Written Gratitude

By Kimberly Whitman | June 1, 2017 |

I have always loved receiving a hand written thank you note but today, more than ever, they are even more meaningful.  I know it sounds cliche but it is so true!

I love writing them too but I often forget.  Every year, one of my new years resolutions is to write  at least one thank you note a day but I still haven’t had a year when I have done it!

This year, one of my motivators was my new monogrammed stationery.  When I realized that the designers at Mrs. John L. Strong, one of the worlds most dignified stationers, could recreate the monogram that we often use on items in our home, I was thrilled!

If you have my book, Monograms for the Home: The Art of Making Your Mark, then you know the story of the monogram that was on the silver that was once my Mother-in-Laws. She gave it to Justin and me when we married and we treasure it!  We copied the monogram on the silver, pictured above, and use it on all sorts of things.  The napkins pictured below have the W embroidered on them.  We use them often!

I love color so it was hard for me to choose my new papers!  I love the double blue and red border we ended up with and I adore the matching blue tissue liner as well!  Having beautiful and meaningful stationery inspires me to want to write notes of gratitude more often.  Who doesn’t want to make a friend or new acquaintance smile by taking a moment to send a note on beautiful paper!

The most important thing to remember when writing a thank you note is that it doesn’t need to be complicated.

Many years ago the respected etiquette expert Colleen Richenbacker broke down this task that some people find daunting.  She calls her simple steps the 3-3-3 of thank you notes!

1. It should only take THREE minutes to write a Thank You Note.
Always mention the gift, how it will be used and then end with the hope that you will see each other soon or work together soon, etc. Always be appropriate to the person you are writing to and the situation but make it personal.
2. A Thank You Note should only take THREE lines!
This does not include the salutation (Dear Kelly) or the closing (My best, Kimberly).
3. You should send it out in THREE days!
Your goal should always be so send a note out within three days of receipt of the gift. Of course, this often doesn’t happen. A thank you note is always appropriate so even if months have passed, write a note anyway!
Remember, a great note only needs three sentences.  The first should express gratitude for the gift.  The second should acknowledge how it is being used.  The third should be directed towards the future.  Maybe you will be seeing them soon or hope to or maybe you hope to work together again! Remember to have fun with it!  The best notes sound like they are coming from your voice, sound personal and show your personality.
Here is a sample:
Thank you so much for the beautiful stationery. I keep a stack of the cards out on my desk in a silver toast rack and I send notes on it with joy!  It was such a pleasure working with you on the design and I am looking foward to many more stationery orders!
Gratefully,
Kimberly
Finally, when addressing the envelope, it is important to keep the following in mind:
  • Always write and print clearly
  • Always hand write addresses (no labels)
  • Fill in notes are only appropriate if you are under age 6.
  • Use a stamp (not metered postage)

I hope you found these tips helpful and will hop on over to Mrs. John L Strong and order yourself some new stationery today!

Click here to watch my Southern Living Video on the simple art of writing a thank you note!  

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