Remember to say thanks

Kathy Cunningham

When was the last time you wrote a thank you note?
Not just a text or IM sentence of gratitude, but wrote (hand-written is best, but typed is acceptable) a heartfelt note stating how grateful you are? And, then posted it?

The reason I ask is that I received three thank you notes in the post this week. Two were handwritten and one was typed. I cannot recall a time when three thank you notes arrived on the same day, yet alone the same week or even month!
This made me feel really good, and then guilt seeped in. When was the last time I handwrote a thank you note and posted it? I remember writing thank you emails and had a typed letter that I signed recently, but I really had to think hard about my behaviour and not being as thoughtful as I should be.

And, then I began thinking about all the things we have in Whanganui that we should be thankful for. A stable government (mostly), clean water to drink, safe places to live, work and play, the very first river in the world to be granted legal status, some of the most welcoming and interesting people live here and some we are happy to call friends, a plethora of free activities to enjoy and a variety of happenings to attend.
What do you have to be thankful for? And who would you send a thank you note to?
Handwritten thank you notes are rare, according to a Harvard Business Review article published in 2013. How relevant is the idea of taking the time, energy, effort and cost of handwriting a thank you note today?

I believe that when someone does something that surprises or delights or maybe goes above or beyond the call of duty and when someone cooks a lovely meal for you or invites you to enjoy their company, a thank you note should be sent.

One of New Zealand's most cherished television newsreaders, John Hawkesby, did some work for me as Master of Ceremonies. I sent him a thank you note for engaging and entertaining the guests in a manner that exceeded my expectations. John, who is the consummate gentleman, sent me a thank you note for my thank you note. I sent him one back since he made me smile.

People remember the unexpected things like when we take the time and effort to write thank you notes. So, my goal is to be more mindful of the marvellous people in Whanganui who have done some extraordinary things and send them a thank you note. Will you do the same?