAIR time.
In our area lots of kids grades 3-12 raise projects to show at our County Fair the first week in May. Along with all the somewhat intangible rewards and life lessons that come from these projects comes the opportunity to make the big sale at the Fair where the project is auctioned. Our Fair also has a "group buying" structure where a person can put large or small amounts of money on many different lots in the sale instead of just being a single buyer for one project and therefore each kid's project may have many buyers. DJ had 39 buyers this year for his pig and so wrote 39 separate Thank You cards. If for instance a buyer contributed toward purchase of 100 different kid's project that buyer will get 100 different Thank You cards, each one unique and carrying a special message of gratitude from a hard working young person. I'm so very thankful our Fair takes the subject of thanking buyers very seriously and encourages the kids to write Thank You notes for that is a well learned lesson in itself. Score another point for country small-town values! =)
One of our "keep in touch with frontline staff" kind of projects for us Managers at work is that once a quarter we choose at least three random employees and visit with them personally about what things they feel are going well, where we need to improve, etc. etc. Part of this interaction also encourages them to recognize someone else they work with and say "Thank You". We provide two really nice Thank You cards per employee for them to write a personal note which is then sent to the employee they wish to recognize. I just did this last week with my staff and have to say the results once again impressed me. What a great prompt to say something nice to someone you deal with every day and the notes are sincerely appreciated. Its a great encourager and morale booster.
In fact, I'm a big fan of sending Thank You cards for nice deeds and not just nice gifts but realize I don't do it as often as I should. When I think about all the super teachers, coaches, family friends, and everyone who does so many nice things for my family and I all the time, I realize how many opportunities I miss to say Thank You. I'm going to try to do better at this.
And by the way, Thank YOU for reading my blog and for the kind comments to encourage me. Oh shoot, there I go... not handwritten, not in a colorful little envelope.... my bad, but nonetheless sincere. =)
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