The New York Times recently published an article with the headline “Do Thank-You Notes Still Matter?” If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend you do so; it is an excellent description of the value of finding a handwritten card in the midst of all of the junk in your mailbox. As the author writes, “And while an emailed thanks is a nice gesture, many experts say that, in this virtual age, a traditional, physical note is more powerful than ever.”
My belief is that a handwritten note expressing appreciation and gratitude extends the feeling of warmth generated by the original giver, whether it was in response to a present, a delicious dinner, or a special occasion. A note written with care on a beautiful card tells the recipient that their thoughtfulness was received in the way it was intended.
I have nicknamed my neighbor Marie “The Queen of Thank-You Notes.” She is the most frequent purchaser of my painted cards from a store around the corner from where I live. She frequently sends handwritten thank-you notes to others, whether it be to a gift giver, a party host, or a memorial service attendee. What is her “go to” card for giving thanks? It’s the seagull, which is what I received from Marie myself after I painted her family’s ancestral home in Italy (you can see the image on the bottom right of the Watercolor section on the Commissions page).
Long live the thank-you note.