Thank you cards have been a part of my life forever. I was always writing them for parties and gifts as well as for visits to friends’ houses. As I got into business, the art of writing the perfect, personalized thank you note was touted as the way to set your company apart from the rest. While computer generated cards are now all the rage, I still like to put pen and ink to paper to make it very special. Although, what to say was always part of my challenge.
There are books galore out there with just the right words to write. Let’s not forget the internet with hundreds of pages on writing notes. But what do you tell a young girl of about 9 or 10 about writing that thank you note? Well, I found out last week.
I had sent off some “blank” thank you cards as part of a CARE package to a friend who had surgery. I had checked the box to make sure there were enough envelopes to match the cards and flipped through the cards to see that they were not damaged. I had a stash of “Thank You” cards for my business that should have been blank or not been there.
Lo and behold, I get a message from my friend with a picture of one of the cards. It said:
Dear__________
Thank you so much for the ______________________. I have used it already and really had fun with it. Thank you for coming to my party at Sparkles. I hope you enjoyed the box you made and have found a place for it in your room.
Your friend,
Allyce
My friend filled in the blanks with “Linda”, and “Care Package.” She begged the question about having “fun” with the products and the party at Sparkles. She also noted this was an easy template to use when you are on pain killers after surgery.
Below this “template” was another thank you that Allyce had written to her friend, Alexis, in her own hand. How embarrassing!
However, what I saw as well was my husband’s attempt at teaching my youngest daughter how to write a good thank you note after a birthday party. He made it easy for her to write them in her own hand and to make them personal. I was very proud of him. My daughter has learned this lesson and is one of the best note writers in the family.
How do you struggle to say just the right words to those you love?
Something else I have learned as a business woman is to ask for what you want. If you loved what you just read, this content is not for free. As a form of payment, I am asking you to comment or share this on Facebook or tweet about it on Twitter.
Linda Patten, MBA, BSN, RN has over 30 years of experience leading women to success in building and achieving their dreams. She turns networking marketing women from product sellers to leaders of highly functioning teams. To learn more about her innovative programs, click on Contact Us.