Allison Leach plans to write 365 thank-you notes in 2011, one every day. Her notes are handwritten and sent via traditional mail, but she is detailing her efforts via her blog, the Thank You Note Project. Like a lot of good works, there's a grandparent behind it. Her first blog post details writing a thank-you note to her grandmother: "Roro (that's what we call her) is probably the real reason why I write thank you notes. . . . She taught my mother the importance of writing thank you notes and my mom passed this tradition on to me."
Many grandparents expect thank-you notes for gifts. See this discussion strand in the Grandparents Forum. But Leach makes the point that thank-you notes aren't just for gifts. In a comment thread on her blog, she writes, "I'm finding so much value in writing thank you notes for more than just gifts, but I do think if it's a habit someone wants to start, then writing thank you notes for gifts is the easiest way to do it!"
If you've ever struggled with thanking someone for a gift, Leach shares an easy format:
- Say thank you for the gift.
- Tell why you like the gift and how you plan to use it, or share something interesting about it.
- Reflect on the holiday or the occasion and finish by asking a question about the gift-givers' life.
Grandparents shouldn't just inspire and receive thank-you notes. We should also write them. How many thank-you notes will you send in 2011?
Well, you’ve certainly gotten me thinking!
There are a number of people in my life who deserve thank yous just for being who they are and for all the kind things they do, all the love and support they have given me over the years. Guess I need to get some thank you notes!
Excellent point about grandparents needing to thank folks, too, not just expect to be thanked! And when we send thank you notes to our grandchildren — for gifts or for just making a difference in our lives — it reinforces the importance of sending such sentiments.