Thankful: 3 Reasons Why You Should Write a Thank You Letter

Even if letters are a dying breed, I hope thank you letters withstand. Here are the 3 reasons why you should write thank you letters:

1. When you get gifts

Writing a thank you note when you receive a gift is a thoughtful move even if it is not graduation or a wedding. It will make the sender of the gift recognize their gift was appreciated. 

2. Job searching

It will make you stand out. After networking with someone or completing an interview don’t simply ask for their card, shake their hand and walk away. Following up with a thank you note a few days later will truly make you stand out, especially in a time where everything is done via email. 

3. To tell someone you are thankful for them

One of my best friends wrote her family thank you letters for thanksgiving. I LOVED this! We sometimes forget to tell people WHY we are thankful for them. Just like we tell God, “I’m thankful for my family and friends.”

Well, why?

I’m thankful for my family because they support my dreams and provide unconditional love. I’m thankful for my friends that I can go to when I need to just have fun or when I need a shoulder to lean on. I’m thankful for the joy that my family and friends bring into my life. 

Write a thank you letter* this week.

*A thank you note is a card you send with a short note that is acceptable when you receive a gift or want to follow up after networking. Whereas, a thank you letter is intended to explain why you’re thankful for someone and is lengthier.

For Lent one year, I decided not to give up anything, but instead to ADD to my life by sending a letter a day to someone who I love or had made an impact in my life. 

Who are you writing to this holiday season? What are other examples of when you send thank you notes or letters?