Southern Traditions: The Lost Art of Thank You Notes

I believe in thank you notes.

 

I’m not always the best about getting them out in a timely manner, but I do believe in them.

 

As our technology continues to evolve it’s so easy to resign oneself to a quick Facebook message or an email to give thanks for whatever it may be

 

I’ll never forget attending my first Digital Summit event three years ago (sadly I cannot make it this year) and hearing one of the founders of … I think it was Reddit? Perhaps not. But whoever it was spoke about how to keep customers. And lo and behold it was a HANDWRITTEN CARD.

 

You would think the heavens had parted and lightening had come forth from how many reacted. But even in Atlanta, true Southerners seemed to be in the minority in that room as I sneered at the speaker, saying to my table “pffah- any good Southerner knows this!”

 

So what is it that makes a thank you note just so lovely?

 

Perhaps it’s the penmanship, you must have some legible penmanship to even bother with a handwritten note.

 

 

Perhaps it’s the stationary. I like to use notes that are either custom-made, or have a special fun message. My marriage may not have lasted, but the stationary I ordered with my wedding announcements sure have. I still use them to this day.

 

Perhaps it’s the personal touch. Yes, handwritten notes are personal in of themselves but taking the time to really make each note individually cite how you will use an item- that’s truly personal.

 

The most important part of a handwritten note is time. It’s taking the time to write it out, to carefully think out the lines that might mean the most to the recipient. It’s giving the gift of one’s time in an age when time seems short for everyone.

 

Let’s write more thank you notes!

 

 

Love to all y’all,

 

Molly