Thank you notes, a dying art!

9-24-14

Joe and I were sitting at the table eating dinner and we found ourselves on the topic of how things have changed over time. I always joke with him about how we didn't live in the days when people walked twelve miles to school, uphill both ways, in the snow and that we aren't as old as he would like to make us! I do though agree that we were a much politer generation!

How many times did I hear Mom say, "If you want to keep it, then write a thank you note. If not, give me (insert item name here) and I will happily mail it back for you". Being a kid, the biggest excitement in life was a) getting something in the mail and b) having that something be a toy! As a very young child, Mom would write the words and I would draw a picture. As I got older, I was eager to show off my new found writing skills and happily both wrote and illustrated notes. As a teenager I was also an avid letter writer and never really had to be prodded to write notes. Keep in mind, that this was before every home had a computer of some sort!

When I became the Mom, I passed these same rules down to my kids and as they grew older and computers became more prolific they would often ask to send emails instead of actually writing out a note. I resisted for as long as I could being of the mindset that the note itself was important. Eventually, I gave in and the lazier kids were allowed to use email acknowledgements. The important thing (in my mind) was that the were still taking the time to thank someone for remembering them and taking time from their busy day to purchase and mail out (insert item name here). 

Food for thought, thank you notes are also a wonderful thing to send to someone that you have visited, or someone who did something kind for you, or maybe even called you on a day you needed cheering up. I sent a thank you note to a store once to let them know that one of their employees went above and beyond to help me out, next time I went to the store I saw that person's picture on the wall, they had been chosen as employee of the month! Karma people, what goes around comes around! 

In this day and age, we are so quick to judge. Social media is overrun with the rantings and ravings of us all. Who slighted us, what restaurant was too slow, what store didn't honor their website advertising, that jerk that cut us off at the light. I think we should start a movement of positive reinforcement. On Facebook recently there was a challenge to write things that you were thankful for, five things a day for five days. 

I think the challenge should be to tell five people thank you for (insert item/service name here)!

1. Thank you for reading and sharing my blog and Facebook page and for telling me how you honestly feel about what I write and sharing your opinions and thoughts with me. Isn't it great to live in a country where we are allowed to talk about things and still like each other even when we don't always agree?
2. Thank you to my kids for my fantastic four grand babies and for allowing Joe and I to be an integral part of their lives (and yours).
3. Thank you to Rachael Ray for inspiring me to try new things and foods and to my family for willingly tasting them all, even when they really didn't want to! I should also thank Joe for learning to like watching Chopped, Iron Chef, Top Chef and anything with Bobby Flay or Guy Fieri in it. 
4. Thank you to my parents for doing their best to turn me into a productive member of society who is occasionally pleasant to be around. (Perhaps I flatter myself)!
5. Thank you to The Today Show for telling me about Smiley360 and to Smiley360 for the Sleep Number mission. I received my Coolfit Foam Pillow last week and I just love it. The added bonus, the cats hate it! First time in eight years that I am sleeping without a face full of cat head, body, or butt fur and no cat fights in the middle of the night over who's turn it is to torture me with a face full of fur!

http://h5.sml360.com/-/76ak

I am happy to say that two out of my three children to this day still utilize the handwritten note method. The third child, he knows who he is, will send an email (although often times he does have to be reminded). This makes me wonder even after or perhaps in spite of all of our equality campaigning if this is not a gender thing? 

I do find it a bit off putting to order or choose a gift for someone and then never know if they even received it. I know that being thanked isn't supposed to be the point of giving it's just the not knowing and wondering if they got it part. True story, someone who always sends me an email after I send them something didn't send one. Gave them a call, turns out the delivery was at the front door and they use the side door, package had been sitting there for a week! Normally, I don't feel comfortable calling someone to ask if they received my gift, but in this case, knew something had to have happened because the mail tracker was showing the package as delivered.

I am a happy internet shopper and spend massive amounts of time trying to find the perfect items for the special people in my life. Somehow, the enjoyment is lost when I don't hear from them that they loved it! Lie to me if you have to people! I just want to know that it arrived and that you know that I bought it with just you in mind, not because it was a good deal or they would ship it to you for free, but because I spent my time finding something that I thought that you would enjoy and appreciate.

I realize that everyone may not have the time in their day to sit down and write a note or letter, put it in an envelope, address it, seal it, stamp it and mail it but wake up! In this day and age of technology, tweets, texts, telephones, kindles, notepads, emails, and cell phones I just can't find a reason why anyone would be unable to take the ten seconds necessary to text, "Thanks for the (insert item name here)". To the purchaser of items, it gives the peace of mind of knowing that the item arrived. Granted this doesn't let the purchaser know if the item is liked and/or appreciated but at least they would know it arrived and wasn't lost in the mail!

For those of you who still utilize the thank you system as part of your day to day life, I for one appreciate you. I must admit to having a collection of thank you notes plastered all over my refrigerator. I especially treasure the ones with the little hand prints! 

For those of you who don't have any plans on changing, far be it from me to judge you! Do what you will, as I pointed out above, isn't it great to live in a country where we are allowed to talk about things and still like each other even when we don't always agree?